虎嗅APP·2025-10-02 03:12Core Viewpoint - The collaboration between NVIDIA and Intel, marked by NVIDIA's $5 billion investment in Intel and the development of the "Intel x86 with RTX" chip, signifies a major shift in the semiconductor industry after decades of rivalry, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape [4][30]. Group 1: Historical Context - NVIDIA was founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang and his partners, who identified a growing demand for graphics processing as PCs became more popular [7][8]. - Initially, NVIDIA struggled to gain traction in a market dominated by Intel, which held over 80% of the CPU market share in the early 1990s [8]. - The introduction of NVIDIA's GeForce 256 in 1999 marked a turning point, establishing NVIDIA as a key player in the GPU market [10]. Group 2: Competitive Dynamics - The early 2000s saw NVIDIA's rise as it introduced technologies like Optimus, which allowed for intelligent switching between integrated and dedicated graphics, further embedding its products in the PC ecosystem [11]. - Intel's initial indifference to the GPU market shifted as it recognized the growing importance of GPUs, leading to legal battles and competitive tensions between the two companies [14][15]. - By 2010, NVIDIA had established a stronghold in the high-end GPU market, while Intel focused on integrated graphics, leading to a stable division of market roles [17]. Group 3: Technological Evolution - The decline of Moore's Law around 2005 forced Intel to reassess its strategies, while NVIDIA capitalized on the rise of parallel computing through its CUDA architecture, transforming GPUs into general-purpose computing platforms [19][20]. - The emergence of AI in 2012, highlighted by the success of deep learning models using NVIDIA GPUs, solidified NVIDIA's position as a leader in AI computing [22][24]. Group 4: Market Positioning - By 2024, NVIDIA's market capitalization soared to $3 trillion, surpassing major tech companies, while Intel faced significant losses and market share erosion [24][30]. - The partnership between NVIDIA and Intel is seen as a strategic move to leverage each other's strengths in a rapidly evolving market, although the future dynamics remain uncertain due to emerging competitors like AMD and the rise of specialized chips [33][34]. Group 5: Geopolitical Factors - Geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, have influenced the semiconductor landscape, with both companies needing to navigate these complexities as they pursue their strategic goals [34][35].