Reports say Qualcomm wants to buy Intel's struggling chip business, but doing so would threaten the longstanding x86 patent licensing agreements between Intel and AMD.

A potential deal to buy Intel could accelerate Qualcomm's diversification but will burden the smartphone chipmaker with a loss-making semiconductor manufacturing unit that it may struggle to turn around or sell,

The embattled chip giant has become a takeover target in recent days, but the tough act of separating the pros from the cons makes a takeover unlikely.