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Microsoft To Acquire AMD?
Over the weekend a new rumor surfaced on the web, when you trace back the material from website tyo website it seems to source at 'industry sources', so in that respect I'd take the news with a large grain of salt. None the less, it is an interesting topic alright.
As it turns out, Microsoft might be interested in acquiring AMD. Given past week announcements with the newly created AMD Radeon group this all doesn't even sound too weird as their new CEO stated it would look into all open options. AMd has been struggling alright, and perhaps even acquiring isn't the right word from Fudzilla, a strategic financial partner could just as well be an option.
Of course Microsoft would have to compete with Nvidia. Linux fans of AMD GPUs would not be too happy about it, although Redmond has been getting more open source friendly lately.
When it comes to CPUs, the future Zen derivative could end up in the future Surface, you know the tablet that iPad Pro copied the form factor, the cover keyboard and the pen. AMD has a server division as well as computational division, everything that Microsoft uses. The fact that Raja Koduri, a man behind cool things at ART X and ATI Radeon R300 now runs Radeon Technology Group could mean that the company might be acquired in pieces too. We always suggested that one of the solutions is that AMD sells off GPU business to a company that would licence it back to AMD for its APU products.
Our well informed industry sources suggest that Intel is interested in the acquisition of AMD. Before you blast us with your comments, the world changed a few years back and Intel is not a monopoly anymore. Apple has quite big of a stake with iPads and companies like Samsung have their own SoCs that are used for their tablets and phones. Qualcomm and MediaTek got stronger as well. In this changed world Intel would have a chance to acquire AMD if it really wanted.
It is an intersting theory, but given the source again, this remains nothing more then just speculation from unknown sources. A very similar rumor already popped up back in June at Neogaf, so it might just be that somebody hogged that info and is reusing it.
Rumors like these we've seen multiple times in the past year from varying sources and varying interested parties.
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flashmozzg
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#5157875 Posted on: 09/12/2015 10:38 PM
Nah. It awfully looks like another Elope Nokia scenario...
We can hate on the evil eMpire all we want but I think this would be fantastic for AMD if it did happen. An immediate infusion of cash into R&D is what they desperately need. Microsoft may benefit by being able to produce/design it's own hardware in house.
Nah. It awfully looks like another Elope Nokia scenario...
Jagman
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#5157890 Posted on: 09/12/2015 11:06 PM
Agreed, and maybe they can get Zen out the door sooner
We can hate on the evil eMpire all we want but I think this would be fantastic for AMD if it did happen. An immediate infusion of cash into R&D is what they desperately need. Microsoft may benefit by being able to produce/design it's own hardware in house.
Agreed, and maybe they can get Zen out the door sooner
Anarion
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#5157892 Posted on: 09/12/2015 11:15 PM
I doubt it. Unless they have some kind of great plan I don't see why they would buy AMD.
I doubt it. Unless they have some kind of great plan I don't see why they would buy AMD.
Loophole35
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#5157894 Posted on: 09/12/2015 11:18 PM
Under cut Sony on the next console.
I doubt it. Unless they have some kind of great plan I don't see why they would buy AMD.
Under cut Sony on the next console.
Elder III
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#5157896 Posted on: 09/12/2015 11:22 PM
I think this would actually be a good thing for everyone. I have a friend who works for Microsoft, but I don't think he's high enough up the food chain to confirm this.....
I think this would actually be a good thing for everyone. I have a friend who works for Microsoft, but I don't think he's high enough up the food chain to confirm this.....
Fender178
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#5157913 Posted on: 09/13/2015 12:43 AM
As far as PC gaming goes this is a good Idea. On the Console Front I can't see this ending good if you are Sony and maybe Nintendo with Code Name NX because of finding a different manufactures for CPU and GPU and costing more money to make the Consoles because of going to Nvidia and Intel for their parts however this could play into their favor because of making a far superior product considering how far ahead Intel is in the CPU department. Also with the original Xbox and how much trouble MS had with Nvidia and vice versa.
As far as PC gaming goes this is a good Idea. On the Console Front I can't see this ending good if you are Sony and maybe Nintendo with Code Name NX because of finding a different manufactures for CPU and GPU and costing more money to make the Consoles because of going to Nvidia and Intel for their parts however this could play into their favor because of making a far superior product considering how far ahead Intel is in the CPU department. Also with the original Xbox and how much trouble MS had with Nvidia and vice versa.
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#5157973 Posted on: 09/13/2015 04:53 AM
Wouldn't this invalidate the x86 license and kinda make it pointless aside from the graphics card division? I know i have heard some people say there might be loopholes on the x86 license....
Wouldn't this invalidate the x86 license and kinda make it pointless aside from the graphics card division? I know i have heard some people say there might be loopholes on the x86 license....
Fender178
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#5157975 Posted on: 09/13/2015 05:01 AM
Yeah I also remember this being mentioned as well. I think that it would void the x86 license that AMD has.
Wouldn't this invalidate the x86 license and kinda make it pointless aside from the graphics card division? I know i have heard some people say there might be loopholes on the x86 license....
Yeah I also remember this being mentioned as well. I think that it would void the x86 license that AMD has.
mcfart
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#5157978 Posted on: 09/13/2015 05:11 AM
I see no benefit for MS to do this. They already get what they want from AMD (AMD GPUs in Xbox 1)...and AMD's in the red, so what's the point...
