AMD's partnership with Asustek Computer is growing tighter and the CPU maker reportedly will use Zen to name its next-generation desktop APU platform for 2016 and their expanding cooperation is also expected to influence the desktop market, according to sources from the upstream supply chain. 

However, Asustek and AMD did not confirm the news. 

The sources also pointed out that AMD has reportedly been offering Asustek special discounts for its CPUs.

Among AMD's product lines, the company's desktop APU business has the best performance despite the fierce competition from Intel's Haswell Refresh CPUs. Thanks to the product line, AMD currently has about 30% share in the desktop market.

The sources believe AMD is trying to expand its desktop APU sales through cooperation with Asustek and is looking to boost its overall market share to over 30%.

However, the two players' tight relationship may cause AMD's other partners such as Gigabyte Technology, Micro-Star International (MSI), ASRock, Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS) and Biostar to reduce their AMD-based projects.

Via Digitimes

Asustek, AMD said to strengthen partnership