Intel and TSMC join forces to further Atom

Tuesday 03rd March 2009, 09:41:00 AM, written by Rys

Intel and TSMC announced yesterday that they were joining forces, with TSMC integrating Intel Atom technology into its product offering, allowing customers more availability and access to the x86-based processor core in system-on-chip configuration, compared to what Intel could offer on its own.

TSMC get access to Atom IP, process information and the design flows in order to integrate the processor into products.  There's no word from either side on the first Atom-based products that TSMC will manufacture.

The press release is available at Intel's Press Room, and we'll have more analysis on the deal shortly.
Discuss on the forums

Tagging

intel ± atom, tsmc, manufacturing, soc, deal


Latest Thread Comments (12 total)
Posted by rpg.314 on Tuesday, 03-Mar-09 05:38:33 UTC
For me, Intel has a console win. May be not PS4, but certainly atleast one of them.

Posted by Rufus on Tuesday, 03-Mar-09 06:36:01 UTC
Erm, how do you go from low-power integrated cpu to a console win? Atom's going to be in netbooks and eventually cell phones (probably?), LRB + Nehalem or something would be in a console.Ars has an interesting take, that Intel simply can't afford to produce something this low-margin on their current process fab. Intel's always done high-margin CPU on their current fabs, and used the previous gen for chipsets / flash / etc. If atom's going to be competitive it has to be on a current-gen fab, but that completely screws Intel's economics.http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/03/atom-cant-feed-rd-monster-intel-outsources-chips-to-tsmc.ars

Posted by rpg.314 on Tuesday, 03-Mar-09 08:50:14 UTC
If they are ok with sending out their IP on a foreign process, (a big first for them), they wouldn't mind a tsmc's lrb. Don't forget that a console lrb is also going to be almost margin less. This would assuage the fears of any company wanting to use lrb in a console but wanting to avoid getting burnt like ms. Desktop/laptop gpu's, where margins are, could still be on intel's fabs. And if they can port atom to tsmc's process, they probably can do it for lrb also.

Posted by iwod on Tuesday, 03-Mar-09 09:18:38 UTC
The more i think about it. Isn't this a Win Win for them both? TSMC CEO foresee some very slow recovery and with TSMC having much less order to lots of Wafer space. Intel wants Atom out for custom design as well as saving their wafer for high margin CPU.

Posted by rpg.314 on Tuesday, 03-Mar-09 13:01:11 UTC
Quote
Isn't this a Win Win for them both?
That's why they both agreed to it. :)

Posted by DavidC on Sunday, 15-Mar-09 08:14:43 UTC
I think personally the *core* of the Atom derivatives will be Intel manufactured. Why would they bother making SoC versions of their process technology?? They said they are also committed to keep doing that for future lithography generations.

Posted by Silent_Buddha on Sunday, 15-Mar-09 15:47:38 UTC
Assuming the tech sector recovers and Atom remains popular. Demand is going to far outstrip supply when the recovery occurs. I see opportunities here for other independant fabs if this occurs.

Assuming of course they other fabs can survive this recession...

Regards,
SB

Posted by iwod on Wednesday, 01-Apr-09 06:44:58 UTC
Just have an update on this, Intel said Fabless Companies wont be able to combine their design and IP with Atom. It will be strictly be end customer products. This is exactly what Arun stated in his article....Personally i dont see anyone using this apart from Apple.

Posted by rpg.314 on Wednesday, 01-Apr-09 09:18:54 UTC
Quoting iwod
Just have an update on this, Intel said Fabless Companies wont be able to combine their design and IP with Atom.
It will be strictly be end customer products.
But why do that?:???:

Posted by MfA on Sunday, 05-Apr-09 20:30:37 UTC
Quoting iwod
Do we NEED x86 in embedded sector?
If you want to run windows.


Add your comment in the forums

Related intel News

32nm sixsome over at RealWorldTech
Intel Core i3 and i5 processors launched
Analysis: Intel-TSMC announcement more complex than reported
Fudzilla: Intel 45nm Havendale MCM replaced by 32nm+45nm MCM
Intel announce Core i7 processors, reviews show up
Intel's Aaron Coday talks to Develop about Larrabee
Larrabee to also be presented at Hot Chips
Intel Larrabee @ SIGGRAPH 2008
Larrabee's Rasterisation Focus Confirmed
Nehalem Article @ RWT + 3.2GHz samples(?)