HardwareProcessorsQualcomm has reportedly been eyeing up an acquisition of Intel’s chip design businessWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

HardwareProcessorsQualcomm has reportedly been eyeing up an acquisition of Intel’s chip design businessWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Future)

Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon

Rumours persist that Intel may be looking tocarve off pieces of itselfin order to withstand the storm it currently finds itself within. Amid reports that an action plan is imminent, it appears that Qualcomm may be moving around in its periphery, eyeing up potential acquisitions—including Intel’s chip design business.

Two sourcesspeaking to Reutershave said that Intel’s client PC design business is “of significant interest” to Qualcomm’s executives, but that it’s also looking at all of the company’s design units (viaWccftech). An Intel spokesperson has said that Qualcomm has not approached the company about an acquisition, but the thought of such a move is quite intriguing.

Selling off a prestigious part of its business to a company that seems like an up-and-coming competitor in the PC space would likely be far from ideal for Intel. That being said, given Intel’s troubles of late, having a buyer seriously interested in its assets could prove to be enough reason to take any potential offer seriously, no matter which company makes it.

Regardless, the sources say that Qualcomm has been working on plans to buy pieces of Intel for months—although its interests and plans have not been finalised, and are subject to change.

The company has instead chosen to focus on its 18A node, which Intel says has been producing promising results. Still, what with Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger previously stating that he had"bet the whole company on 18A", it seems like Intel might be keen to double down on that particular segment of its business.

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Chip design, though? Well, that’d be quite the thing for a chip maker to lose. Given the dire straits Intel finds itself in though, I suppose anything is possible, and its no surprise that competitors like Qualcomm have been sniffing around to see whether Intel might be prepared to sell off some of its more valuable assets.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gamingBest gaming motherboardBest graphics cardBest SSD for gaming

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

Best CPU for gaming: Top chips from Intel and AMD.Best gaming motherboard: The right boards.Best graphics card: Your perfect pixel-pusher awaits.Best SSD for gaming: Get into the game first.

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