Intel to pay Nvidia $1.5 B

Intel has settled with Nvidia Corp. over the company's "chipsets," and will pay out $1.5 billion.

Intel sued Nvidia in 2009, alleging that Nvidia needed a new license to make chipsets that are compatible with Intel's latest processors, and Nvidia countersued.

Nvidia is a top maker of graphics chips. Intel is the leader in microprocessors, the "brains" of personal computers. Both companies also made chipsets, which are used to help both types of chips talk to each other, among other jobs.

Both sides had a lot at stake. Intel needed the patent deal for access to Nvidia's graphics technologies. Nvidia needed it because without the ability to talk to Intel's processors, Nvidia's chipset business would be essentially dead. Indeed, Nvidia announced in October 2009 that it was exiting the chipset business.

Intel will pay Nvidia $1.5 billion in licensing fees over the next 5 years as part of the deal announced Monday.

Read more at OregonLive.com.

{biztweet}nvidia intel{/biztweet}