Intel plans to faucet Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing to make a second technology discrete graphics chip for private computer systems that it hopes will assist it fight the rise of Nvidia, two sources acquainted with the matter informed Reuters.
The chip, generally known as DG2, will likely be made on a brand new chipmaking course of at TSMC that has not but been formally named however is an enhanced model of its 7-nanometre course of, the 2 individuals acquainted the matter mentioned.
Intel, lengthy the world chief in chip-making expertise, has misplaced its manufacturing edge lately and is now debating whether or not to outsource a few of it flagship central processor unit chips, or CPUs, slated for launch in 2023.
Activist investor Third Level final month despatched Intel’s board a letter asking it to contemplate whether or not to maintain its chip design and manufacturing operations beneath one roof.
Intel has lengthy outsourced chips apart from its flagship CPUs and is a serious buyer of TSMC, the world’s main contract chip producer. The top of Intel’s self-driving subsidiary Mobileye final month informed Reuters that its subsequent autonomous automobile processor will likely be proceed to be manufactured by TSMC on its 7-nanometre course of.
With its graphics chips, Intel is trying to faucet into the booming PC gaming market. Its DG2 chip is predicted to be launched late this 12 months or in early 2022 and compete with Nvidia and AMD gaming chips that price between $400 (roughly Rs. 29,400) and $600 roughly Rs. 44,100), the sources mentioned.
The chip manufacturing expertise for the DG2 is predicted to be extra superior than the Samsung 8-nanometre course of utilized in Nvidia’s most up-to-date spherical of graphics chips launched within the fall, the individuals mentioned. They added it might even have a leg up on the Superior Micro Gadgets graphics chips made on TSMC’s 7-nanometre course of.
Intel declined to remark and TSMC didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Intel officers final 12 months mentioned that it might outsource the DG2 chip however didn’t say which chip producer had received the enterprise or which chipmaking course of it might use.