MS is focusing on phones/Surface/Xbox 1 to a lesser extent, and buying AMD won't help on any of these, unless they think APUs will make the next Surface revolutionary lol.
I see no benefit for MS to do this. They already get what they want from AMD (AMD GPUs in Xbox 1)...and AMD's in the red, so what's the point...
MS is focusing on phones/Surface/Xbox 1 to a lesser extent, and buying AMD won't help on any of these, unless they think APUs will make the next Surface revolutionary lol.
Andrew LB
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#5157986 Posted on: 09/13/2015 07:08 AM
The x86 license is non-transferable. If microsoft bought AMD, they'd have to get their own license from Intel.
Wouldn't this invalidate the x86 license and kinda make it pointless aside from the graphics card division? I know i have heard some people say there might be loopholes on the x86 license....
The x86 license is non-transferable. If microsoft bought AMD, they'd have to get their own license from Intel.
0blivious
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#5157995 Posted on: 09/13/2015 07:55 AM
The x86 licensing is most likely why no one else has bought AMD. I think MS could hurdle that stumbling block though as they are, well, Microsoft.
The x86 licensing is most likely why no one else has bought AMD. I think MS could hurdle that stumbling block though as they are, well, Microsoft.
thatguy91
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#5158015 Posted on: 09/13/2015 10:02 AM
If they did start using Intel it wouldn't be an i7-6700K they'd use. It would be something along the lines of a cut down Intel Celeron Processor G1840. It's possible they'd also go Intel Atom route.
The implication of that is a little more complex I believe. If the agreement if non-transferrable for x86-32, then it could also be the scenario that the agreement of x86-64 changes, since x86-64 (x64) is owned by AMD. In other words, if Intel says AMD could no longer use x86, AMD could come around and say Intel could no longer use x64 for future processors.
Obviously neither is a good scenario, but AMD would be the one less hurting from this. Currently a great advantage with x64 is that you can run 32-bit programs natively even under a 64-bit OS. If Intel pulls the 32-bit side of the agreement, you can still run 32-bit applicants under a VM. Remember that Microsoft would be owning AMD or part thereof, so the VM could be incorporated in to the OS. It would mean a slight disadvantage in 32-bit applications, but that is now becoming less of an issue.
The greatest loser if the agreement of the x86/x64 licence agreement falls through is therefore Intel, not AMD.
As far as PC gaming goes this is a good Idea. On the Console Front I can't see this ending good if you are Sony and maybe Nintendo with Code Name NX because of finding a different manufactures for CPU and GPU and costing more money to make the Consoles because of going to Nvidia and Intel for their parts however this could play into their favor because of making a far superior product considering how far ahead Intel is in the CPU department. Also with the original Xbox and how much trouble MS had with Nvidia and vice versa.
If they did start using Intel it wouldn't be an i7-6700K they'd use. It would be something along the lines of a cut down Intel Celeron Processor G1840. It's possible they'd also go Intel Atom route.
The x86 license is non-transferable. If microsoft bought AMD, they'd have to get their own license from Intel.
The implication of that is a little more complex I believe. If the agreement if non-transferrable for x86-32, then it could also be the scenario that the agreement of x86-64 changes, since x86-64 (x64) is owned by AMD. In other words, if Intel says AMD could no longer use x86, AMD could come around and say Intel could no longer use x64 for future processors.
Obviously neither is a good scenario, but AMD would be the one less hurting from this. Currently a great advantage with x64 is that you can run 32-bit programs natively even under a 64-bit OS. If Intel pulls the 32-bit side of the agreement, you can still run 32-bit applicants under a VM. Remember that Microsoft would be owning AMD or part thereof, so the VM could be incorporated in to the OS. It would mean a slight disadvantage in 32-bit applications, but that is now becoming less of an issue.
The greatest loser if the agreement of the x86/x64 licence agreement falls through is therefore Intel, not AMD.
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#5158017 Posted on: 09/13/2015 10:15 AM
true but they have AMD64 wich is compatible with x64 (despite the vice versa is only 99% compatible).
also M$ have it own x86 licence for phone.
at least GPU driver will work fine if it happen it will be a great improvement...
*edit* there is rumor with Intel and NVidia too despite their "little" issue of industrial inteligence.
The x86 license is non-transferable. If microsoft bought AMD, they'd have to get their own license from Intel.
true but they have AMD64 wich is compatible with x64 (despite the vice versa is only 99% compatible).
also M$ have it own x86 licence for phone.
at least GPU driver will work fine if it happen it will be a great improvement...
*edit* there is rumor with Intel and NVidia too despite their "little" issue of industrial inteligence.
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#5158031 Posted on: 09/13/2015 11:24 AM
Do they need the X86 license for GPUs? Isn't it more likely that AMD would just sell off the GPU portion of the company to MS?
Do they need the X86 license for GPUs? Isn't it more likely that AMD would just sell off the GPU portion of the company to MS?
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We can hate on the evil eMpire all we want but I think this would be fantastic for AMD if it did happen. An immediate infusion of cash into R&D is what they desperately need. Microsoft may benefit by being able to produce/design it's own hardware in house.