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AMD Announces A Shift In Focus From PC Processors

slughead writes "Forbes Magazine is reporting that AMD will no longer compete with Intel to make faster, smaller, and more efficient processors. Just as Mac users would be worse off if Windows didn't exist, Intel users will be much worse now that AMD will no longer compete. You see, there's this thing called demand, and when there are no competing products in a market, a good or service will always increase the price to the economic equilibrium, unless forced not to by the state (forget that right now, communists!!). In English: you're going to get less new technology, and higher prices on existing technology." On the other hand, AMD is definitely not exiting the chip business -- they're just trying to branch out from chips for microcomputers.

7 of 493 comments (clear)

  1. RTFA! by kwashiorkor · · Score: 5, Informative
    Read The F'ing Article!

    For those too lazy to click though, here's a sample quote:

    In a shift away from the slowing personal computer industry, where Intel and AMD have significant stakes, AMD said it would begin working with a wider variety of companies to sell its products
    It says nothing about "not competing with Intel". What a load of sensationalist crap.

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  2. Re:RTFA - AMD not leaving the PC business by Derg · · Score: 5, Informative

    Exactly what I was going to say. Even the submittor didnt seem to rtfa, its clear as day. to quote:

    Ruiz brought out executives and representatives from Gibson Guitar Company, George Lucas' JAK Films and supercomputer company Cray Inc. to illustrate the technology that Sunnyvale, California-based AMD was delivering outside personal computers.

    All this article really means is that AMD is not going to let its only horse in the technology race be one in PC Processors, they want to branch out and put their products into as many markets as they can stomach/reach.

    I agree with parent, read the fuckin article...

    --
    I'm a little tea pot.
  3. What he really said was ... by PizzaFace · · Score: 4, Informative

    AMD will put compatibility ahead of sheer speed. The press release mentions embedded devices, but also demos of 64-bit game and database software. AMD is emphasizing that its 64-bit processor has better backward compatibility than Intel's with 32-bit software, even though its 64-bit mode is slower. This looks to me like a bid for industry support for its x86-64 architecture, hardly a concession of the PC market.

  4. Capitalism At Its Best by lrslrslrs · · Score: 4, Informative
    Unfortunately I disagree with the original poster, AMD is not leaving the PC chip market, they are spreading their wings. More inline with the current chip industry.

    May I remind you that Intel is not exclusively in the chip market either. Intel spread to new concepts in computing years ago and are better of for it (e.g. From their site: Consulting Services, Compilers, Performance Analyzers, Threading Tools, Training Center, LANDesk* Software etc...) While most of these are certainly related to the PC chip industry it is not nearly as narrow as AMD.

    In doing what Intel did years ago, they are actually increasing their competitiveness. In fact a quick look at Intel's (INTC) financials confirm just that.

    Hats off to AMD. for keeping capitalism and competitiveness alive.

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  5. Re:This is bad, bad, bad. by Jace+of+Fuse! · · Score: 5, Informative

    Unless the temperature in your house is regularly exceeding 100F

    Let me tell you as someone who knows quite a bit about heating and cooling -- that's not entirely true. One or two degrees in the case can equate to one or two more degrees in the case

    Because the inside of a computer is generating heat, that generated heat has to go somewhere in order for the system to stay cool. In most cases that heat is dispersed out of the case. The cooler the ambient temperature, the easier that heat flows out. Quite simply, cooler air takes heat off of a heatsink easier than than warmer air, even if the difference is only a few degrees.

    The difference between a 72 degree room and a 75 degree room can be enough to take an otherwise rock solid system and turn it into something that crashes non-stop. Given just a little more heat, It may become too unstable to even post all the time.

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  6. Sounds like Motorola by ToasterTester · · Score: 4, Informative

    Motorola did the same thing a few years ago and that's why IBM is now Apples only source of PPC.

    I bet there are a lot of motherboard engineer that will be looking for work when this happens.

  7. Re:AMD should work on more efficient... by Afrosheen · · Score: 4, Informative

    Probably got rejected because it wasn't a dupe from last week. (rimshot)

    Thank you, I'll be here all week.