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A New AMD Licensing Deal Could Create More x86 Rivals For Intel (pcworld.com)

angry tapir quotes a report from PCWorld: AMD has announced a plan to license the design of its top-of-the-line server processor to a newly formed Chinese company, creating a brand-new rival for Intel. AMD is licensing its x86 processor and system-on-chip technology to a company called THATIC (Tianjin Haiguang Advanced Technology Investment Co. Ltd.), a joint venture between AMD and a consortium of public and private Chinese companies. AMD is providing all the technology needed for THATIC to make a server chip, including the CPUs, interconnects and controllers. THATIC will be able to make variants of the x86 chips for different types of servers. AMD is much smaller than Intel, and licensing offers it an easy way to expand the installed base of AMD technology. The resource-strapped company will also generate licensing revenue in the process, said Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

5 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Re: Aren't these munitions? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They probably contributed to Hillary's campaign fund.

  2. Re: Theft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... or any of a hundred other companies. It's funny how after three years the Chinese company dissolves the joint venture, yet continues to make the same product. From chips, to cars (ask Chevrolet), to "Mig" Fighter Jets, I'm not sure I've ever heard of one of these JVs that actually worked out for the non-Chinese party. At this point, even though I don't like victim blaming, you deserve to get hosed when you supply the intellectual property into one of these deals.

  3. Re:Is the x86 platform.... by Eravnrekaree · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Intel has an x86 smartphone CPU. x86 is a huge server platform. PCs are not going anywhere, people are just replacing their PCs every 7 rather than 3 years. This creates the illusion that the PC market is shrinking. its not. Smartphones are hellish when you want to do any real work. Not many want to do their taxes on a smartphone.

  4. wave goodbye to AMD by WindBourne · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Seriously, that will be the end of AMD in no time flat.

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    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  5. The timing of this seems bad by jenningsthecat · · Score: 3, Insightful

    With Intel laying people off and vowing to concentrate on the server market, wouldn't AMD be better off going after what's left of the desktop market? It's shrinking to be sure, but I think there's still a lot of meat on those bones, especially now that Intel won't be vying so hard for market share in that space. It would probably be a safer bet than handing over their IP to the Chinese.

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    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.