Promo: Windows 10 Pro + Office 2016 for $33
MSI Radeon RX 5500 XT GamingX 8GB review
ASUS Dual Radeon RX 5500 XT EVO 8GB review
PowerColor Radeon RX 5500 XT Red Dragon 8GB review
Gigabyte Radeon RX 5500 XT Gaming 8GB review
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB review
Zotac Gaming GTX 1650 Super review
Radeon Adrenalin 2020 Edition Driver Overview
Guru3D Winter 2019 PC Buyer Guide
Corsair QL120 and QL140 RGB fan review
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.
Microsoft offers online tool to force Windows 10 update - 07/29/2015 12:15 PM
Microsoft placed a tool online that downloads an ISO file which can be used to then force an install of Windows 10. This update is free for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users....
Microsoft is Silently Preloading Windows 10 release - 07/28/2015 09:41 PM
If you registered for the Windows 10 upgrade you will receive a notice if and when you can download and update to the new OS. However many end-users have reported a new hidden directory on their Windo...
Microsoft Arrow is Launcher for Android - 07/27/2015 07:50 AM
Microsoft is currently working on a new app, and it’s an Android launcher. The company’s latest app is Arrow Launcher and it is currently in private beta – meaning that y...
Microsoft Reports A $2.1B Q4 Loss - 07/22/2015 07:15 AM
Microsoft Corp. has announced that revenues for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 were $22.2 billion. Gross margin, operating loss, and loss per share for the quarter were $14.7 billion, $(2.1) billio...
Microsoft To Sell Windows 10 on usb-sticks - 07/17/2015 07:32 AM
With the decline and fall of CD and DVD-ROMs on-line distribution has taken a huge step forward, meanwhile sometimes you can't be online so how do you install something ? Well, Microsoft will sell Wi...
flashmozzg
Senior Member
Posts: 122
Joined: 2013-01-30
Senior Member
Posts: 122
Joined: 2013-01-30
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 2222
Joined: 2005-03-26
Senior Member
Posts: 2222
Joined: 2005-03-26
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 13542
Joined: 2005-08-13
Senior Member
Posts: 13542
Joined: 2005-08-13
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 9426
Joined: 2011-09-21
Senior Member
Posts: 9426
Joined: 2011-09-21
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 3603
Joined: 2010-05-16
Senior Member
Posts: 3603
Joined: 2010-05-16
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 3793
Joined: 2004-09-28
Senior Member
Posts: 3793
Joined: 2004-09-28
#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.
Aura89
Senior Member
Posts: 7718
Joined: 2008-07-31
Senior Member
Posts: 7718
Joined: 2008-07-31
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 3793
Joined: 2004-09-28
Senior Member
Posts: 3793
Joined: 2004-09-28
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 303
Joined: 2010-05-07
Senior Member
Posts: 303
Joined: 2010-05-07
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 1062
Joined: 2012-05-22
Senior Member
Posts: 1062
Joined: 2012-05-22
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 2602
Joined: 2006-04-25
Senior Member
Posts: 2602
Joined: 2006-04-25
#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
Senior Member
Posts: 6648
Joined: 2010-08-27
Senior Member
Posts: 6648
Joined: 2010-08-27
#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.
rl66
Senior Member
Posts: 2213
Joined: 2007-05-31
Senior Member
Posts: 2213
Joined: 2007-05-31
#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.
Cyberdyne
Senior Member
Posts: 3179
Joined: 2010-01-16
Senior Member
Posts: 3179
Joined: 2010-01-16
#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?
Click here to post a comment for this news story on the message forum.
Senior Member
Posts: 2602
Joined: 2006-04-25
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.