The hits just keep on coming for Intel. AMD’s Epyc chips are gobbling up market share in data centers while Intel’s desktop chips are frying themselves after years of being stuck on a stalled architecture.

Intel's semiconductor factories present a major challenge for Qualcomm's possible acquisition.

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,