Intel Purchases FPGA Company Altera For $16.7 Billion

[jimmysmitty]

I don't think Intel would be interested in any of AMD's recent x86 technology lol

Intel didn't want to make 64bits x86 chips so AMD created 64bits extensions, Microsoft and the Linux crowd flocked to it and Intel was forced to change their mind.

If AMD's x86-64 ISA and related patents fall in the wrong hands, it Intel might find itself unable to design, manufacture and sell x86-64 chips. That would be substantially worse than not having a second source.

I do doubt that would happen though. Considering that Intel has the major market share if AMD dropped out, I am sure they would be given the option to buy the patents or keep licensing them.