AMD forced out in the margin - Computer Sweden

2013-09-27 10:30 – Computer Sweden:

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Analysis Once upon a time took turns AMD and Intel to be the hottest processor company for client devices and servers. Today, instead Arm took place as the foremost challenger to Intel and AMD have to look for new markets.

processor manufacturer AMD reached a technical peak just after the turn of the century, with families Athlon client and Opteron for servers. Although it was not the shops so good, in fact, it was losses in 2001, 2002 and 2003. After it has been shaky, with gains in some years and losses others.

Class=”paragraphIntro”> Given that in some years has offered significant losses, it is hard to believe that AMD is actually left. Especially as it is not technically leading the same as 10-15 years ago.

There are three obvious causes of AMD’s problems.

Firstly, the main competitor Intel simply played their cards better. In the new century, Intel has sailed away in terms of processors for client computers and servers.

Secondly, AMD has missed an opportunity to gain market share in smart phones and tablets.

Thirdly, the acquisition of ATI Technologies in 2006, a maker of graphics chips, not been successful. There are plenty of reports of different corporate cultures and difficulties to cooperate between the “old” AMD and ATI part of the company.

There are four things that can save AMD.

Firstly, manufacturers of client and server have AMD remains, at any price. The reason is that they do not want to be totally dependent on Intel for processors. Second, it provides a total domination mean that Intel can dictate terms in a way that may be negative, and the manufacturing problems for Intel cause delivery problems.

Secondly, AMD has released the Intel fixation and also started working with technology from Intel’s biggest competitor Arm. Given that Arm working flat out to broaden the market for its processors, such as the servers and maybe even for personal computers, there is potential to expand the company manufacturing Armbaserade processors.

Thirdly, AMD has had success in new areas; eg there are AMD processors in the next generation consoles PlayStation 4 from Sony and Xbox One from Microsoft.

Fourth, AMD has a chance to grab market share for themselves in new areas. One example is Fitted computers.

There are increasing signs that AMD is left that company in ten years, but then as an increasingly obscure players – one among many others.

Facts

AMD’s history

1969
AMD is founded in May

1975
Starting producing memory chips and a clone Intel’s processor 8080.

1982
Writes an agreement with Intel to manufacture under license the 8086 – and 8088 processors used in PCs.

1985
Successes with modem chips AMD7910 and AMD7911.

1991
Releasing Am386 which is a clone of the Intel PC processor 80386th

1996
own first PC processor, K5, which competes with Intel’s Pentium.

1997
K6 processor is introduced.

1999
Introduces K7, with model name Athlon.

2003
K8, is introduced in the form of server processor Opteron.

2005
The first Opteron model with two processor cores.

2006
Acquires ATI Technologies.

2007
K10 released as a successor to the K8. First out of architecture is quad-core Opteron processors.

2008
Reports that manufacturing would be transferred to Globalfoundries owned jointly with Abu Dhabi-based Advanced Technology Investment.

2009
processor family Phenom II launched.

2011
Announces 1,400 employees, more than ten percent of workforce, will be terminated.

2012
Buys Seamicro that manufactures energy-efficient servers.

2012
Reports to an additional 15 percent of the staff will be laid off.