AMD CEO Hector Ruiz has suggested that Apple will eventually use AMD processors in some of its future systems, so as not to be held "hostage" to exclusive pricing deals from Intel, according to Electronista.
At a late dinner in San Francisco the executive criticized Intel for reducing competition to a matter of price through its earlier monopoly of computer architecture, and cited previous examples of exclusive pricing deals with Dell as well as other manufacturers. Dell's recent decision to use AMD processors marks the latest in a series of defections that are breaking Intel's once unshakable grip on mainstream computer manufacturers.
AMD recently announced that it would spend $5.4 billion to acquire graphics giant ATI, which currently supplies the majority of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) used in Apple systems. Interestingly, Intel is the supplier of CPUs for the Cupertino-based company's new Macs, working closely with Apple engineers to perfect new mobile and desktop systems. News of the acquisition proved the root of much speculation surrounding whether Apple would forgo future deals with ATI in favor of rival nVidia.
In June of 2005, AMD filed an antitrust case against Intel, alleging that the chip giant used its dominance of the x86 microprocessor market to discourage PC manufacturers as well as retailers from purchasing AMD chips.
News source: MacNN
At a late dinner in San Francisco the executive criticized Intel for reducing competition to a matter of price through its earlier monopoly of computer architecture, and cited previous examples of exclusive pricing deals with Dell as well as other manufacturers. Dell's recent decision to use AMD processors marks the latest in a series of defections that are breaking Intel's once unshakable grip on mainstream computer manufacturers.
AMD recently announced that it would spend $5.4 billion to acquire graphics giant ATI, which currently supplies the majority of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) used in Apple systems. Interestingly, Intel is the supplier of CPUs for the Cupertino-based company's new Macs, working closely with Apple engineers to perfect new mobile and desktop systems. News of the acquisition proved the root of much speculation surrounding whether Apple would forgo future deals with ATI in favor of rival nVidia.
In June of 2005, AMD filed an antitrust case against Intel, alleging that the chip giant used its dominance of the x86 microprocessor market to discourage PC manufacturers as well as retailers from purchasing AMD chips.
News source: MacNN
Think of it like Windows, you can install the 32-bit version of Windows on both Intel and AMD-based systems without getting a different copy of Windows.
Think of it like Windows, you can install the 32-bit version of Windows on both Intel and AMD-based systems without getting a different copy of Windows.
There's also no A64 and X64 version of windows for AMD and Intel.
Intel uses the same 64 bit extensions as AMD.
Proof of this perception would explain why Dell put in for a few million AMD processors...then promptly dumped the first batch into their "E" economy line systems at sub-$400 prices. The Core 2 Duo systems are higher specced and higher priced.
Last edited by phantasmorph on 21 Sep 2006 - 19:34
If Apple were to offer AMD chips, that would be awesome for the consumer. I know I would buy one in a heart beat!
[EDIT] The Dell thing isn't completely true though. Yes, Dell started out by offering AMD processors in their E-series machines, but they still offer the more expensive chips (up to the 5000+). Dell will be expanding in November to notebooks for their home series systems and servers for the enterprise. Eventually they'll have XPS systems with them. They're just testing the waters right now.
Please... non-tech-forum-geek people have no idea who AMD or who Intel is. The normal consumer could care less what processor is in the computer. They only care that it has a cup holder in it.
and since the average person views amd as a generic brand to intel, having an apple amd box = apple intel box in terms of price... i think we can figure that that average person will go with intel.
Ruiz, I think is cocky in this article... i mean... Apple hasn't planned any amd box, and the source of this claim is coming from AMD...
A couple of points I'd like to make: (1) Apple may be planning AMD-based Macs, they hardly ever release information like this early, so who knows? (2) If Apple is planning AMD-based Macs, AMD would surely know, and since Ruiz is the CEO of AMD, of all people he would know. (3) It sounds to me that he is merely speculating that Apple will eventually use AMD chips, I for one think he is right, but not for his reasons. I believe that eventually Apple will realize that AMD has awesome chips--albeit Intel is currently beating them with the Core 2 Duo chips (but that will shift back and forth between the two companies because both have a reason to create newer and better processors)--and they will add AMD to their already awesome line-up to give their customers more choice.
