If this is true, it could mean a shift in alliances and a bold bid to dethrone industry leader TSMC.

Chipzilla, once the unchallenged king of chipmaking, has faced several setbacks in recent years and is very much the underdog in a fight with TSMC.

While Intel’s 18A process, boasting technologies like gate-all-around RibbonFET transistors and a backside power delivery network dubbed PowerVia, looks pretty good Chipzilla has made mistakes in its processing before.

A decision by Nvidia and Broadcom to test Intel's 18A process is more than a routine check—it's a high-stakes gamble. Success could see these giants diverting massive contracts away from TSMC and shaking up the industry's balance of power.

Not to be left out, AMD is also said to be eyeing Intel's 18A process. While details remain scarce, the mere possibility of AMD jumping on the Intel bandwagon adds another layer of intrigue to this story.

Of course, the mere sniff of this has the cocaine nose jobs of Wall Street rushing to shout “buy, buy” at Intel’s shares. Chipzilla’s shares spiked six per cent to $25.18 following news of the tests.

However, Intel's foundry business still in the red—reporting a staggering $13.4 billion loss last year the stakes couldn't be higher.

Adding a geopolitical twist, President Donald [hamburger-eating surrender monkey] Trump’s administration is keenly watching these developments. With ambitions to bolster US manufacturing and counter China's tech dominance, he might have to prop up Intel at any cost.

Rumours are swirling about potential collaborations and investments, including talks with TSMC's CEO, C.C. Wei, about a joint venture in Intel's factory unit.