AMD Pushes Back Barcelona Launch till August...Sept??!!

[Chadder007]

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20070516PD217.html

AMD's original plans to introduce Quad-Core Opteron (Barcelona) CPUs are unlikely to be on schedule with a concrete launch-time still unknown, according to sources at Taiwan server makers.

The sources noted that AMD has informed them that the introduction of Barcelona will be delayed until August or September, instead of the originally planned June. However, the sources also noted that this schedule is still subject to change. The Barcelona CPU samples they have currently are not the final versions and bugs are still being discovered, they added.

AMD's only comment on the launch schedule was to say that it will be in line with its previous officially announced schedule, while in a recently published interview with Digitimes, Patrick Patla, director, server/workstation division of AMD, stated that the Barcelona launch will come during the middle of this year.

Still, some Taiwan-based server vendors commented that their confidence over AMD will be affected by any delay. Roadmaps for new product launches were mapped out by the vendors in 2006, and the delay of Barcelona will interrupt these schedule. Comments gathered from vendors show that the majority believe a critical impact will be seen amid Barcelona's delay.

Besides that the postponement may discourage confidence among server makers, AMD also has to face the potential threat from rival Intel whose 45nm-made Harpertown and Wolfdale-DP CPUs are still on schedule to be both launched as planned, according to sources.

Now its going to be after Intels new round of price cuts in July.

 

[MobileLoser]

I'm gonna stop coming to the CPU forum. It's too depressing.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: Chadder007
Now its going to be after Intels new round of price cuts in July.

Or better yet, Intel might delay their planned price-cut.

/end sarcasm

 

[lyssword]

NOOOOOOOO!!

 

[kknd1967]

AMD, Another Month Delay???

 

[myocardia]

I'm beginning to think that we may never see Barcelona. It almost seems to me that finishing the development of R600, not to mention the >$5,000,000,000 to buy ATI, may very well be the downfall of AMD. I hope not, but it isn't looking very good for them, at this point.

 

[SunnyD]

And Hector said they learned their mistakes with the R600 launch...

 

[coolpurplefan]

I know the expression "sooner or later you have to shoot the engineer" is kind of funny, but this time, it seems applicable. Just come out with the damn CPU. (Just kidding.) Actually, I hope what they do, they don't have to undo later on if they do it right (the first time, not like R600 which needs a refresh already).

 

[Arkaign]

This seems to imply that they need to re-spin to get core speeds to a competitive level with Intel's goodies. Combine this with atrocious financial stature, and I think we'll see AMD get sold off to IBM or the like later this year. Sucks for AMD, sucks for the customer, I'd buy Intel stock ATM, and sell when the floor falls out under AMD.

 

[Regs]

Mouths start opening up about doubts of the launch and the rumors become facts. Most of the time the rumors turn up right.

It's obvious though why AMD never gave it a solid launch date. It's also likely the real reason they are not showing their cards.

 

[defiantsf]

AMD is their own worst enemy now, if this rumor is true.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: defiantsf
AMD is their own worst enemy now, if this rumor is true.

True in a way, but it might be their best plan. After the utter debacle of the 2900XT release, it might be better to keep Barcelona under wraps IF it performs worse than Intel's current top-tier products. Quad-FX was widely and rightly panned (huge power draw, pathetic performance for the $$), and can you imagine the venom should they release a SLOWER processor than the already ridiculously affordable/overclockable C2Ds?

AMD still has a decent value market, I don't think they want to totally embarrass themselves by releasing a pathetic product. Give them time, hopefully they'll get it right.

Oh, and the recent faux press-conference where they showed their new stuff was laughable. NO benchmarks? That can only mean .. it currently SUCKS balls. Unless you can think of another genius reason they'd just let countless more customers buy C2Ds in the meantime. If they HAD a better chip, then showing a couple leaked benchies would stem the tide, and give reason for people to hold out for a little while. But no, just delays and ambiguity. GG AMD

 

[Chadder007]

Originally posted by: Arkaign
This seems to imply that they need to re-spin to get core speeds to a competitive level with Intel's goodies. Combine this with atrocious financial stature, and I think we'll see AMD get sold off to IBM or the like later this year. Sucks for AMD, sucks for the customer, I'd buy Intel stock ATM, and sell when the floor falls out under AMD.

If anyone takes AMD, I would hope it would be IBM. I would like to see Power 6 technology incorporated possibly into the future AMD processors.

 

[LikeLinus]

IBM buying AMD will never happen.

http://news.com.com/IBM+sees+software+c...10/2100-1014_3-6184790.html?tag=cd.top

IBM is selling off some of it's hardware business and focusing on software development and consulting services. I highly doubt they would spend billions on AMD - which is just losing money.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: MobileLoser
I'm gonna stop coming to the CPU forum. It's too depressing.

you should have been in Video all this week

HD2900xt is only 9 months late - a serious under-performer for a "stop-gap flagship" - and it is getting a pretty cold reception after all the Spin and FUD we had to endure from AMD about the BS "waiting for the family to launch" ... where's the family

i expect to be disappointed by AMD . ... again ... they don't *know how* to launch a product ... unless a "depressing buzz" is what they are aiming for.

AMD *hid* r600 - for MONTHS all the while showing us stupid things like 'Folding at home' teraflops ... and promising ridiculous features any "gamer" would spit at.

well they are doing the *same thing* with Barcelona

i wish they would just get it over with show the Flopalona ... let the stocks crash ... the stockholders will revolt revolt and dump the current monkeys in charge ... then ... maybe some company - Like AMAT - would buy it and put some serious money into it and really take on intel and nvidia with real product and *GREAT advertising* and PR ... something AMD never had ... even when their product was superior

i think Ruiz and his cronies ran AMD into the ground and are just delaying the inevitable ... too bad really ... it was pretty good when Sanders left ....

that said ... i want a couple HD2900xts
... when i can get 2-for-$400

 

[aigomorla]

which is why i didnt wait on barcelona, and i picked up a X3220 Xeon.

