Could Nvidia be Developing an x86 CPU?
PrintEither news and rumor site The Inquirer is seriously stirring the pot between Intel and Nvidia, or the two companies are looking to move in on each other's territory. It first started last week when The Inq posted a report claiming Intel will design the PlayStation 4 GPU, not Nvidia, and further stating there's a good chance Microsoft's Xbox3 console will sport ATI hardware.
Now the rumor site says Nvidia is trying to make an x86 chip and has put the word out to engineers.
"Word reached us a bit ago that Nvidia is definitely working on a x86 chip and the firm is heavily recruiting x86 engineers all over Silicon Valley," The Inquirer wrote.
But there's a problem with the rumor, other than it being unconfirmed speculation at this point. If Nvidia seriously is considering putting out a x86 CPU, it would have to climb a legal mountain before doing so. Given how long it took Nvidia and Intel to come to licensing terms to combine SLI technology with Intel-based chipsets, it seems unlikely the two would come to another licensing agreement, this time involving x86 technology.
The other route Nvidia could take is to form an alliance with a company already possessing a x86 license, but assuming Nvidia could pull it off, and assuming Nvidia is interested in x86 chip design in the first place, the move would still likely end up in a lengthy court battle.
Thoughts on Nvidia developing a x86 CPU? Hit the jump and tell us what you think.
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winmaster
February 15, 2009 at 6:15pm
Really? Just......Really? Why would you take anything the Inquirer says seriously? Everyting they say is a lie. Only dumbasses read the Inquirer. Really? MaximumPC, I expected better.
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The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
JC's Demon Slayer
February 14, 2009 at 11:58pm
When seeing all that's been going on between NVIDIA and Intel, one starts to think that maybe there was a deal on the table. Say, Intel lets NVIDIA license x86, and in turn, NVIDIA lets Intel license SLi. It's not far-fetched. I anxiously await the day that I can build a 100% NVIDIA PC.
Shckr57
February 13, 2009 at 1:38pm
Why don't they just make a 128 bit cpu instead of a 32 or 64. It would be overkill, but then half of their problems would be gone.
FusilliJerry82
February 12, 2009 at 11:03am
I've seen this rumor several times over the past 5 or so years, most of them in the Inquirer or Fudzilla. I'll believe it when I see it.
dc10ten
February 11, 2009 at 5:06pm
this can lead to being extremely awesome, or lead to more confusion.
That will mean there will be 3 platforms and variations between them.
Nvidia CPU, AMD motherboard, ...intel graphics?!? hah
Zazubovich
February 11, 2009 at 11:48am
and becomes a super monster company? Or more likely buys a via or transmeta for the license portfolio and starts shipping super systems or its own hybrid gaming oriented platform designed to spank xbox and ps4?
sasquatch42
February 11, 2009 at 3:13pm
AMD isn't bankrupt yet, Ph2 is nearly a return to competition, Ph3 *might* regain the performance crown.
I Jedi
February 12, 2009 at 9:22am
One can only hope that AMD catches up to Intel. Personally, I'd love to see an Intel Vs. AMD war happen between the two rivals. Might drive prices down and make innovation happen faster?
sasquatch42
February 16, 2009 at 6:08pm
isn't that what's already happening?
AMD scared Intel into dumping 7 billion into doing 32nm and cutting prices on the Core 2's
sasquatch42
February 16, 2009 at 6:08pm
isn't that what's already happening?
AMD scared Intel into dumping 7 billion into doing 32nm and cutting prices on the Core 2's
Trucido
February 11, 2009 at 10:36am
What kind of processors are in the Nvidia graphics cards? Could they be looking to create an x86 processor in order to put it in one of their desktop graphics or workstation cards?
sasquatch42
February 11, 2009 at 3:15pm
A general prupose chip (CPU) isn't good as a chip that is specialized for the task it does (GPU for graphics)
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