The AMD Execution Thread [2007 - 2017]

[Arun]

Ah yes, my mistake - thankies. I didn't realize DELL quoted prices on an 'average' model rather than minimum ones, so I didn't bother checking PCs with 8800GTXs. And unsurprisingly, those are the ones you can use a 8800GT on.

Interestingly, the only major HD3870 design win right now is that 4GHz Penryn PC from Alienware. I wonder how much the chipset part of the equation played into that design win. X38 completely and utterly trounces 680i/780i in terms of CPU/memory performance, and by that point it must have become obvious 680i won't support Penryn.

It will be interesting to see what happens next in terms of major design wins...

 

[BRiT]

did anyone notice dell is now selling 8800 gt's in home systems, but no HD36xx's yet?

Didn't notice that, but they are selling the MSI 8800 GT OC for $208! That's one hell of a bargain.

 

[MTd2]

AMD does outsource. Chartered makes some of the CPUs.

So, Intel must severely limit the production of x86 chips on the contract. That is annoying... I bet any company would then be really pissed.

For example: AMD produces 100 000 units and the other company is limited to 10% of that. So, whatever production problem happens to the main company, the other will be severely suffer idlying problems, which is really, really bad for a fab...

So, I infer that, from what you wrote, Chartered is suffering considerable losses, because they also had to invest in the same kind of production and are getting no return for that.



The first benchmarks of Phenons X3 were published:

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/?menu=browser&article_id=622354&image_id=739532&show=original

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/?menu...ty_id=-1&image_id=739534&page=1&show=original

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/?menu=browser&article_id=622354&image_id=739536&show=original

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/?menu=browser&article_id=622354&image_id=739610

http://www.pcgameshardware.de/?article_id=622354

 

[Fox5]

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if AMD outsources its trailing edge products to chartered, I'm not sure if a 3rd party fab is cutting edge enough to keep pace with the latest and greatest from AMD, IBM, and Intel. That said, the trailing edge stuff has the largest market for it, it'd be much easier to supply low end chips to OEMs without the restriction and then AMD's high end output could probably get by on just a single in house fab.

 

[Razor1]

I presume you wanted to say HD38xx? Also, did you mean DELL or Alienware? Because I definitely can't find any evidence of that on the former's website :| (and on the latter, there's a 3870 model, obviously).

ah yeah thx for the correction. Well taked with a guy that works on the XPS systems they have been looking into the r38xx systems and phenom but so far nothing much then just looking. Looks like Inq is being a bit too optimisitic about "looking"

 

[Arun]

Hmm. Well, either that, or their definition of DELL is a bit too loose and they're including Alienware in there... I'll admit that the fact the highest-end Alienware uses HD3870s must be significant from a mindset/brand POV, but I'm far from convinced it matters (at all) from a financial POV given the volumes involved. And X38 vs 680i/780i likely had something to do with it, too.

 

[3dcgi]

So, Intel must severely limit the production of x86 chips on the contract. That is annoying... I bet any company would then be really pissed.

For example: AMD produces 100 000 units and the other company is limited to 10% of that. So, whatever production problem happens to the main company, the other will be severely suffer idlying problems, which is really, really bad for a fab...

So, I infer that, from what you wrote, Chartered is suffering considerable losses, because they also had to invest in the same kind of production and are getting no return for that.

I think it's a stretch to conclude any of that from my statement that some of AMD's manufacturing is outsourced to Chartered.

 

[MTd2]

I think it's a stretch to conclude any of that from my statement that some of AMD's manufacturing is outsourced to Chartered.

You said chartered does some of the CPUs.

 

[3dcgi]

You said chartered does some of the CPUs.

Yes, but that does not imply that Chartered is suffering serious losses or that Intel seriously limits the production of x86 chips on contract.

 

[MTd2]

Yes, but that does not imply that Chartered is suffering serious losses or that Intel seriously limits the production of x86 chips on contract.

I did not either say that Chartered is suffering heavy losses, just that it is having losses, with AMD. But that is also awful for AMD, since they lose confidence. Also, it is a mystery for me why AMD doesn't outsource their production just for a few months. I cannot think of something that is not caused by contract limitation.

 

[3dcgi]

I did not either say that Chartered is suffering heavy losses, just that it is having losses, with AMD. But that is also awful for AMD, since they lose confidence. Also, it is a mystery for me why AMD doesn't outsource their production just for a few months. I cannot think of something that is not caused by contract limitation.

Why do you think outsourcing would help at this point? I imagine the only reason to outsource is when you fabs are full. I don't know what the status is on their production level, but for the past year I doubt AMD CPUs have been supply constrained. Or are you just talking about getting a lot of Phenoms on the market for the holidays?

 

[3dilettante]

I think this link might be interesting.

Google found a reference buried in this page:
http://sec.edgar-online.com/1995/03/07/00/0000950131-95-000530/Section4.asp
(Interestingly, the filing is a K-10...)

In 1995, the agreement was AMD could only use foundries for up to 20% of its manufacturing capacity for processors using Intel microcode.

The deal has been renegotiated since then, and the products involved today did not exist at the time.
However, AMD has been asked repeatedly after it unveiled the asset-light strategy as to what percentage it can offload.

AMD has acknowledged a limit exists, but every time they were asked they refused to give any detail.

I doubt they'd be so tight-lipped if the limit didn't exist at all.

 

[MTd2]

Or are you just talking about getting a lot of Phenoms on the market for the holidays?

That´s more or less the idea. If the situation is so horrible at AMD fabs, they should at least share the burden to not loose market confidence until they get their own fabs working properly.

That's an interesting information 3dilettante. I will dig into that later.

 

[Razor1]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071127/amd_mover.html?.v=1

man Mr. Freedman, really knows his silicon companies, none of them are doing well!

 

[INKster]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071127/amd_mover.html?.v=1

man Mr. Freedman, really knows his silicon companies, none of them are doing well!

If Nvidia ever thought of buying AMD, now would be a good time to set the wheels in motion...

 

[MTd2]

If Nvidia ever thought of buying AMD, now would be a good time to set the wheels in motion...

They would have debt of 15 billion. I don't think that's good.

 

[Geeforcer]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071127/amd_mover.html?.v=1

man Mr. Freedman, really knows his silicon companies, none of them are doing well!

LOL, so he had them rated "buy" this whole time? I wonder how much money the investors made following his AMD-related advice last year.

 

[Geeforcer]

If Nvidia ever thought of buying AMD, now would be a good time to set the wheels in motion...

I thought the general consensus was that AMD us "unbuyable". The most valuable thing they have right now is the x86 license, which in non-transferable; the rationale for buying them would vanish the second the deal closes.

They in a deathtrap, are they not? They can't change their (currently) failing strategy OR sell the company due to the terms of the agreement.

 

[3dilettante]

I guess in theory the buyer could make Athlon XPs, as the 10 year copyright of would have expired on x86 and extensions for SSE.

The bought AMD could redo the the K7 all over again as each successive 10-year term for each extension expires.

That means K7-once + 2 K8 designs (one cancelled) + 2 failed K8 replacements + Barcelona + Griffin + K7 redux after buyout + K8 when the next extension copyrights expire = AMD after being bought could do K7 all over again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again, again.

 

[Razor1]

LOL, so he had them rated "buy" this whole time? I wonder how much money the investors made following his AMD-related advice last year.

I don't understand how he has kept his job for this long, hopefully tech stocks isn't his main field