Processors

Qualcomm adds two quad-core chipsets to Snapdragon S4 line

Qualcomm has added two new chipsets to its popular Snapdragon S4 processor family.

Dubbed the MSM8226 and MSM8626, the chipsets offer quad-core processing and use the 28nm technology node. The chipsets include the Adreno 305 graphics processing unit, allowing for 1080p video capture and playback and up to a 13-megapixel camera. According to Qualcomm, the chipsets will allow for long battery life, though the company didn't put a number on that.

Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon processor is becoming increasingly popular in mobile devices. The company's previous chipsets have also been popular. According to Qualcomm, there have been about … Read more

Intel to slash power consumption on Ivy Bridge chip

Intel is on a mission to cut the power consumption of its chips. But that's not only future silicon. The current Ivy Bridge chip will get throttled down too.

Intel will cut power consumption "significantly" for future versions of the chip, an industry source familiar with the chipmaker's plans told CNET.

Intel's most power efficient Ivy Bridge chips today -- used widely in Windows ultrabooks and Apple's MacBook Air -- are rated at 17 watts.

A future version of Ivy Bridge would be rated well below this, the source said. Processors able to throttle … Read more

Intel inside the iPad? Maybe, if it builds iPhone chips, RBC says

RBC Capital Markets has a new twist to the frequent Apple-Intel relationship rumors, and this time, it could actually be good news for Intel.

According to RBC analyst Doug Freedman, Apple may be contemplating a new relationship where Intel would build Apple's self-designed ARM-based smartphone chips in exchange for Apple using Intel's X86 processors in certain new devices, like the next-generation iPad.

While it may seem illogical for Apple to use different processors in its mobile devices, that could be one way for it to secure enough capacity and use chips on the leading edge of technology. After … Read more

Intel to kill off desktop as we know it, reports claim

The end of the desktop is near, according to reports trickling out over the last few days.

Changes in the way Intel connects its processors to the circuit board may signal broad changes to the desktop PC as we know it today.

Desktop processors are attached to the PC's main circuit board (aka motherboard) via a socket. Intel processors compatible with that socket are then inserted by the end user, be it an enthusiast or PC supplier.

This is the design that is in danger of disappearing, reports claim.

Mobile processors, on the other hand, are soldered directly to … Read more

Intel CEO startled board chairman with decision to retire

Intel CEO Paul Otellini's decision to retire likely caught a lot of people off-guard, one of them being the company's own chairman of the board.

Speaking with Barron's yesterday, Intel Chairman Andy Bryant acknowledged that he and Otellini had talked in the past about transitioning the CEO job. But Otellini surprised him last week with the decision to retire next May.

"I did everything I can think of to buy myself another year [of Otellini's leaderhip]," Bryan said. "We were targeting further out for this."

In yesterday's announcement, Intel touted Otellini'… Read more

Apple's rise to test Intel's next CEO

The success of the iPad and iPhone is a problem for Intel's next CEO.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini seems to be exiting in the nick of time. His successor will face an increasingly hostile world of customers like Apple fashioning chips for their own purposes.

Apple is a big Intel customer. Macs are all Intel-based. Problem is, most of Apple's growth is happening in tablets and phones.

This is not a trivial issue for Intel. As Apple ships more iPhones and iPads, more R&D and money flow to Apple's internal chip development -- in the … Read more

Otellini's legacy at Intel: Plentiful profits, mobile misfires

When Intel CEO Paul Otellini retires in May, he'll leave a mixed record.

On the one hand, Intel's processor manufacturing prowess remains second to none, with the company often introducing new miniaturization technology years ahead of rivals. As ever more companies withdraw from chip manufacturing, Intel manages to keep turning the crank profitably. During Otellini's reign, Intel has so far generated $107 billion in cash from operations and paid dividends of $23.5 billion.

But Intel also has failed to come to terms with a powerful force in the processor world -- the rise of mobile devices … Read more

Intel CEO Paul Otellini will retire in May

Intel's Paul Otellini will retire from his post as president and CEO in May 2013, the chipmaker announced today.

The time frame will give the board of directors almost six months to look for the right person to succeed Otellini. The board said that it's open to either internal or external candidates for the job, a sign that the company doesn't appear to have anyone specific in mind at this point.

Otellini's retirement will close the door on almost 40 years of employment with Intel.

"Paul Otellini has been a very strong leader, only the … Read more

AMD reportedly hires bank to explore options such as a sale

Struggling chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices has reportedly hired J.P. Morgan to help it explore strategic options -- in other words, to look at possibly breaking up its operations or selling the entire company.

Reuters reported that an outright sale of the company isn't a priority and that AMD may consider selling its patent portfolio.

A person familiar with the situation told CNET that AMD has worked with J.P. Morgan, but it's not considering selling the company.

An AMD spokesman, meanwhile, said that "AMD is not actively pursuing a sale of the company or significant assets … Read more