Earlier discussions on shaking up because the companies were unable to agree on a price as Alteria insists it is high maintenance and Intel is a bit of a tight wad.

Deal talks between the two companies first surfaced in March and media reports suggested that a potential deal could top $10 billion, making it Intel's biggest acquisition ever.

One way or the other, an outcome is expected in a few weeks, the newspaper said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Intel and Altera could not immediately be reached for comment, but that is probably because they are locked up in some room somewhere hammering out who will pay for their child's college fees, and if they are going to Eton or Harrow.