August 26th, 2024

Senior Intel CPU architects splinter to develop RISC-V processors

A group of senior Intel architects has founded AheadComputing, a startup focused on RISC-V processors, aiming to design and license core IP while actively recruiting new talent amidst Intel's layoffs.

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Senior Intel CPU architects splinter to develop RISC-V processors

A group of senior CPU architects from Intel has left the company to establish a new startup, AheadComputing, focused on developing RISC-V processors. The co-founders, including Debbie Marr, Mark Dechene, Jonathan Pearce, and Srikanth Srinivasan, collectively bring over 80 years of experience from Intel. AheadComputing aims to design, verify, and license RISC-V core intellectual property, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape of CPU architecture. The startup was publicly launched on July 18, shortly before Intel announced extensive layoffs, raising concerns about the company's future amidst a significant brain drain. The co-founders have impressive backgrounds, with Marr being a former Intel Fellow and Chief Architect, and the others having held key engineering roles in various Intel CPU projects. The departure of these experienced architects could hinder Intel's recovery efforts, especially as the company faces challenges related to its ambitious construction plans and workforce reductions. The founders of AheadComputing are actively seeking new talent in CPU design and verification, indicating their commitment to building a strong team for their new venture.

- Senior Intel architects have founded a new RISC-V startup, AheadComputing.

- The startup aims to design and license RISC-V core IP.

- The co-founders have extensive experience, with over 80 years combined at Intel.

- Intel's layoffs raise concerns about its ability to recover and innovate.

- AheadComputing is actively recruiting new talent in CPU design.

Link Icon 13 comments
By @a_e_k - 5 months
The headline may be misleading. It initially read to me as though Intel is forming a new division to work on this. Instead, these folks are going to a new startup outside of Intel.
By @DaoVeles - 5 months
I do hope that moves like this accelerate RISC V development in a significant way. While there are a lot of RISC V cores in the wild, the top end of performance is not great. Way behind in terms of performance per watt. But the upwards trend is clear, all they need is a bit more gusto and it could be a matter of time until they are nipping at ARM/X86's heels.
By @ramshanker - 5 months
The old saying....Some variation of.... If you fire your bottom 10%, your top 10% will also leave.
By @mrinfinitiesx - 5 months
Good. Those high talent genius minds deserved better. They deserve all the support and love they can get on their new ventures.
By @inamberclad - 5 months
Do these companies simply sell verilog source trees? Or do they deliver fully packaged wafers?
By @armaautomotive - 5 months
I wonder which markets these risc-v processors will target. I have a 64 core Milk-V computer i'm testing compatibility with a Java application on. Looking forward to seeing where this goes.
By @ksec - 5 months
What does it mean by Open Specification Core IP?

There are plenty of RISC-V CPU IP out there. What sort of target market are they aiming at ?

By @userbinator - 5 months
I wonder if they have any non-competes that'll prevent them from going to develop x86 processors.
By @sylware - 5 months
And some folks are still questioning why RISC-V ISA is much less toxic than any PI locked CPU ISA.

I think RISC-V has also some GPU oriented instructions, hasn't it?

By @Kon-Peki - 5 months
So, this team wants to build a “RISC-V, but you have pay for a license” portfolio, and people are celebrating.

I must be missing something.

By @osnium123 - 5 months
Intel losing design talent to startups.