Nvidia puts TSMC in place as air turns Big Blue

Update 08:56 UT It's almost as if Nvidia read newspapers and newswires. A joint press release from the firm and from TSMC has just appeared on the Business Wire saying that Nvidia and TSMC "reaffirm" their partnership. CEO Jen-Hsun Huang, the firm's CEO, said: "Partnership with TSMC has been one of the key reasons for Nvidia's success today. TSMC remains a vital partner... and an integral part of our long term strategy." TSMC will "remain Nvidia's primary foundry partner". We guess this softens the blow to TSMC, but we guess, not by very much. The Bloomberg Asian wire reported that TSMC will build Nvidia's "older" graphics chips.

(12:19 UT) IBM has now responded to all this, by saying it's a multi-year alliance with the chips to be produced at its 12-inch fab in Fishkill, NY. Big Blue claims that it was chosen because of improved operation, greater efficiency, and competitive advantage. IBM claims Nvidia needs "the most sophisticated process technologies".

LAST AUGUST WE reported that charismatic Nvidia leader Jen-Hsun Huang praised IBM Microelectronics and gave Taiwanese foundry a "gentle reminder" that competition is a good thing.

See Nvidia mentions dreaded IBM word to TSMC.

The reason for this foundry fandango is because Nvidia was very anxious to switch to .13µ (micron) technology and the last thing Graphzilla needed were any local process difficulties.

Wires report that Nvidia has now signed a deal with Big Blue for it to fab up its GeForce graphics chips. TSMC isn't being dumped but wanted a second supplier, news.com said.

NVDA is a close buddy of TMTA, which also had problems with TSMC moving to .13µ, as first reported in the INQUIRER in times of yore.

And IBM Micro has excellent foundry technology - as AMD, Nvidia's close partner also realised earlier this year - although silicon on insulator (SOI) isn't a dream boat Big Blue is sailing too well right now.

Details of the proportion of chips that Nvidia will have IBM fab up remain unclear at press time.

And if earlier reports that Nvidia isn't "talking to the INQUIRER any more" and has thrown its toys out of its graphics pram are correct, looks like we're just going to have to rely on Eva Glass to source our top NVDA stories in the future.

It seems sort of fitting that spoilt hacks sometimes throw their toys out of their respective prams. But multi gazillion corporations? As EvaG would say: "Sheesh!" µ

See Also
Our unparalleled graphics page