It doesn't look good for AMD

[jdm40]

With the way things are going. It appears AMD is heading into a tail spin. I know it remains to be seen whether or not they pull out of it intact, but it doesn't look good for the home team.

Does the situation with AMD change anyone's opinion about buying an AMD processor as you look down the road at upgradeability?

According to the reviews it is still a better processor than Intel's Ghz for Ghz.

What do you think?

[bobgod007]

Regardless of the company's financial situation, the AMD Athlon XP is a great processor for the power user. Assuming you've already read up on the benefits and issues with Athlons, then there is no arguable reason as to why you shouldn't get one. I think the others will agree.

If you're not sure about the merits and the shortcomings of the platform, tell us what you'll be using the PC for and we can help point out the pros and cons.

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Count Baron of the OC Crusaders

[Un4given]

Everyone in the tech industry is having a hard time right now. Just look at Motorola. With the next round of layoffs just anounced a day or two ago, that brings their layoffs to about 39K. They said that may not be the end of it either.

AMD is having a bad quarter, but these folks are used to working with slim bottom lines; they have been doing it for years. I think they will weather this, possibly bruised and a little scarred, but I don't think they will go under.

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Earl for the OC Crusaders

P3 700@1001 (143x7.0 1.85V)
Abit VH6-II w/256MB PC150 (2-2-2)
Radeon 64MB VIVO 200/200
SBLive! Value
13.5GB & 30GB Maxtor ATA100 (5400RPM)
Memorex 36X CD-ROM/TDK 8x4x32 CD-RW

[jdm40]

Originally posted by bobgod007:
Regardless of the company's financial situation, the AMD Athlon XP is a great processor for the power user. Assuming you've already read up on the benefits and issues with Athlons, then there is no arguable reason as to why you shouldn't get one. I think the others will agree.

If you're not sure about the merits and the shortcomings of the platform, tell us what you'll be using the PC for and we can help point out the pros and cons.

I'm just an average user that appreciates quality components. I was just wondering if the current state of affairs would change anyones decision on where they would buy their next processor.

I guess I just like pulling for the underdog, especially when they have a superior product like AMD's. It is frustrating seeing where they are however.

It makes me mad when I see reviews that more or less assume that Intel is better just because the Mhz are higher.

[bobgod007]

Well from your standpoint, go for the Athlon XP if you really need a computer in the next 3-4 months. Otherwise you migh consdier holding out for Northwood. If you're building your own computer and are carefulyl selecting the parts, then you can't go wrong if you pick the right mobo, heatsink and video card for your needs. The others can help you with that.

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Count Baron of the OC Crusaders

[Moridin]

AMD will be fine. They will likely stay around the breakeven point even if things do not go well for them. The Athlon is a great processor, and will continue to have advantages AMD can exploit to sell them and make money.

I talk a little about the only real concern I have for AMD’s future in this thread.
http://www.sharkyforums.com/ubb/Foru...ML/000832.html

It may not be immediately clear what I am talking about but baiscly there are people saying that AMD’s processors are not running as fast in a given process as AMD would have us believe.

It seems the gate lengths in AMD’s newer processors are more consistent with the gate length of AMD’s .13 process, yet AMD is still labeling them as .18. If this is true then it could indicate that the Athlon is not nearly as close to the P4 in clock speed as it seems.

If it were made in a .18 Al process like the P4 is it may not go above 1.1 or 1.2 GHz. This would mean Intel could get a huge clock speed advantage once they convert to their .13 Cu process.


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Life is complex. It has real and imaginary parts.

[Thermo]

At the very worst, they would be taken over by a larger corporation. Right now it all depends on how fast the PC market revives, and how much cash they can lay their hands on. I have been hearing rumors about a large Asian chip consumer sizing them up for months. The story goes that this is to insure a supply of chips and to acquire technology, with no mention of the parties name. As I think about it, it must be Sony. Last year they had a problem with chip supplies for one of their products. This is just my guess, but they have the cash, they have the need, and they are a very aggressive company. They build a lot of products with imbedded processors, and they are moving into PC’s in a big way.

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Dual</A> 1.7 Xeons
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Sound Blaster 512V
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2nd system
<A HREF="http://communities.msn.com/ThermosPlace/933.msnw?Page=Last" TARGET=_blank> http://communities.msn.com/ThermosPlace/933.msnw?Page=Last[/url]
PIII-933/133
Intel vc820i
256Mb's PC800ECC
8gig HD
VooDoo3 2000
12x8x32 CDR
W98SE

[Moridin]

Originally posted by Thermo:
At the very worst, they would be taken over by a larger corporation. Right now it all depends on how fast the PC market revives, and how much cash they can lay their hands on. I have been hearing rumors about a large Asian chip consumer sizing them up for months. The story goes that this is to insure a supply of chips and to acquire technology, with no mention of the parties name. As I think about it, it must be Sony. Last year they had a problem with chip supplies for one of their products. This is just my guess, but they have the cash, they have the need, and they are a very aggressive company. They build a lot of products with imbedded processors, and they are moving into PC’s in a big way.

