Business Week on INTC vs. AMD

HenryTo · Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 11:42 pm Post subject: Business Week on INTC vs. AMD

Let's see if Intel can pull another rabbit out of the hat:

http://yahoo.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_48/b3910050_mz011.htm

Historically, Intel has nearly always been able to deliver when they're backed into a corner - but whatever the case may be, this intense competition between Intel and AMD can only be good for businesses and consumers (unless you were an Intel investor, of course).

HenryTo · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:

rffrydr,

I think the question now is: Will Intel delivver the knock-out blow? Given Intel's technology lead and its ample financial resources - the latter especially important in this credit environment - every banker and analyst in the chip industry should be thinking about this on a daily basis.

12 months ago, AMD would have no problems getting financing to fight another day - but unless AMD does a seriously dilutive secondary or a bond/convertible bond offering with debalitating high interest rates - it is hard to see anyone that would seriously back this company right now. Why would anyone pick a fight with Intel by acquiring AMD - especially given where we are on the microprocessor S-curve - is beyond my comprehension.

Have a good weekend,

Henry

rffrydr · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2008 7:15 am Post subject:

It's been a hard time for chips and none more than AMD: on that score we can thank the Master:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/12/technology/12chip.html?ref=technology
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rffrydr · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:52 am Post subject:

Intel all over Mac--even reconfiguring it's Core 2 for the new "Air" laptop. Probably should meet this reaction:

javascript:bringupPlayer('vid=vDELACtKIWHg')
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HenryTo · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:03 pm Post subject:

DJ,

Here is a timely review on the new "Penryn" processors with regards to both battery life and performance. Not hugely impressive, but are good nonetheless:

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3195&p=5

Now, if we can only get a SSD hard drive into that setup...

Best,

Henry

texfly101 · Senior Poster Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 118

Its becoming almost a "laptop" world with desktops being replaced repeatedly with laptops. Sometimes they that are too big to be true laptops, a new category called desktop replacements. In my work, I was recently transferred to a new job and in the switch, my previous desktop was replaced with a laptop. I originally had stuck with desktops as in my data centric need for analytical speed, I had stayed with them given their speed and storage edge. Its no longer the case. My current laptop has plenty of speed and storage. Its connectivity to networks that is the new problem of the IT world. all of my recent calls to our corporate IT Help Desk has been regarding connectivity.
As with everyone anymore, I do so much more remote work these days and that demands connectivity. My climbing partner and I recently took a trip to California to trout fish, staying in a campground way up in the Sierra's, and we both worked at nite by the campfire, on our laptops, connected via wifi. Being able to be connected has become my new focus in my work. That's no news to most, probably getting "So...?" from anyone reading this as old news. So I was pleasantly surprised by the battery life on my Dell. The power demand by the newest CPU's and the on the motherboard integrated audio and graphics circuitry has made hours of usage possible.
To me, the new 45nm chips best offerings are the reduced power demand. Look at the new Penryns in this area and its going to decrease power demand almost 20%. Lower cooling needs also happen, reducing the overall current needs significantly. Since power is a function of the square of current, that means more current, i.e. electrons, available to do other chores, run auxiliary components, etc. The Nehalem chips are to possibly be on a 32nm core which would further reduce current, which is a function of the cross section of the size of the circuit. So more less current, less power, more battery life or options on a laptop. All becoming more important in selling laptops.
With laptops predicted to outsell desktops in 2009, mobility and battery life is the key to success, both in chips and computers. Intel definitely has the edge here, AMD significantly behind in the nanometer race, 65nm currently, which is the key to power, heating...all the hallmarks of the laptop world. It will be 2009 before they get to 45nm, if they do, being rumored to be considering outsourcing their chip manufacturing. They had the edge in clock speed but that is becoming less of a factor. Clock speed, while sexy, is becoming less of the reason to choose a chipset, power demands are dominating. I keep looking for Intel to press their advantage in this area, move significantly into mobile devices, and to keep reducing the power needs. AMD can't keep up on this front, particularly in the laptop arena. The infusion of capital might help them, but it will be years before they can compete with Intel on the core size and power savings front.
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dj

rffrydr · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject:

"Penryn" is an original in this area:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=Penryn,+CA&ie=UTF8&ll=38.85535,-121.170101&spn=0.066171,0.1157&z=13&iwloc=addr&om=1

Just a stone's-throw from Intel design here in Folsom. "Santa Rosa" was also one of the building blocks of California. Subliminal Brands?
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Today is the Tomorrow you worried about Yesterday!

