There’s been buzz lately as Intel is moving at least some of its Atom processors to TSMC.
Intel has gone and given TSMC permission to build other ICs for fabless customers with the x86 as the core processor. Very nice move Intel.
In one single move, Intel has:
- Prevented any anti-trust action in the case that AMD goes under
- Directly challenge ARM for consumer electronics processing
- Potentially wiped out Via
Side note: nVidia is a big TSMC customer. It would interesting to see an x86 cored nVidia ASIC, but with their current spat who knows.
I think it’s safe to say that PC / consumer electronics / appliance convergence is no longer just marketing handwaving. It’s here and Intel is on-board…
Update: nVidia considering embedded x86