When companies like MSI re-launch the GeForce GT 730 to address the shortage, it shows that the graphics card situation is dire. the GT 730 first debuted seven years ago, which is almost an eternity in terms of technical years. not the final answer to solving the GPU shortage. Interestingly, though not, one solution could be for Nvidia to source chips from Intel. [However, Tom from the YouTube channel "Moore's Law Is Dead" claims that Nvidia "confirmed that they are talking to Intel about fabs. [Nvidia and Intel are not going to sit back and let TMSC merge with AMD and crush everyone, or TSMC merge with Apple and crush everyone, Nvidia is not going to flip, if TSMC becomes too dominant they will see what they can do to partner with Intel If TSMC becomes too dominant, they will see what they can do to work with Intel, and vice versa.

Tom notes that all the large companies involved are "preparing for a big war in [future chip] architecture and finding allies if either side becomes too powerful.

He mentions TSMC because the company is the largest supplier of chips to companies like AMD, Apple, and Nvidia. However, TSMC's production capacity is limited, and both AMD and Nvidia sell graphics cards as fast as TSMC can supply chips.

There are many reasons for this. Cryptocurrency mining is one of them, as is the global silicon shortage. However, simply having discussions with Intel is very different from actually reaching an agreement.

In a Twitter thread on the topic, Dr. Ian Catres of our sister site Anandtech noted that given the current situation, it is likely that everyone is talking to Intel. This was reiterated by Anshel Sugg, senior analyst at Moor Insights and Strategy.

"Every chipmaker always has multiple fabs ready to go as an alternative in case of problems or delays somewhere else. Intel being an alternative is a minimum requirement for any company in need of a serious chip supply," said Sugg.

In other words, if Tom's information is correct, it is possible that Nvidia is merely doing its due diligence. There is no way to know one way or the other from the outside looking in.

What is interesting about this is that Intel will be announcing its own line of discrete GPUs for gaming later this year. This is an effort led by Raja Koduri, who was the graphics boss at AMD's Radeon division before joining Intel. Rumor has it that Intel's top Xe-HPG graphics chip could offer performance comparable to the GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, which would be impressive.

Such a part would surely be in high demand (if Intel does not get in over its head on the driver/software side). Even if it does not reach that level of performance, it could still be in high demand, hence the depressing comeback of the GT 730.