A collaboration signal from Intel
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said at a fireside chat hosted by the Chinese American Semiconductor Professional Association (CASPA) on October 24 that he had a conversation with AMD CEO Lisa Su about potential areas of collaboration. Details of the discussion were not disclosed.
0.9 PDK on 14A
Tan said the 0.9 PDK (Process Design Kit) for the next-generation 14A process is coming soon. A PDK is the set of technical documents and models that let chip designers build circuits for a given manufacturing process; a 0.9 release indicates the process is nearing readiness for customer designs.
"We will reclaim CPU leadership"
Tan said he is "very determined" to reclaim CPU leadership. He also raised Intel's stance on modifying its approach for customers in critical terms.
Why it matters
Intel is betting on 14A to grow its foundry business. The approaching 0.9 PDK bears on when the process opens up to customer designs. The reported conversation with AMD stands out as an unexpected dialogue between two rivals.
