Qualcomm's CEO dismisses Intel as a possibility for chip manufacturing at this time
In the world of tech, competition is fierce, and the race between Qualcomm and Intel in the thin-and-light notebook market is no exception. Performance improvements have propelled Qualcomm to the forefront, making it a direct competitor to Intel.
On one side, Intel finds itself in a unique position, simultaneously competing with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and relying on it. The tech giant is hoping to convince others, including Qualcomm, to become customers of its own process nodes.
The interest in collaboration between Qualcomm and Intel is not new. Both companies have signalled a desire to work together in the past. However, the suitability of Intel's chipmaking technology for Qualcomm's needs is currently a question mark. Qualcomm CEO, Cristiano Amon, has stated that Intel's technology is not yet up to the mark for the production of Qualcomm's Snapdragon X chips.
TSMC's N4 process, a dense, power-efficient 4nm-class node, has been tuned specifically for mobile SoCs with large GPU and NPU blocks. At present, Qualcomm is manufacturing the Snapdragon X chips with TSMC on this very process.
Meanwhile, Intel's upcoming Nova Lake products are rumoured to be partly built using TSMC's N2 process. However, Intel has raised questions about execution risk on the 18A node due to yield issues.
Intel's roadmap depends on securing a large external customer. The company has staked its future on becoming a contract manufacturer for other chip designers. However, Intel's 14A development might pause or even be abandoned if it fails to win significant external business or achieve critical progress targets.
Qualcomm, on the other hand, is shipping the Snapdragon X chips in a growing class of Arm-based laptops. These laptops boast power efficiency levels that rival and at times outstrip even the most modern Intel chips.
Despite the current situation, Qualcomm has not completely ruled out the possibility of working with Intel. Cristiano Amon has expressed a hope that Intel will become an option for Qualcomm in the future. For now, however, the Snapdragon X will remain with TSMC.
In an interview published by Bloomberg on September 5, Cristiano Amon discussed these issues and more, providing insights into the complex relationship between these tech giants. The future of this competition and potential collaboration remains to be seen.
Read also:
- Understanding Hemorrhagic Gastroenteritis: Key Facts
- Trump's Policies: Tariffs, AI, Surveillance, and Possible Martial Law
- Expanded Community Health Involvement by CK Birla Hospitals, Jaipur, Maintained Through Consistent Outreach Programs Across Rajasthan
- Abdominal Fat Accumulation: Causes and Strategies for Reduction
