[citation][nom]jaber2[/nom]Why didn't AMD do like intel and fab own waffers? you'd think they would have better control over engineering and quality, the best thing AMD can do now is spend its energy on the expanding smart phone and tablet market, which Intel just decided to get into[/citation]
They did actually, but creating a Fab cost a couple billion dollars each. They just don't have the cash that Intel has to do create Fabs , nor do they have the manufacturing know how to do the die shrinks as quickly as Intel does. Global Foundries is actually a spin off of AMD's FAB unit, they brought in partners, to purchase their FAB Business, but kept some stake, and then last year the decided to sell their stake all together. When the Athlon was hot and in the late 90's to mid-2000's , AMD was strong and hadthe cash to build fabs, they don't today.