Intel grants rare access to start-up Achronix

Intel Corp has agreed to make chips for a semiconductor start-up company Achronix Semiconductor Corp, the first time the Silicon Valley giant has given another company access to its most advanced production processes, says a media report.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the arrangement with closely held Achronix, to be formally announced Monday, is designed to produce a variety of programmable chips with unusually high performance.

Such chips could help boost the capabilities of computer hardware in applications such as high-speed communications, image-processing and encryption, where customers often must use costly custom-designed chips, the report added.

"This is a historic development. Intel is far ahead of anyone else in new process generations," the report quoted Achronix Chief Executive John Lofton Holt as saying.

Achronix may account for significantly less than one per cent of Intel's production capacity on the new process, the report said citing Intel spokesman Bill Kircos.

Besides, Kircos said that Intel is open to the idea of making chips for other companies besides Achronix.