Newsletter Archives

• Thunderbolt is not just for monitors

  Posted on March 10, 2025 at 02:44 CDT by Ben Myers • Comment in the Forums

  BEN’S WORKSHOP

  

  By Ben Myers

  When will Windows computer makers embrace Thunderbolt?

  This is not an idle question, but the answers are quite complicated, involving three different evolving industry standards: Thunderbolt, USB, and DisplayPort. Today’s Thunderbolt 5 offers the possibility of simplified and very fast connections for all manner of devices, not just monitors.

  The Thunderbolt 5 aggregate data transfer rate is up to 120 gigabits per second in both directions, providing single data channels faster than USB and in the ballpark of the speeds inside a computer.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.10.0, 2025-03-10).

  Ben's Workshop Apple, DisplayPort, HDMI, Intel, Newsletters, Thunderbolt, USB, USB 3, USB 4, USB Implementers Forum, USB-C, USB-IF, VESA, Windows

• Intel delays manufacturing in Ohio

  Posted on March 1, 2025 at 03:00 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  In a note published yesterday to Intel’s Newsroom, titled Ohio One Construction Timeline Update (recommended reading), the company announced that its construction timeline for its Ohio fabs has been changed. Originally, manufacturing was planned to begin as early as this year. A delay of five years has been introduced, with the first module now scheduled to go online in 2030 and the second a year later.

  Intel’s explanation for the delay is that it is matching demand to manufacturing. I lack any evidence to the contrary, but this seems more a matter of managing cash flow. My interpretation is a reduction in demand, because it suddenly appears that Intel has adequate manufacturing capacity to meet demand for the next few years. Bringing manufacturing onshore no longer seems to be a priority.

  I see no way to spin this as good news for the company, and it’s a blow to Ohio, at least for now.

  Intel Intel, Intel News, National Security, News, Ohio, Silicon

• Intel is on the block

  Posted on February 18, 2025 at 08:46 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  A report ($) from the Wall Street Journal states that Broadcom and TSMC are in independent talks with Intel about splitting the company into two pieces, with Broadcom taking the chip-design business and TSMC taking the manufacturing arm. Intel shares rose on the news, an indicator that the market thinks this is a good idea.

  The news is breaking (this past Friday), so it’s very early in the process. There are some hurdles, especially US government approval. There are some national security implications, and Intel received a large payout from the US CHIPS act, which has strings attached.

  This news suggests that Intel’s run as a standalone company may come to an end after 57 years. There’s no telling what might happen to the brand.

  Intel Broadcom, Intel, Intel News, TSMC

• Something we forgot to mention

  Posted on January 2, 2025 at 03:00 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums
  

  Intel 8080

  2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Intel 8080 processor. It is an important event in the history of IBM-compatible personal computers because it is the immediate predecessor of the Intel 8086 and its brother with the 8-bit bus, the 8088. For many of us, personal computing began with the IBM PC and the x86 architecture, but the true birth of the PC industry was powered seven years earlier by the 8080 in iconic and important products such as the Altair 8800.

  If you’re near Silicon Valley, you can visit the Intel Museum through March to see its exhibit about the 8080. Those not close can visit the virtual museum.

  Intel took a risk with the 8080 because it was not 100% compatible with the previous 8008. It was close enough that code could be quickly ported (Intel supplied source code converters for the purpose), and the 8080 flourished. It’s safe to say that without the success of the 8080, Intel might have had problems making what would become the big step to x86.

  Intel History, Intel, Personal Computers, Technology

• Intel ARC graphics gains traction

  Posted on December 27, 2024 at 03:00 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  Against the odds, Intel is gaining ground with its ARC graphics chips. Its new “Battlemage” chips are selling out.

  Intel’s A-series chips, codenamed “Alchemist,” piqued interest in ARC last year. I have been in the market for a dedicated graphics card for some time and was impressed enough that I bought a Sparkle ORC OC with the A580 chip, primarily because it cost a mere $165. My budget was set at a max of $200; no other product delivered comparable performance at that price.

