SiFive Receives $2 Billion Takeover Offer from Intel

[btarunr]

SiFive, one of the hottest new semiconductor start-ups specializing in performance RISC-V processors, has received an offer for acquisition from Intel, for USD $2 billion, according to a Bloomberg report, citing sources close to the deal. SiFive was last valued at $500 million in 2020, when it was raising funds. SiFive is potentially benefiting from NVIDIA's ongoing acquisition of Arm, as the company has the ingredients to whip up high-performance processors based on the open-standard RISC-V machine architecture. Both SiFive and Intel declined to comment on the Bloomberg story.



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[Uroshi]

I was expecting Apple or Quantum to make a move ...

RISC-V looks more and more worth investing into. Especially for those that could build a compatible CPU with proprietary IP.

 

[lexluthermiester]

This is a bad idea. SiFive needs to stay an independent company.

 

[InhaleOblivion]

Yeah I doubt if Intel will do anything with this tech in the near future. It would have been nice to see SiFive grow into a viable chipmaker. Big fish continue to eat little fish.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Yeah I doubt if Intel will do anything with this tech in the near future. It would have been nice to see SiFive grow into a viable chipmaker. Big fish continue to eat little fish.

Just because they've made the offer doesn't mean it's a done deal...

 

[XiGMAKiD]

If Intel and AMD join forces to develop this ISA it might be interesting

 

[lexluthermiester]

If Intel and AMD join forces to develop this ISA it might be interesting

I'd rather see ARM involved as they have FAR more expertise.

 

[Fourstaff]

Given Intel's history, I don't think SiFive is heading towards a bright future. But I think lets give Intel a benefit of doubt, they are desperate for winners lately.

 

[XiGMAKiD]

I'd rather see ARM involved as they have FAR more expertise.

And let Nvidia get two birds with one stone?

 

[lexluthermiester]

And let Nvidia get two birds with one stone?

That might not happen. There are some problems that have put a hold on that deal.

 

[bonehead123]

Yeah I doubt if Intel will do anything with this tech in the near future. It would have been nice to see SiFive grow into a viable chipmaker. Big fish continue to eat little fish.

More than likely that they will buy them, then bury the tech until it is no longer a threat to them, or at least repurpose/rename it for their own use and release it as some "revolutionary" advancement that they can then take credit for.....

Wouldn't be the 1st time they've did this either...

 

[mechtech]

This is a bad idea. SiFive needs to stay an independent company.

Many companies should, like even ARM. I mean if I was getting offered 4 fold I'd probably take it.

Then start another startup lol

 

[evernessince]

Many companies should, like even ARM. I mean if I was getting offered 4 fold I'd probably take it.

Then start another startup lol

Maybe a toilet paper startup. When you accept the deal to sell your company, they are going to require that you don't start another company that competes with them.

A competing CPU company could be worth potentially hundreds of billions. Taking "4 fold" isn't that impressive when it's only 4 fold 500 million. Mind you it's not all about the money. If you have a passion for something no amount of money in the world is going to replace that when you sell your company. Money is a tool to achieve your goals, not an end goal in and of itself. People far too often forget that and end up selling their life work for something which they now have no use for aside from existing but what is existing without purpose.

 

[lexluthermiester]

When you accept the deal to sell your company, they are going to require that you don't start another company that competes with them.

Trust me, that can be avoided.

 

[asuya]

$2 Billion is small for Intel, SiFive should looking forward for bright future, waiting 10 years more...(sorry my bad english) ​

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I don't get it, isn't risc-V open source?!.
Seams more like oppo kill then developed interest to me.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I don't get it, isn't risc-V open source?!.

Pretty much, yeah.

 

[mechtech]

Maybe a toilet paper startup. When you accept the deal to sell your company, they are going to require that you don't start another company that competes with them.

A competing CPU company could be worth potentially hundreds of billions. Taking "4 fold" isn't that impressive when it's only 4 fold 500 million. Mind you it's not all about the money. If you have a passion for something no amount of money in the world is going to replace that when you sell your company. Money is a tool to achieve your goals, not an end goal in and of itself. People far too often forget that and end up selling their life work for something which they now have no use for aside from existing but what is existing without purpose.

Which is what I was agreeing with in the post I quoted.........."many of these small (or medium) independent companies should stay that way" Once a company is huge with a huge wallet like Apple/MS/Amazon/Google/Intel, and even Nvida is getting there, I don't think it's good for the ecosystem as a whole.

 

[Unter_Dog]

I don't deal with SiFive but feeling bad for those that do after having to deal with Altera after Intel F'd them beyond belief.

 

[evernessince]

Which is what I was agreeing with in the post I quoted.........."many of these small (or medium) independent companies should stay that way" Once a company is huge with a huge wallet like Apple/MS/Amazon/Google/Intel, and even Nvida is getting there, I don't think it's good for the ecosystem as a whole.

Oh I was just waxing philosophical. The 2nd paragraph was not targeted at you.

 

[medi01]

NVIDIA's ongoing acquisition of Arm

Come on, people, this is a tech forum...