The Nail in the Coffin

[smithereen]

I used to see quite a few AMD Live! ads around, and my local computer shop still has the "imagine the possibilities" Windows Vista/AMD Live! add up.

 

[Scotteq]

IBM helping AMD make the jump to a smaller manufacturing process made a certain amount of sense in the days when IBM had a consumer presence because that investment could be more easily recouped since both the Business and Consumer sides of the house would be able to drive ongoing profits.


The issue is it is no longer the case. IBM's stated direction/vision is higher margin Corporate/B2B business in order to leverage their very powerful and VERY profitable Services arm. The consumer stuff was sold to Lenovo (and others) or scrapped. "High Volume/Low Margin" no longer exists in the House Of Big Blue.

Secondly, now that AMD are going Fabless, the actual manufacturing technology is much more (if not entirely) a function/responsibility of the company running the actual Fab. If the guys in Abu Dhabi want to pursue opportunities with a (32nm) manufacturing process. Then the guys in Adu Dhabi would be the ones to contract with the appropriate outside resources (IBM) in order to make that happen. At that point, the Fab needs to put their new manufacturing process to work in order to recoup the investment and turn a profit. Indeed, given the massive investment required, they'd be pretty dumb to retool the Fab without business already lined up.

Another consideration is that AMD have lost their former clear cut superiority in SMP environments with the launch of Core I7. This is a highly profitable and core niche - for both IBM and AMD. AMD do enjoy a considerable installed base here, and replacement cycles are well in excess of 5 years. So they're not going away any time soon. BUT, Intel now have a pretty compelling story *and* the silicon to back it up. None of the hardware makers have an exclusive contract - A quick glance at their websites will show even the most casual observer this. So it would be very very easy to start making/selling more of (I) than (A) as they go forward.



I have real life experience competing with IBM, and can say for a fact that they can and do use Hardware (and software) to drive opportunities for their Services arm. And IBM Services make the company BIG BIG money. If they can make better/faster hardware on Intel than on AMD in order to drive that cycle?? Well... It should be clear that IBM are rather... ruthless... in their pursuit of efficiencies - and therefore chargable value - they can provide to their customers. And if (HP, Sun Microsystems) appear set to come up with better machines based on Intel?? It's fair to say that IBM will do what it takes to ensure that does not happen. Rather they will drive to be First with the Most.

The bottom line is the same as it always has been: Profit.

Outside observers would be... mistaken... to perceive any past or present IBM "help" for AMD in an altruistic light.

 

[techpro]

My post has been hidden with -7 above, now I'm not happy 🙁 I should consider not posting here anymore, but I'm not going to let the AMD fankids get the better of me.

AMD suck! It's not my fault Intel have a lead and crushing them, is it? AMD is a joke, while Intel have created the Core I7 that's leaps ahead of the phailure. These are facts and it's no use crying about it, marking my posts down for truth telling.

 

[fazers_on_stun]

AMD will not perish. If things get THAT bad, someone will surely jump in and buy it.

AMD has been selling off pieces of itself for some time now, after it "subprime mortgaged" itself with the ATI acquistion at double what the deal was worth. If it does tank, I'd expect the ATI portion to be the best remaining part. And I doubt the gov't would do a bailout deal with them either.

 

[fazers_on_stun]

My post has been hidden with -7 above, now I'm not happy 🙁 I should consider not posting here anymore, but I'm not going to let the AMD fankids get the better of me.

AMD suck! It's not my fault Intel have a lead and crushing them, is it? AMD is a joke, while Intel have created the Core I7 that's leaps ahead of the phailure. These are facts and it's no use crying about it, marking my posts down for truth telling.

You were likely downrated because your post is merely your opinion, and otherwise serves no purpose. If you're gonna be a fanboy, at least bring something to the discussion, preferably some facts to bolster your position.

But you already knew all this and are just flame-baiting, right?

 

[jay_l_a]

My post has been hidden with -7 above, now I'm not happy 🙁 I should consider not posting here anymore, but I'm not going to let the AMD fankids get the better of me.

AMD suck! It's not my fault Intel have a lead and crushing them, is it? AMD is a joke, while Intel have created the Core I7 that's leaps ahead of the phailure. These are facts and it's no use crying about it, marking my posts down for truth telling.

 

[idisarmu]

roflwtfpwned!

I currently hope that AMD Phenom II will be a great success. I like AMD better... they seem like better value.

Furthermore, I think it would be nice to have a system that contains parts from only one company.

My setup in Q3 2010 could look like:

HD5870 or HD6870, (if they get that far with releasing stuff)
6-12gb ddr3 (or 8gb or something)
Phenom 32nm? @ 3.8ghz?


I think it would be interesting to see that.

I can't wait for the new CPUs!

 

[randomizer]

Rumor is... and I stress the word RUMOR... that AMD, partnered with IBM, may skip the 32nm stage altogether and move to the next smaller one.

I don't remember where I read it, but apparently IBM (in loose partnership with AMD) had developed the process for the next gen fabrication.

Can someone help me on this one... someone else must have read this too.

IBM developed a single 22nm (I think) SRAM cell, ie. nothing of any real use.

 

[enzo matrix]

Conspiracy time!:

Intel already owns AMD :O

 

[Mousemonkey]

Conspiracy time!:

Intel already owns AMD :O