Core Viewpoint - The collaboration between Nvidia and Intel marks a significant strategic partnership aimed at enhancing their positions in the AI and data center markets, potentially threatening competitors like AMD and Arm [2][3][16]. Group 1: Nvidia and Intel Collaboration - Nvidia announced a $5 billion investment to acquire over 4% of Intel's shares, becoming a significant shareholder [2]. - The partnership includes joint development of customized data center and PC products, with Intel providing x86 processors for Nvidia's AI infrastructure [2]. - Nvidia emphasized the integration of its NVLink technology with Intel's CPU capabilities to offer enhanced solutions to customers [2][3]. Group 2: Market Reactions - Following the announcement, Intel's stock surged over 30% in pre-market trading and closed up 22.77%, while Nvidia's stock rose by 3.49% [3]. - In contrast, AMD and Arm experienced stock declines, with AMD dropping over 5% initially and Arm falling by 7% [3]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The collaboration poses a direct threat to AMD, particularly in the integrated graphics market, as Intel holds approximately 79% of the PC CPU market and Nvidia commands about 92% of the GPU market [3]. - AMD's server products may also be impacted, as Nvidia's NVLink could outperform AMD's Infinity Fabric in terms of connection speed and data consistency [3]. Group 4: Technical Integration Challenges - The integration of Intel's CPUs with NVLink presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in achieving a unified memory system that requires extensive software ecosystem support [5][6]. - Nvidia's own Grace CPU, based on Arm architecture, may face competition from the Intel-Nvidia collaboration, as the latter could leverage the established x86 ecosystem [6][7]. Group 5: Intel's Foundry Challenges - Despite the collaboration, Intel's foundry business continues to struggle, with a reported loss of $7 billion in 2023 and an expected increase to $13.4 billion in 2024 [10]. - The partnership does not explicitly address Intel's foundry services, raising questions about its future viability [9][10]. Group 6: Historical Context - The partnership is seen as a significant shift in the relationship between Nvidia and Intel, which has been marked by past legal disputes and limited collaboration [14][16]. - This strategic alliance is viewed as a response to the evolving demands of the AI and data center markets, with both companies aiming to capitalize on emerging opportunities [16].
英伟达的抉择:与英特尔 CPU 直连,Grace CPU 何去何从?