Intel is rumored to be part of the upcoming Microsoft Surface May 20 event in New York. Earlier this month, Microsoft sent out invitations to the press for a Microsoft Surface "small gathering," which Bloomberg said will be the launch of a Surface Mini.

Reports said Microsoft and Intel have been collaborating for Intel chips to power its tablets. At the May 20 event, some speculate that an Intel-powered Microsoft tablet will also be launched.

The Intel processor is most likely a full-powered Haswell, not the Atom which Intel designs focusing on mobile devices. The Microsoft Surface Pro 2 packs a Haswell chip - i5 Intel Core processor.

If Intel will indeed participate in the event, it will not be for the rumored mini tablet, instead giving a piece of the spotlight to Qualcomm which is rumored to power the upcoming Surface Mini - the event's main attraction. If that is the case, the Mini version will be the first Microsoft tablet to be using a Qualcomm chip since non-Pro Surface models like the RT-run tablets, feature Nvidia processors.

The Microsoft Surface Mini tablet aims to compete with Apple's iPad Mini, though the company's line of tablets has so far failed to make a significant mark in the tablet market.

Microsoft is said to make its Mini more of a note-taking tablet. The device is rumored to come in 5 to 8 inches and with a proper pen (not an "old-fashioned" stylus) for note-taking. Microsoft Office's OneNote app will likely play a major role in the Surface mini variant.