Last edited by Hurmoth on 21 Sep 2006 - 19:57
apple becomes so mainstream...
nah, its okay, competition is always good, i see apple become more and more "dell" from the other world, you know?
id rather buy an intel core2duo but atm i am not THAT informed about whats going on with amd and what they are actually planning to bring out.
dont know...
it sucks on the other hand, because i am right to buy a macbook non pro and i could actually live with not having the newest core2duo in it because you cant always be on top with technique and must deal with it and hey its okay but IF there will be an amd machine ... i dont know. that would be the next generation again or something.
whatever. i will buy my macbook the next weeks, **** on the core2duo and sell it again whenever i think i need something new.
keeping in mind that i still have a amd athlon 2600+ and still statisfied...
whatever.
noone read that comment, right?
On the flip side of things, I just priced out a new PC, going completely to PCI Express which I am still on AGP, and it came in at under $1,000. Considering I have to upgrade almost everything except my soundcard and peripheral drives, New CPU, New GPU, New Motherboard, New PSU (for SLi if I want it eventually), and even New RAM, less than $1000, for what is a pretty decent computer for gaming, compared to the $3,000 or so dollars that I came to when I priced out a new G5 just for fun recently, well, it is clear what I will be upgrading to first. I simply cannot afford the new G5.
So anything that gives me more choice, which I really hope leads to less money, for a Mac, at this point I am all for.
Long gone are the days that I feel any obligation to Apple. I just personally use them for what I make a living doing. It is the OS that I learned on, and therefore what I am far more efficient on, so I just want something I can afford eventually, if possible.
Meanwhile, I am typing this from my G4 powerbook that is over a year old, and was antiquated when I purchased it, so go figure. I love Apple and I hate them. Truly.
So yeah, in summary, partnering with AMD sounds good to me.
I second that!
[Edit] After doing some more testing, I am getting 18x encoding speeds.
Last edited by Galley on 22 Sep 2006 - 13:28
Thats because XP > OSX ....
You win a cookie for actually READING the article. Everyone else read the headline and then went into fullblown Fanboy mode.
RTFA, everyone. All it is is AMD doing a FUD-fest peice. I don't know why it even made the Neowinf main page. It's total FUD.
You win a cookie for actually READING the article. Everyone else read the headline and then went into fullblown Fanboy mode.
RTFA, everyone. All it is is AMD doing a FUD-fest peice. I don't know why it even made the Neowinf main page. It's total FUD.
Because it's news when they say it's news, damn it!!!
You win a cookie for actually READING the article. Everyone else read the headline and then went into fullblown Fanboy mode.
RTFA, everyone. All it is is AMD doing a FUD-fest peice. I don't know why it even made the Neowinf main page. It's total FUD.
Because it's news when they say it's news, damn it!!!
Correct!
This is a far cry from the headline that says they WILL use AMD. What a BS article. There is no news here, jsut speculation by a CEO of the competition. Wishful thinking on his part if you ask me.
And AMD does have something to offer. While Intel is supposedly working on their own graphics chip (which quite frankly would be just another pile of crap as this is something Intel has never been good with), AMD did it the smart way - it went and purchased ATI, a premier maker of graphics chips with already developed technology, and I believe they must have something new brewing with that regard.
If they do and it would increase Apple's profits, Steve would jump on it like a mouse on cheese.
Are apples slowly becoming PC's? This is truely great news for AMD and Apple, and bad news for Intel.
I think Apple is playing it safe by allowing compeition to lower prices.
Last edited by mrmckeb on 22 Sep 2006 - 12:34
Good to see that SOMEONE around here has a few brain cells to rub together.
Currently pointless for Apple to use AMD, at least, at this point in time.
I hope they stick with Intel and their prices remain high. That will keep their market a niche market, and keep them away from the mainstream.
I hope they stick with Intel and their prices remain high. That will keep their market a niche market, and keep them away from the mainstream.
They're already mainstream. Except they put out a better product.
I hope they stick with Intel and their prices remain high. That will keep their market a niche market, and keep them away from the mainstream.
They're already mainstream. Except they put out a better product.
2% marketshare is hardly mainstream. And whose products are inferior to apples? Not MS. Not Dell. Maybe HP or Gateway.
2% marketshare is hardly mainstream. And whose products are inferior to apples? Not MS. Not Dell. Maybe HP or Gateway.
agreed, but Compaq make some good products. I love my notebook from them.
2% marketshare is hardly mainstream. And whose products are inferior to apples? Not MS. Not Dell. Maybe HP or Gateway.
agreed, but Compaq make some good products. I love my notebook from them.
Agreed.
I agree.
You take your AAA. I'll stick to my MIN. Microsoft + Intel + NVidia.
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.