Slashdot Mirror
NVIDIA To Exit Chipset Business
The rumor that we discussed a few months back is looking more real. Vigile writes "Once the darling of the enthusiast chipset market, NVIDIA has apparently decided to quit development of future chipsets for all platforms. This 'state of NVIDIA' editorial at PC Perspective first highlighted the fact that the company was backing away from its plans to develop a DMI-based chipset for Intel's Lynnfield processors due to legal pressure from Intel and debates over licensing restrictions. That effectively left NVIDIA out in the cold in terms of high-end chipsets, but even more interesting is the later revelation that NVIDIA has only one remaining chipset product to release, what we know as ION 2, and that it was mainly built for Apple's upcoming products. NVIDIA still plans to sell its current offerings, like MCP61 for AMD platforms and current generation ION for netbooks and nettops, but will focus solely on discrete graphics options after this final release."
Do we get mad at Intel?
Yes. Intel hasn't produced a competitive GPU for its integrated graphics. This will become painfully apparent once web sites start to use JavaScript bindings for OpenGL ES.
I think this is a clever ploy to make Intel play nice with Nvidia. By "letting go" of the market, true or not, Nvidia sends a message that Intel is a monopoly, which puts Intel in a much worse position (remember the EU) than Intel has when competing with Nvidia in the chipset scenario. Obviously, it's impossible to know what's going to happen. But if I were at the top @ Intel, I'd be freaking out a little, for this tiny little company "we have crushed" (that's what Nvidia makes it look like) will get us into the spotlight from regulators. I'm gonna go get some popcorn.
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nvidia-gpu-graphics-chipset,8821.html They have explicitly stated they have no intention of leaving the chipset business.
Reported at HardOCP... http://www.hardocp.com/news/2009/10/08/nvidia_statement_on_chipset_business
NVIDIA's Ken Brown wanted to give us NVIDIA's thoughts on the current state of its chipset business. So here it is in its full text.
Hi,
We've received a number of inquiries recently about NVIDIA's chipset (MCP) business. We'd like to set the record straight on current and future NVIDIA chipset activity.
On Intel platforms, the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M/ION brands have enjoyed significant sales, as well as critical success. Customers including Apple, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Acer, ASUS and others are continuing to incorporate GeForce 9400M and ION products in their current designs. There are many customers that have plans to use ION or GeForce 9400M chipsets for upcoming designs, as well.
On AMD platforms, we continue to sell a higher quantity of chipsets than AMD itself. MCP61-based platforms continue to be extremely well positioned in the entry CPU segments where AMD CPUs are most competitive vs. Intel
We will continue to innovate integrated solutions for Intel’s FSB architecture. We firmly believe that this market has a long healthy life ahead. But because of Intel’s improper claims to customers and the market that we aren’t licensed to the new DMI bus and its unfair business tactics, it is effectively impossible for us to market chipsets for future CPUs. So, until we resolve this matter in court next year, we’ll postpone further chipset investments for Intel DMI CPUs.
Despite Intel's actions, we have innovative products that we are excited to introduce to the market in the months ahead. We know these products will bring with them some amazing breakthroughs that will surprise the industry, just as GeForce 9400M and ION have shaken up the industry this year.
We expect our MCP business for both Intel and AMD to be strong well into the future.
Let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for your interest.
Best,
Ken
"Do we get mad at Intel?"
Yeah, they made Nvidia look bad by putting out chipset that met spec, survived average use, then had the gall to not hide the fact! (see http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2377) I mean really, how can Intel do business like that? And people wonder why Nvidia is bailing, then trying to hide it before Wall Street notices and downgrades them more.
The story goes like this.
1) Nvidia stops designing future chipsets
2) Nvidia blames Intel for nebulous atrocity
3) Nvidia hides the facts
4) It gets out
5) Nvidia admits it
6) Wall Street notices (several analyst reports out on the subject today)
7) Nvidia realizes that Wall Street noticed
8) Nvidia backpedals, hard, fast, and with all due slime
The 'denial' they are throwing around now states that they are not going to develop AMD chipsets anymore, not going to develop Intel chipsets anymore, and only going to continue selling the ones they have made. Until Intel stops making FSB chips in a few months, then it WILL be Intel's fault somehow.
Back to the original question, can you explain how Nvidia voluntarily stopping design of AMD chipsets is Intel's fault? :)
I saw this a year ago when I saw them stop most if not all future chipset products. I wrote it up. Nvidia denied it. A year later, they announce a stoppage for a few hours until the implications sink in. Then they deny it.
Yup. Intel. Those bastards!
I agree about the competition part, but this isn't sad, it was planned.
-Charlie