ARM and Intel has jointly announced an agreement that will see ARM SoCs build on Intel’s 10nm manufacturing process. Essentially, companies that build their chips based on ARM’s Artisanal Physical IP will be able to use Intel’s Custom Foundry services to manufacture their designs.
It’s a bit of a mouthful to deal with, but the idea is that ARM does not actually make its own chips. Rather, it designs SoC architecture and leases them out for other companies like Qualcomm to use. Similarly, Intel runs a service that allows third party manufacturers to use any spare production capacity to make their own chips. Combined, this will see ARM architecture being produced in Intel foundries for the first time.
Until recently, Intel had been ARM’s competitor; although it had little success producing mobile processors. The announcement looks like Intel is attempting to get a little extra mileage out of its mobile SoC factories since pulling out of the market; and who better to work with than the biggest name in mobile chips.
Of course, this isn’t the first time that Intel has allowed third parties to manufacture chips through its Custom Foundry. Companies like LG Electronics and Achtronix Semiconductor have already successfully produced products thanks to the programme. In fact, the Custom Foundry has resulted in Intel buying over its customer Altera.
For ARM’s partners, this could provide an alternative source for mobile processors. Instead of relying on bigger names like the aforementioned Qualcomm or TSMC, they could simply bring the designs over to Intel to have them produced on a highly competitive 10nm manufacturing process.
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