Spreadtrum planning to build high-end ARM chips on Intel 14nm?

[NTMBK]

According to the article, Spreadtrum is aiming to use Intel's 14-nanometer manufacturing technology to build both low-end and high-end applications processors for the mobile market next year. This makes perfect sense given that Intel had signaled that its own 14-nanometer smartphone applications processors would launch next year.

Where things get weird, though, is that Spreadtrum CEO Leo Li is quoted as saying that the company has "no obligation" to use Intel's intellectual property unless that technology proves to be "competitive on the market." If I'm reading this correctly, if Intel's IP isn't as good as, say, ARM's (NASDAQ: ARMH ) , then Spreadtrum could very well use Intel's own manufacturing technology to build better chips than what Intel will build and sell on its own.

If the above wasn't weird enough, it gets even crazier. Spreadtrum's CEO indicated in the interview with EETimes that it would be building both low-end and high-end mobile applications processors on Intel's 14-nanometer technology.

http://www.fool.com/investing/gener...dtrum-just-got-w.aspx?source=iaasitlnk0000003

This could get interesting! I wonder how an A72 on Intel 14nm will do?

 

[Shehriazad]

Still terrible >: D

 

[cbn]

This will probably add to the third party IP fabbed at Intel.

And I believe Broxton has the AMBA on-chip interconnect which allows relatively easy mix and match of third party IP. So maybe we see some additional die variants for Broxton, or more likely one of its successors?

 

[witeken]

Don't forget that Spreadtrum's 14nm will have some TTM delay compared to Intel.

 

[NTMBK]

Don't forget that Spreadtrum's 14nm will have some TTM delay compared to Intel.

Even more delayed than Intel's phone chips? Yikes.

 

[witeken]

Even more delayed than Intel's phone chips? Yikes.

On par against the foundries: http://semiengineering.com/one-on-one-with-intels-foundry-chief/.