A decision is likely in January, according to the local press. It follows a string of manufacturing setbacks at the Ronler Acres campus near Hillsboro Stadium, failures that have cost Intel its cherished leadership in semiconductor technology.

While Intel is not thinking of shuttering Intel's Oregon factories or close down its Hillsboro research labs, a big chunk of work will be outsourced.

The company says it's committed to maintaining its advanced research and retaining internal production capacity. It's continuing a massive expansion of its D1X factory in Hillsboro.

However Oregon's central role in Chipzilla could become "irrelevant" if Intel gradually shifts away from integrated research and manufacturing.

CEO Bob Swan told Wall Street analysts on a conference call earlier this month that it may outsource advanced production to its rivals such as TSMC to ensure "a predictable cadence of leadership products".

Swan told investors to expect a decision by late January. Intel already outsources as much as a fifth of its production but has kept the leading edge in Oregon. And whatever it decides on outsourcing,

Swan said Intel will maintain its advanced research -- science performed in Hillsboro -- which he described as "a powerful force in creating future differentiation for our products".

On this month's analyst call, Swan said Intel believes it can have it both ways -- sending advanced production overseas while retaining internal production for components and older products that do not require the most sophisticated technology. And Swan said Intel believes it could restore advanced manufacturing to its own factories sometime in the future, if it chooses to.