News GlobalFoundries to make RISC-V CPUs — fab acquires MIPS, will integrate RISC-V and AI IP into its portfolio

[Admin]

GlobalFoundries will acquire MIPS to integrate RISC-V-based CPU and AI IP into its portfolio, shifting from a pure-play foundry to a provider of complete compute solutions.

GlobalFoundries to make RISC-V CPUs — fab acquires MIPS, will integrate RISC-V and AI IP into its portfolio : Read more

 

[-Fran-]

This was not in my 2025 bingo* card 😀

Good though!

Regards.

 

[TerryLaze]

GlobalFoundries will acquire MIPS to integrate RISC-V-based CPU and AI IP into its portfolio, shifting from a pure-play foundry to a provider of complete compute solutions.

GlobalFoundries to make RISC-V CPUs — fab acquires MIPS, will integrate RISC-V and AI IP into its portfolio : Read more

GlobalFoundries anticipates completing the deal in the second half of 2025. The acquisition remains subject to customary regulatory reviews and closing conditions.

Nvidia also thought that they would buy ARM...
"will acquire" should be changed into "want's to"

 

[artk2219]

Thissssss would make a lot of sense. Huh, hopefully they dont screw it up if the sale goes through.

 

[-Fran-]

Nvidia also thought that they would buy ARM...
"will acquire" should be changed into "want's to"

There's two key differences here:
1. Everyone hates nVidia.
2. GloFo does not participate in the chips market.

Also, talk about going full circle.

Regards.

 

[artk2219]

There's two key differences here:
1. Everyone hates nVidia.
2. GloFo does not participate in the chips market.

Also, talk about going full circle.

Regards.

That was my thought as well, from AMD's foundry to a general "global" foundry and then back to an in-house design and foundry setup. Everything old is new again i guess hah.

 

[TerryLaze]

There's two key differences here:
1. Everyone hates nVidia.
2. GloFo does not participate in the chips market.

Also, talk about going full circle.

Regards.

I doubt that hate is a factor for the regulators.
The main difference that I see is that both glofo and mips are small players and not an overwhelming force if put together.

Still the point is that until it goes through it didn't go through yet.

 

[bit_user]

That was my thought as well, from AMD's foundry to a general "global" foundry and then back to an in-house design and foundry setup. Everything old is new again i guess hah.

It's not the same as it was in the AMD days. A lot of GF's customers are fabbing chips that have IP licensed from various IP design houses. What GF is doing is basically providing them the option of using some of GF's own IP, but I'm sure GF will very happily fab anything any wants them to make, with any IP.

Maybe you could think about it like a grocery store that has its own store brand products, in addition to all of the name-brand stuff they sell.

 

[Lemming Overlord]

Globalfoundries has no intention of doing anything with MIPS. Their goal is to tap those juicy EU subsidies

GF has already hugely leveraged the EU and German Federal subsidies to support their outdated fabs, and this is just another lifeline thrown at them.

The "real men have fabs" strategy failed long ago...

 

[abufrejoval]

I'll admit, my first immediate reaction was: "two loosers won't make a winner!".

But then MIPS isn't exactly a looser, it had a good run. But when you start that early, your childhood sins will catch up with you: a lesson Itanium never quite learned and with a lot more money involved.

Where I am completely at a loss and where I see much more potential brought about by today's trade wars is the fact that there are significant Chinese investments in MIPS or MIPS derived architectures: they were classroom material all over the world after all.

So the biggest part of the story is the various icebergs we don't get to see until they hit.

Anyhow Anton, when it comes to sniffing out interesting tidbits, you're just the best left from Anandtech, so thank you!

 

[bit_user]

Anyhow Anton, when it comes to sniffing out interesting tidbits, you're just the best left from Anandtech, so thank you!

Anton has been in the biz for a long time.

I even saw him credited in the "thank you" section of one of the old 3DMark benchmarks. Maybe the 2001 or 2003 edition? His name was included in a long list of industry contacts. I think Raja Koduri was even included in those credits!