AMD in Acquisition Rumors Again; Stock Rises

[Wisecracker]

Yes they are divested. AMD no longer owns any stake in Global Foundries. They sold the last of it in March of this year

Fair enough ... a financial divestiture.

The issues that creeped-up in the Spring when this was announced (or, maybe, better described as 'Fanboy Fodder') was that AMD was dumping GloFlo and SOI wafers. Comments made by RR were spun out-of-context, so much so if I recall, RR appeared somewhere after this deal was announced, and pointedly said, "The Roadmaps have not changed, and 28nm is on-target." This, somehow, also got spun out-of-context, too.

Simply because of the current GloFlo SOI wafer-start capacity (and the 22nm SOI-wafer capacity coming on-line at Luther Forest), AMD and GloFlo are still joined at the hip. HOWEVER, ...

AMD has been working with TSMC on SOI for over three years, the inference being that not only are AMD Radeon GPUs moving to SOI but with TSMC, AMD is also focusing on CPUs and SoCs. It takes capacity in wafer-starts to meet Chipzilla head-on in the channel. That's always been AMD's down-fall against Intel. The sheer mass of Chipzilla capacity drives the channel.

What is really interesting in all of this -- Samsung is a member of the SOI Consortium, too. And in lieu of a 'takeover' of AMD, I suspect AMD and Samsung have simply 'inked' an R&D/production agreement.

Lookout, channel (if all this comes together for AMD).

 

[obsama1]

If Samsung bought AMD, Intel would definitely stop selling CPU's to Samsung. Plus the fact that Samsung makes ARM chips and will compete with Intel in the tablet/phone market, so we'll have competition between Samsung and Intel. I would love to see Samsung buy AMD. Samsung spends so much money on R&D. I really want it to happen so AMD can make a comeback! Or Google. I just hope the license is transferable.

 

[Guest]

Samsung won't buy AMD for CPUs. But Samsung may buy AMD for GPUs...

 

[spamu2]

Did anybody read about the new FirePro APU that AMD unveiled yesterday? Perhaps that would explain some of the jump in stock price.

 

[geekapproved]

Buy Samsung buy!!!

 

[southernshark]

Samsung could do a lot with AMD. It would be the one thing that might give Intel some competition.

I would much rather that Nvidia bought it, but Samsung would be interesting still.

 

[southernshark]

[citation][nom]DRosencraft[/nom]I highly doubt that there is any substance to this rumor. I would imagine Qualcomm as a chip maker would be a more likely buyout target for AMD than it being the other way around. And Samsung seems to be working in other areas at the moment, and again would probably be more interested in buying a Qualcomm to help their mobile products division than buying [/citation]

Samsung does not need anything that Qualcomm has to offer. Samsung already has a strong mobile chip. What Samsung does not have is an x86 chip. It might feel like its time to step up to the plate with the big boys.

With Microsoft backing an x86 tablet and Intel pushing its x86 line of tablet and mobile CPUs Samsung might feel like it has to jump into this or potentially be left out of it. In two more generations the x86 chip will be crushing the competition again, I suspect.

 

[kronos_cornelius]

AMD is fine... Have faith people

 

[mikat]

Was this "market rumor" from an analyst with a first name that starts with "Patrick"?

 

[sykozis]

The x86 licenses are non-transferable. Neither for VIA or AMD. If either company is bought out, the x86 license is null and void. However, If AMD were to get bought out....the buyer would have little issue getting an x86 license anyway as Intel can't legally prevent any competitor from directly competing with them in the desktop market. So, if Samsung or Qualcomm were to buyout AMD, Intel would be required by law to allow them an x86 license under reasonable terms.

[citation][nom]southernshark[/nom]Samsung could do a lot with AMD. It would be the one thing that might give Intel some competition. I would much rather that Nvidia bought it, but Samsung would be interesting still.[/citation]
nVidia can't buy AMD for legal reasons. nVidia competes with AMD in the graphics market. nVidia buying AMD would result in nVidia having 100% of the discrete graphics market and thus a monopoly.

 

[tomfreak]

[citation][nom]sykozis[/nom]The x86 licenses are non-transferable. Neither for VIA or AMD. If either company is bought out, the x86 license is null and void. However, If AMD were to get bought out....the buyer would have little issue getting an x86 license anyway as Intel can't legally prevent any competitor from directly competing with them in the desktop market. So, if Samsung or Qualcomm were to buyout AMD, Intel would be required by law to allow them an x86 license under reasonable terms.nVidia can't buy AMD for legal reasons. nVidia competes with AMD in the graphics market. nVidia buying AMD would result in nVidia having 100% of the discrete graphics market and thus a monopoly.[/citation]exactly the anti trust thing is going to let this license transferable. but Intel is most likely to ask for new terms, may be royalty fees.

 

[the_brute]

[citation][nom]DRosencraft[/nom] I would imagine Qualcomm as a chip maker would be a more likely buyout target for AMD than it being the other way around. And Samsung seems to be working in other areas at the moment, and again would probably be more interested in buying a Qualcomm to help their mobile products division than buying AMD. I know that people are writing the doom of AMD because of its CPU struggles, but let's not forget that they have a really good GPU line there too. I would rather AMD weather the storm for now and keep working to improve than have them bought out by someone who starts messing with everything and end up ruining what's good and failing to improve on what was bad.[/citation]
You have to have the money to buy someone out. Samsung cant buy Qualcomm because they dont have the resources to get that much money. AMD is a tiny company that performs well given its budget. AMD can’t even dream large enough to have the money to buy out Qualcomm, or Samsung. Also both companies are diving head first into their chip production and have seen major advances in a very short time. They would also have the money to force-feed cash near the amount of total revenue of AMD into R&D. /ok slightly stretched but you get the point/

[citation][nom]ta152h[/nom]One problem any company has in buying AMD is Intel. ... I think most companies realize Intel would react strongly to any threat, and that's got to make them a little worried. Or more than a little.[/citation]
Samsung/Qualcomm is already "at war" with Intel. Intel is improving its power management and WILL compete in the phone/tablet market within a few years. ARM already fought against Intel and buying AMD might get one of their producers an edge against the largest, richest, and one of the most advanced chip producers in the world.

As of now I don’t see any single ARM company moving fast enough to fight Intel by 2016. Intel is coming down; they are trying to go up in performance.

 

[sonofliberty08]

what if tsmc buy amd

 

[okcchuck]

"AMD buyers represent the catfish in the botton, sucking off the bottom, and suffering with inferior hardware because it's all they can afford. Intel lets this happen."


I choose AMD because im not stupid and have more money than brains.

If AMD fails you will be buying 900 dollar Celerons.... don't forget that.

 

[ang1dust]

Samsung = South Korea; Qualcomm = USA.

I know Samsung is the stronger competitor here but id rather have AMD acquired for the USA rather than SK. Sure, Samsung would fix the Fab issues for AMD, but it wouldnt be that much of a problem if Qualcomm purchased them. Not to mention, they wouldnt care about the x86 since they are ARM based irc.

 

[kooldj]

big fish always eats small fish if they swim slower

 

[Madturtlecreek]

On any note.. if anyone buys AMD they will surely look to improve on past issues with the company. I don't see AMD taking a dive after ANY buyout. I believe there are enough people in the world who holds the product name near and dear to the end. I mean seariously I have read forum after forum of Intel boys and girls bashing AMD and the people who choose to use AMD products. I mean come one they are like "browns fans" and totally loyal. I am not a fanboy of either brand but, seriously I honestly wonder would a intel fan endure that?

 

[southernshark]

It would be good news for Samsung and AMD..... It would be horrible news for Nvidia.