The Intel-TSMC unholy chip factory alliance rumour re-emerges and this time a 'preliminary' deal is said to have been done

Intel engineers inspect a lithography machine.

It's the shipping story that just won't die, so here's the latest twist in the almost fanfic pairing of Intel and TSMC. The two companies have reportedly inked a "preliminary" agreement for a joint venture to run the latter's chip manufacturing factories, otherwise known as fabs.

We've been here before, with an initial rumour to this effect, followed by stories that TSMC had pitched Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom to join in the joint-venture party. This latest story surfaced on The Information (paywalled, via Reuters) and, for now, it's unclear if those other companies are involved.