Once it became clear that Intel was successfully executing their tick-tock strategy, it seemed pretty much inevitable that AMD was going to have to retool themselves.
Really. What do you base this on, sales during a major recession?
I don't think it's inevitable, and the only reason Intel won any kind of war is because AMD gave up. Those of us that like to build our own long for the days when AMD had a vision and bested Intel, and what is sad to us is that AMD has basically said it won't try to develop the kind of technology we like to use.
Sure, it will all be obsolete some day, but that day isn't tomorrow.
The high end segment is small and even the mainstream and entry level processors have enough power for almost everything. Considering that Intel is lowering the TDPs in the IVB family instead of going for higher freqs, seems like now everybody agrees that computers are fast enough now.
With the same architecture, lower TDP is result of lower frequency, lower frequency allows more dodgy 22nm silicon to be binned and sold, thus improving yields. Furthermore they can completely silence the competition with the improved power consumption argument. While Haswell has more room for improvement. With no competition it's win, win, win all around for intel ...
"Fast enough" chips target only throw-away tech, like tablets, TV boxes, netbooks and the like.
If you read a little science fiction, you can begin to get an idea of where the human imagination can take us. Faster-than-light travel and matter transmitters may not ever be possible (though I wouldn't bet against it), but much of what else you read in SF is, and will be done. Technology is being worked on today that will make the current CPUs look like abacuses. The "supercomputers" we have now will be reduced to the size of smart phones. IBM's "Watson" is just the beginning in intelligent computers - expect to see androids that you can talk to like a human in our not too distant future.
We've really only just begun to develop CPU technology.
In fact, much-faster-than-light travel is possible and will happen as well as energetic transformation of matter through space-time as we don't understand it. And our computer technology is indeed in it's INFANCY. Excuse me but how silly to think otherwise.
If AMD quits, some other company will step in. Intel will never stay on as the only company to make leading computer technology. In the very least, try to understand that what the leading computer technology will become is not the same as it is today. This alone indicates that Intel as we know them today will not last.
I have been saying that Intel needs AMD. Now we will all see why, in coming years.
Nah, this is the beginning of the decline of the CPU. Without much competition driving Intel forwards, it will slow down the development process.
And as for science fiction, well there is one problem... energy. We're running out of fossil fuels fast and without them, you can't even make parts for machines that break, never mind propel a vision of the future forwards. We're already passed peak oil.
"Rory referenced the game console model, where AMD would sell an ODM a chip solution tailored specifically to their needs"
There's one problem with that: console manufacturers don't buy chips, they buy designs. They want to be in charge of their own manufacturing, as they don't want to dilute their profits any more than they have to. Just look at the 360: AMD isn't making Xenos, MS is having someone else do it. All AMD gets is a very small royalty per GPU.
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A5 - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
Once it became clear that Intel was successfully executing their tick-tock strategy, it seemed pretty much inevitable that AMD was going to have to retool themselves.Taft12 - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
I don't know what's sad about it. Intel won the war, but desktops and laptop CPU shipments are steadily declining and are never coming back.Sabresiberian - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
Really. What do you base this on, sales during a major recession?I don't think it's inevitable, and the only reason Intel won any kind of war is because AMD gave up. Those of us that like to build our own long for the days when AMD had a vision and bested Intel, and what is sad to us is that AMD has basically said it won't try to develop the kind of technology we like to use.
Sure, it will all be obsolete some day, but that day isn't tomorrow.
;)
GTVic - Sunday, February 5, 2012 - link
Maybe he can also predict global warming based on last week's weather.umbrel - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
The high end segment is small and even the mainstream and entry level processors have enough power for almost everything.Considering that Intel is lowering the TDPs in the IVB family instead of going for higher freqs, seems like now everybody agrees that computers are fast enough now.
know of fence - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
With the same architecture, lower TDP is result of lower frequency, lower frequency allows more dodgy 22nm silicon to be binned and sold, thus improving yields. Furthermore they can completely silence the competition with the improved power consumption argument.While Haswell has more room for improvement. With no competition it's win, win, win all around for intel ...
"Fast enough" chips target only throw-away tech, like tablets, TV boxes, netbooks and the like.
Sabresiberian - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
If you read a little science fiction, you can begin to get an idea of where the human imagination can take us. Faster-than-light travel and matter transmitters may not ever be possible (though I wouldn't bet against it), but much of what else you read in SF is, and will be done. Technology is being worked on today that will make the current CPUs look like abacuses. The "supercomputers" we have now will be reduced to the size of smart phones. IBM's "Watson" is just the beginning in intelligent computers - expect to see androids that you can talk to like a human in our not too distant future.We've really only just begun to develop CPU technology.
;)
Risforrocket - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
In fact, much-faster-than-light travel is possible and will happen as well as energetic transformation of matter through space-time as we don't understand it. And our computer technology is indeed in it's INFANCY. Excuse me but how silly to think otherwise.If AMD quits, some other company will step in. Intel will never stay on as the only company to make leading computer technology. In the very least, try to understand that what the leading computer technology will become is not the same as it is today. This alone indicates that Intel as we know them today will not last.
I have been saying that Intel needs AMD. Now we will all see why, in coming years.
kingius - Tuesday, February 7, 2012 - link
Nah, this is the beginning of the decline of the CPU. Without much competition driving Intel forwards, it will slow down the development process.And as for science fiction, well there is one problem... energy. We're running out of fossil fuels fast and without them, you can't even make parts for machines that break, never mind propel a vision of the future forwards. We're already passed peak oil.
ViRGE - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
"Rory referenced the game console model, where AMD would sell an ODM a chip solution tailored specifically to their needs"There's one problem with that: console manufacturers don't buy chips, they buy designs. They want to be in charge of their own manufacturing, as they don't want to dilute their profits any more than they have to. Just look at the 360: AMD isn't making Xenos, MS is having someone else do it. All AMD gets is a very small royalty per GPU.
Leyawiin - Thursday, February 2, 2012 - link
Just took Intel a bit longer to squash them.Zoomer - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
Except it's not in Intel's interest to squash them. The Obama's Justice Dept and the EU can be very terrifying.Br0seidon - Friday, February 3, 2012 - link
Oh sure, we'll keep on competing as long as we're in the lead; but as soon as someone bests us, SHUT DOWN EVERYTHING, WE QUIT