Intel’s Reset Could Shape Future RTX-Equipped PCs, but the Turnaround Has a Long Road Ahead

Intel’s internal overhaul is nearing its final stretch, according to CEO Lip-Bu Tan, but the company’s technology recovery—and its bid to become a stronger alternative to TSMC in chip manufacturing—will require far more time. For PC buyers, the most tangible development on the horizon is Intel’s planned collaboration with NVIDIA on processors that pair Intel x86 CPU cores with RTX graphics components on a single chip.

That approach could eventually matter for laptops and other portable PCs, where graphics performance, power consumption and system price are closely connected. Intel and NVIDIA have not yet detailed the specifications, pricing or release timing of systems using these processors, so their real-world impact will depend on the hardware that reaches the market.

A leadership reset is mostly complete

In an interview with Nikkei, Tan said Intel’s restructuring is about 80% complete. Since taking over in March 2025, he has replaced most of the company’s senior leadership team, including the addition of former SK hynix CEO Seok-Hee Lee. The changes follow a difficult period that ended with former CEO Pat Gelsinger’s departure in December 2024.

The remaining work is not limited to management changes. Intel designs chips for PCs, laptops and servers, but its Intel Foundry operation also aims to win manufacturing business from companies that design their own silicon. That requires Intel to demonstrate competitive fabrication processes, costs and dependable high-volume delivery—areas where established foundry leader TSMC has a substantial track record.

Tan has pointed to TSMC’s own development as an indication of the time involved, noting that the company took roughly 10 to 20 years to become a contract-chip manufacturing leader. Intel has not specified which remaining measures are needed to finish its restructuring or provided a target date for completion.

Funding and independence

Intel’s transformation has received financial backing through agreements announced in 2025:

• NVIDIA: a $5 billion investment alongside a partnership covering PC and data-center products.
• SoftBank: a $2 billion equity investment.
• The U.S. government: an $8.9 billion stake created by converting previously allocated federal funding into an ownership position in Intel.

Tan has said Intel will retain independence in its decision-making. Under the U.S. government agreement, the federal stake is passive and does not include representation on Intel’s board of directors.

The Intel-NVIDIA effort is the clearest product-level development to monitor for portable-computing shoppers, though NVIDIA also competes through its own RTX Spark platform. Until Intel and its hardware partners disclose actual devices, buyers will have to wait for evidence on battery life, graphics performance and pricing—the measures that will determine whether these new chips change the PC market.

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