What is AMD’s market cap currently? The last time I looked it was quite large relative to companies in other sectors. (10 Billion compared to the 20 Billion for Ford) There are not that many companies outside the tech sector that could afford AMD and not that many inside who would be interested.

The only candidate that springs to mind would be Sun, and I don't know if they would want AMD. Perhaps a box maker like Dell or Compaq would be interested, but they are trying to get as far away from that type of business as possible.


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Life is complex. It has real and imaginary parts.

[Thermo]

What is AMD’s market cap currently? The last time I looked it was quite large relative to companies in other sectors. (10 Billion compared to the 20 Billion for Ford) There are not that many companies outside the tech sector that could afford AMD and not that many inside who would be interested.

The only candidate that springs to mind would be Sun, and I don't know if they would want AMD. Perhaps a box maker like Dell or Compaq would be interested, but they are trying to get as far away from that type of business as possible.

Cap is 3.594Bil, and well within the reach of many companies.

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Main system <A HREF="http://communities.msn.com/ThermosPlace/shoebox.msnw?Page=Last
Dual" TARGET=_blank>http://communities.msn.com/ThermosPlace/shoebox.msnw?Page=Last
Dual</A> 1.7 Xeons
860 chip set
512Mb PC800ECC
nVidia Quadro Pro 64Mb
Dual 20gig HD's
Sound Blaster 512V
12x/8x/32x CD
W2000sp2

2nd system
<A HREF="http://communities.msn.com/ThermosPlace/933.msnw?Page=Last" TARGET=_blank> http://communities.msn.com/ThermosPlace/933.msnw?Page=Last[/url]
PIII-933/133
Intel vc820i
256Mb's PC800ECC
8gig HD
VooDoo3 2000
12x8x32 CDR
W98SE

[bobgod007]

Originally posted by Thermo:

Cap is 3.594Bil, and well within the reach of many companies.

Intel is at $168.3 billion, they could almost buy AMD over twice with just their outstanding shares.

EDIT: Outstanding shares today, and also that would be a very bad thing for us.
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Count Baron of the OC Crusaders

[This message has been edited by bobgod007 (edited October 12, 2001).]

[jdm40]

Originally posted by bobgod007:
Intel is at $168.3 billion, they could almost buy AMD over twice with just their outstanding shares.

EDIT: Outstanding shares today, and also that would be a very bad thing for us.

Yeah, but the JD would never allow a merger like that to happen.

With the equivilency ratings though, you have to wonder if a much more marketing savvy company would not be better at promoting AMD's chips. In my view, AMD's marketing has been almost non-existent compared to Intels's.

[Moridin]

Originally posted by Thermo:

Cap is 3.594Bil, and well within the reach of many companies.

That makes it look a little better, but I still don’t see many synergies out there. Sun would work for both. They are dependant on processors, but don’t have the same quality design team that AMD has. This would mean supporting two architectures instead of one, but there would still be a lot of opportunity for cross-pollination IMO.


Also, Sun does not manufacture their own processors. They outsource them to TSMC instead, but TSMC isn’t nearly as good at producing high performance processors as AMD.

Sun OTOH is outstanding at the system, marketing and distribution level, these are areas where AMD falls far behind Intel.



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Life is complex. It has real and imaginary parts.

[isochar]

Originally posted by jdm40:
Yeah, but the JD would never allow a merger like that to happen.

With the equivilency ratings though, you have to wonder if a much more marketing savvy company would not be better at promoting AMD's chips. In my view, AMD's marketing has been almost non-existent compared to Intels's.

Doesn't matter what Sanders would allow. Intel could start purchasing all available shares of AMD in a hostile takeover, end of story. They won't since the Government would go after them for antitrust violations.

IMHO, AMD management is awful. The only reason that they have done as well as they have is due to the R&D.

[AbsolutZero]

Originally posted by jdm40:
With the way things are going. It appears AMD is heading into a tail spin. I know it remains to be seen whether or not they pull out of it intact, but it doesn't look good for the home team.

Does the situation with AMD change anyone's opinion about buying an AMD processor as you look down the road at upgradeability?

According to the reviews it is still a better processor than Intel's Ghz for Ghz.

What do you think?

Northwood looks pretty tough to beat when it comes out next month or so, just in time for the kiddies christmas presents.

Its a shame too. So many OEM's were coming on board with AMD earlier this year and now you hardly see any AMD systems in BestBuy and Compusa ads.

[jdm40]

Originally posted by AbsolutZero:

Northwood looks pretty tough to beat when it comes out next month or so, just in time for the kiddies christmas presents.

Its a shame too. So many OEM's were coming on board with AMD earlier this year and now you hardly see any AMD systems in BestBuy and Compusa ads.

Yeah, I think that Intel is using it's muscle to force companies not to list or carry competing products (AMD chips).

I do not think we can depend on the US Gov to look out for our best interests either.

There are some interesting lawsuits oversees however. Some with Intel and some with MS. It will be intersting to see the effect that those suits have domestically.