HenryTo · Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:31 pm Post subject:

Intel to release new "Penryn" notebooks:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=10173

HenryTo · Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:40 am Post subject:

FYI. Following is courtesy of the WSJ:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Abu Dhabi Buys 8.1% Stake in AMD
By JOHN FLOWERS
November 16, 2007 10:19 a.m.

An investment arm of the Abu Dhabi government has bought an 8.1% stake in Advanced Micro Devices Inc. for about $622 million in cash, making the Persian Gulf emirate one of the chip maker's biggest shareholders.

The deal is part of a trend of Middle East nations, rich on the exploding cost of oil, to make their mark in global finance. Abu Dhabi's strategic-investment arm, Mubadala Development Co., has been gaining a foothold in high-tech sectors via recent investments and partnerships.

Earlier this week, Mubadala announced a deal with Northrop Grumman Corp. to collaborate on high-tech aerospace and aviation educational and training programs. And earlier in the year, the company bought a 7.5% stake in the Carlyle Group, a private equity firm known for its heavy investments in aerospace, defense, and high-tech industries.

In exchange for the investment, Mubadala will receive 49 million newly-issued shares of AMD at the Nov. 15 closing price of $12.70 a share. For its part, AMD will receive $622 million, minus about $14.6 million in reimbursed expenses.

Mubadala will not receive any board representation as part of the deal. The company said the transaction does not present a controlling investment or acquisition subject to review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.

AMD, which has posted losses in recent quarters amid stiff competition from rival Intel Corp., said it will use the net proceeds to invest in research and development, product innovations, and manufacturing improvements.

"This investment strengthens AMD's ability to deliver customer-centric innovation and choice to the marketplace, creating greater value for all of our shareholders," AMD Chairman and Chief Executive Hector Ruiz said.

The investment should be a relief for the Sunnvale, Calif.,-based chipmaker after posting a loss of $396 million for its third quarter. The company was hurt in part by costs from the acquisition of ATI Technologies. It also has been struggling of late with managing its relations with chip distributors and delays in delivering a new product for severs.

HenryTo · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:57 pm Post subject:

Despite everything you've read about AMD's Barcelona as a core component in many supercomputers today, Intel actually substantially increased its market share in the Top 500 list that was just released:

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071113-multicore-64-bit-x86-shakes-up-top-500-supercomputer-list.html

HenryTo · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:26 pm Post subject:

Unless AMD can put a rabbit out of the hat, this latest NVDA offering will decimate the ATI midrange graphics market over the next couple of months:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3140&p=10

rffrydr · Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2007 6:17 am Post subject:

Healthcare: GM yes; Intel?

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dfb28826-6d32-11dc-ab19-0000779fd2ac.html
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Today is the Tomorrow you worried about Yesterday!

HenryTo · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:06 pm Post subject:

Intel going for the knockout punch:

http://www.anandtech.com/tradeshows/showdoc.aspx?i=3102

HenryTo · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:22 pm Post subject:

Intel Developer Forum is being held as we speak. Day 1 of the presentation features an update on Intel's roadmap, as well as some nice surprises (e.g. an 8-core processor will be released come the 2nd half of 2008):

http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/intel/showdoc.aspx?i=3101

HenryTo · Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:07 am Post subject:

AMD is scheduled to released 3-core processors in the first quarter of 2008:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=8916

HenryTo · Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 8:40 am Post subject:

Hot off the press: The latest "Barcelona" benchmarks from AMD:

http://www.anandtech.com/IT/showdoc.aspx?i=3091