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Gotta think that Intel and Apple must be having discussions about moving successors to the A5 chips over to Intel's process. Getting Apple's ARM processors mov

by huxley 15y ago

Gotta think that Intel and Apple must be having discussions about moving successors to the A5 chips over to Intel's process. Getting Apple's ARM processors moved to 22mm would be a spectacular coup for both Apple and Intel. You'd think that the volume and funds Apple brings would paper over any hard feelings about not using x86.

polshaw 15y ago
It would be fantastic for apple, but not so sure about intel. Remember, intel are right now trying to bring atom-- itself not even on the 22nm process yet-- to exactly the space that the A5 occupies. It would seem suicidal to give away their process advantage against ARM at exactly the time they are pushing hard to get Atom caught up with their lead process (going 22nm next year and 14nm the year after; the same time as their full power processors). It will be interesting to see if there are any high end ARM chips made at intel, or if they just stick to areas they deem to not be competing with them (which can't be a lot that needs 22nm?)
- cstejerean 15y ago
  Given that Apple processors will only be available in Apple devices, there's still plenty of room for Intel to sell a 22nm Atom while allowing Apple to take advantage of their 22nm process.
- Loic 15y ago
  It would not be suicidal, why? Because they have the 22nm lead and will most likely keep the lead for years. It means that Apple will not be able to go back to another provider with the same performance. Which means they can lock Apple and force Apple hand. This would be brilliant.
  - polshaw 15y ago
    It would be suicidal for their aim of getting atom into tablets and smartphones, I meant. (Which would almost certainly hold more profit than making someone else's processor.)
nextparadigms 15y ago
I figure it would take a while for that to happen, even if Intel wanted to do that. Plus, I think ARM signed a partnership with IBM to manufacture its chips at 14 nm, I believe in 2014, which would be very competitive with Intel timeline wise.

by huxley 15y ago

polshaw 15y ago

It would be fantastic for apple, but not so sure about intel. Remember, intel are right now trying to bring atom-- itself not even on the 22nm process yet-- to exactly the space that the A5 occupies. It would seem suicidal to give away their process advantage against ARM at exactly the time they are pushing hard to get Atom caught up with their lead process (going 22nm next year and 14nm the year after; the same time as their full power processors). It will be interesting to see if there are any high end ARM chips made at intel, or if they just stick to areas they deem to not be competing with them (which can't be a lot that needs 22nm?)

cstejerean 15y ago
Given that Apple processors will only be available in Apple devices, there's still plenty of room for Intel to sell a 22nm Atom while allowing Apple to take advantage of their 22nm process.
Loic 15y ago
It would not be suicidal, why? Because they have the 22nm lead and will most likely keep the lead for years. It means that Apple will not be able to go back to another provider with the same performance. Which means they can lock Apple and force Apple hand. This would be brilliant.
- polshaw 15y ago
  It would be suicidal for their aim of getting atom into tablets and smartphones, I meant. (Which would almost certainly hold more profit than making someone else's processor.)

nextparadigms 15y ago

I figure it would take a while for that to happen, even if Intel wanted to do that. Plus, I think ARM signed a partnership with IBM to manufacture its chips at 14 nm, I believe in 2014, which would be very competitive with Intel timeline wise.