(Credit: Nvidia/Intel)
In a twist no one saw coming, Intel and Nvidia are teaming up to put RTX graphics directly into Intel PC chips, likely for laptops.
The deal involves Intel and Nvidia jointly developing “multiple generations of custom datacenter and PC products” for both the enterprise and consumer markets.
The partnership covers Intel’s processors for the x86 architecture, which are used for Windows PCs and servers. Intel CPUs have long featured their own "integrated" graphics, often found in thin and light laptops. For added graphics power, your PC can include a dedicated Nvidia GPU, either as a full-size desktop graphics card or as a discrete GPU inside a laptop.
In a surprise, it looks like Team Blue has decided to shelve its own integrated graphics for an Nvidia GPU “chiplet” that’ll be attached to at least some Intel CPUs.
“For personal computing, Intel will build and offer to the market x86 system-on-chips (SOCs) that integrate Nvidia RTX GPU chiplets. These new x86 RTX SOCs will power a wide range of PCs that demand integration of world-class CPUs and GPUs,” the companies said.
Although we suspect the deal will focus on laptop chips, it's possible Intel could also feature the Nvidia GPUs on processors for mini PCs or perhaps a gaming handheld. (In 2017, Intel also partnered with AMD to create an eighth-generation Core chip featuring a Radeon RX Vega M graphics processor.)
IT analyst Patrick Moorhead weighed in, tweeting: "On PC, a high-performance notebook with tightly coupled Intel+NVIDIA seems strong for AI, gaming, and workstation. While deets are slim, it’s interesting to think about multi-GPU configs."
The Intel chips will integrate the RTX chiplets by leveraging Nvidia’s NVLink, a high-speed interface to increase data transfer rates between a CPU and GPU. Nvidia usually talks about NVLink for data centers, but now the technology will be baked into the supported Intel chips.
The companies added: “For data centers, Intel will build Nvidia-custom x86 CPUs that Nvidia will integrate into its AI infrastructure platforms and offer to the market.” The deal is also expected to bolster Intel's struggling chip foundry business since the company says it'll both "design and manufacture" the custom silicon.
Nvidia is also investing $5 billion in Intel by buying the company’s stock. This comes after the US government also took a 10% stake in Intel by using $8.9 billion in federal subsidies.
The partnership raises a lot of questions, like how it came about. Did Nvidia’s rumored Arm chip for Windows PCs push Intel to entertain a deal? What about Intel’s own ambitions for built-in and dedicated graphics through the company’s Arc line? The two companies will share more about the deal in a press conference at 10 a.m. PST. Stay tuned for our coverage.