  The Alchemist series struggled with games, initially showing competitive performance with a limited number of titles but steadily improving. I’m not a gamer, but I am interested in video rendering performance – the A580 boosted that by an order of magnitude (translation: cut my rendering time by 90%), more than enough to make me happy.

  With the B-series chips, performance has skyrocketed, so much so that Battlemage-based graphics cards are perpetually out of stock. The struggle with games is over; Intel has left its own Alchemist line in the dust.

  NVIDIA dominates with its graphics cards, with AMD trailing behind. Intel is a blip on the radar. But that blip is making a difference – Intel’s price and performance are buyer-friendly, making the market more competitive.

  Intel Graphics Cards, Intel, Intel ARC, News

• Is Recall in your future?

  Posted on December 9, 2024 at 02:42 CST by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Don’t panic.

  Microsoft Recall, the new Microsoft technology that records what you are doing on a Windows 11 PC so you can review (“recall”) past actions in the future, is very much in beta right now and not coming to a computer near you.

  Importantly, Recall has a high bar as far as system requirements are concerned. First, a Copilot+PC is required. For some time, the only processors that could provide the necessary power were Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series, Arm-based processors with the Hexagon neural processing unit. (If you want to learn more about NPUs, see IBM’s article What is a neural processing unit (NPU)?) On December 6, Microsoft announced Windows Insider preview build versions for AMD and Intel-powered Copilot+ PCs, a signal that a wider variety of hardware will soon be available.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.50.0, 2024-12-09).

  On Security AMD, Copilot, Copilot+ PCs, Intel, Newsletters, Qualcomm, Recall, Secured-core Standard

• Gelsinger is out

  Posted on December 5, 2024 at 16:11 CST by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  
  On December 2, Intel Announced that long-time Intel engineer and CEO since 2021 Patrick (“Pat”) Gelsinger had retired from the company, effective December 1, 2024.

  Whether this “retirement” was voluntary or forced is open to question. However, he was replaced instantly with two interim appointments, David Zinser and Michelle (MJ) Johnston Holthaus, serving as co-chief executive officers. He also stepped down from his position on the board of directors. The speed of the action, just a month after Intel announced weak third-quarter financial results, suggests that the company desired a new direction.

  Mr. Gelsinger, with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, had a long career, including Intel accomplishments such as the original 80486 processor, 14 other processors, and the Core and Xeon lines. During his 30 years at Intel, he became a highly regarded executive. But it appears that Intel’s recent troubles in manufacturing and chip architecture were overwhelming.

  There is already speculation about whether Zinser or Holthaus will become the next CEO. This may depend upon whether the board thinks the problems are financial, managerial, or technical. The elevation of Zinser/Holthaus would seem to signal finance and management because neither co-CEO has an engineering background. What this means for Intel’s Foundry business, which has also not performed as expected, is uncertain. The selection of an outsider as the next CEO is not out of the question.

  Intel and its processor architectures have long been the cornerstone of Windows. The rise of both Qualcomm and AMD, along with the foundry excellence at TSMC, could signal a sea change.

  Intel Intel, Management, News, Silicon

• Intel’s troubles

  Posted on August 19, 2024 at 02:44 CDT by Will Fastie

  FROM THE FORUMS

  

  Will Fastie’s article last week, of the same name, drew quite a few readers to its forum. Contributors homed in on the manufacturing-quality problem with 13th- and 14th-generation Intel processors. In addition to the forum posts, Will received a fair number of emails on the topic.

  As mentioned in the article, Intel has not been transparent about the chip problems, adjusting its story and response several times. It is thus important to follow this matter because these two generations of chips make up the bulk of current PC sales.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.34.0, 2024-08-19).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  From the Forums Core 13900K, Core 14900K, Forums, Intel, Intel News, Newsletters
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