IBM is "exploring" the sale of its semiconductor manufacturing facility The Financial Times reports, and has already appointed Goldman Sachs to sniff out potential buyers.

Unnamed "people familiar with the matter" also add Big Blue does not rule out a joint venture possibility. The actual value of the chip-making business is unknown.

“It is a step away from their heritage,” Moor Insights and Strategy tells the FT. “This is probably their biggest strategic realignment for 20 years.” Other analysts insists own silicon is what gives IBM the edge in the development of advanced systems such as Watson and other mission/business critical machines.

Confirming the report is The Wall Street Journal, adding IBM plans to keep its advanced chip-design capabilities.

IBM has two semiconductor manufacturing facilities-- an advanced 300mm facility in East Fishkill, New York and an older 200mm fab in Burlington, Vermont.

The news comes just two weeks after IBM sold off its low-end server unit to Lenovo for $2.3 billion in cash and stock.

Go IBM Eyes Sale of Semiconductor Arm (FT.com)

Go IBM Looking to Sell Chip Manufacturing Operations (WSJ.com)