cdrkf :
Having followed AMD back from the 386 days, I can tell you they've been here before. They're one of those companies that perpetually have a bad time, get a little win, then go down again. What they are if anything is resilient however, and also a necessity for Intel.
If they did ever go down I could see Intel being forced to make big changes (eg open up their advanced fabs for everyone) as otherwise they'll have sole domination of to many markets (ok not phones, but the whole pc platform which is still very important for business especially, along with the majority of the server market).
As for an AMD buyout, I think they do have some valuable ip, Samsung have to licence their gpu tech for example so gcn would be tempting to them. Also I think the hsa stuff is potentially very important long term and amd are so far furthest ahead. Thing is tough any suitor probably wouldn't be interested in running the company as is, so they would allow it to really collapse and then get the bits they want as cheaply as possible.
If they did ever go down I could see Intel being forced to make big changes (eg open up their advanced fabs for everyone) as otherwise they'll have sole domination of to many markets (ok not phones, but the whole pc platform which is still very important for business especially, along with the majority of the server market).
As for an AMD buyout, I think they do have some valuable ip, Samsung have to licence their gpu tech for example so gcn would be tempting to them. Also I think the hsa stuff is potentially very important long term and amd are so far furthest ahead. Thing is tough any suitor probably wouldn't be interested in running the company as is, so they would allow it to really collapse and then get the bits they want as cheaply as possible.
The situation is entirely different now: the market has changed, the tech has changed, the finances have changed, the players have changed, even antitrust agencies are no more watching Intel closely...
AMD is not doing a comeback anymore. I had the hope during a while when relevant financial/technical data was unknown, but now the gap with competitors is too big and the last reductions in R&D and engineers will only increase the gap. AMD will split/reorganize/sell and will survive a la VIA on some niche market.