I think ima pick up another quad core coming this july. I was really hoping for a phenom rig if they pulled stuff together, but from the looks of it, i think i'll skip amd completely and jump yorkies when they come out.


wait if amd goes out of business.... then doesnt that give intel an excuse to hold back everything they promised on there roadmap? and it was pretty accurate as it was.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: aigomorla
which is why i didnt wait on barcelona, and i picked up a X3220 Xeon.

I think ima pick up another quad core coming this july. I was really hoping for a phenom rig if they pulled stuff together, but from the looks of it, i think i'll skip amd completely and jump yorkies when they come out.


wait if amd goes out of business.... then doesnt that give intel an excuse to hold back everything they promised on there roadmap? and it was pretty accurate as it was.

of course it will

look at nvidia when they realized they *owned* the High-End... they released the 8800Ultra for $850 and it isn't much over an OC'd 8800GTX

in the long run ... if AMD tanks ... either private equity or a company like AMAT will buy it

in the short term ... yeah ... we're screwed

 

[rise]

well, thats freaking disappointing. i guess i should've known

 

[buddhatb]

AMD is such a disappointment. I have given up supporting them anymore. Intel is straight up dominating the market right now with their strong product line and generous price cuts. I'm currently typing on a Athlon powered system, but for my next build going with Intel for sure.

 

[DrMrLordX]

The only K10s that were originally slated for a June release were a few Opterons, namely the 8262, 8264, and 8266 (and 8268 SE, 8270 SE). Sure, delays on those aren't good (it might mean delays on the rest of their product line) but it's not the end of the world or anything.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: aigomorla

in the long run ... if AMD tanks ... either private equity or a company like AMAT will buy it

I use to work with AMAT when I was R&D at TI up until spring this year (32nm development)...there is absolutely nothing in AMAT's business model that would make any sense to them to pursue purchasing AMD.

For one they would immediately alienate themselves from their exisiting semiconductor customer base.

Trust me when I say this as I was one of their customers.

People who own fabs are extremely paranoid and supicious of anyone being in them (as in supplier, such as AMAT) who is also running their own fab(s). It doesn't work in the "real world" and the folks at AMAT know that.

This is the exact same practical real-world reason you will never see a successful foundry (TSMC, UMC, etc) buy a design-house such as NVidia or Qualcomm...you do NOT succeed by going into business that jeopardizes the business of your customers (even if by perception). Intel will not compete with DELL. AMAT will not compete with IBM.

If AMD was ever going to be bought it had to happen before they acquired ATI. Now they are too big and too complex to be absorbed by any of the existing players...their remaining options are:

1. 1. Succeed with current business plan

1. 2. Succeed and go private equity

1. 3. Door #3

 

[JackPack]

Come on, guys.

This isn't that much of a surprise, is it? AMD has hasn't offered any benchmarks, demonstrations, or anything else except slideware. It would be like expecting R600 in January. Even AMD themselves have said they don't expect Barcelona to have any major financial impact until next year.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Idontcare

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: aigomorla

in the long run ... if AMD tanks ... either private equity or a company like AMAT will buy it

I use to work with AMAT when I was R&D at TI up until spring this year (32nm development)...there is absolutely nothing in AMAT's business model that would make any sense to them to pursue purchasing AMD.

For one they would immediately alienate themselves from their exisiting semiconductor customer base.

Trust me when I say this as I was one of their customers.

People who own fabs are extremely paranoid and supicious of anyone being in them (as in supplier, such as AMAT) who is also running their own fab(s). It doesn't work in the "real world" and the folks at AMAT know that.

This is the exact same practical real-world reason you will never see a successful foundry (TSMC, UMC, etc) buy a design-house such as NVidia or Qualcomm...you do NOT succeed by going into business that jeopardizes the business of your customers (even if by perception). Intel will not compete with DELL. AMAT will not compete with IBM.

If AMD was ever going to be bought it had to happen before they acquired ATI. Now they are too big and too complex to be absorbed by any of the existing players...their remaining options are:

1. 1. Succeed with current business plan

1. 2. Succeed and go private equity

1. 3. Door #3

"a company like AMAT"

... with resources and a solid business model

and evidently they were/are considering it

i see "failure" in AMD's future - based on their recent past - even though a good 'promotion' could turn them around - they don't "know how" to promote their products

some related threads i started in Video

The Real Lessons of the AMD's launch


--and before it ... before HD2900xt's launch ... i don't have any more hope as they are still stupid and didn't learn their lesson:

there IS Hope for AMD ...Ruiz acknowledges a lot of things

those who fail to learn the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them
--AMD is stupid and too proud to learn

 

[Viditor]

There seems to be quite a few misconceptions and areas where people aren't thinking it through on this thread...

Delay

1. Keep in mind that the digitimes article is also just another rumour. Data (supposedly) from Taiwan sources has often been wrong for both Intel and AMD.

2. What adds at least some credibility to the story is that it ties in nicely with Charlie D's story on the new spin (Rev B0) of Barcelona and K10 being far more clockable and faster than the previous A revision. It makes a good deal of sense that if this is true, AMD would scrap any launch with the "A" rev and start with the "B" rev at launch. Since it takes ~3 months to make a chip and the first "B" revs came out in March or so, then August/Sept seems like a good estimate for launch volume...

3. This doesn't effect most of those here...Barcelona is a server-only chip. There are no rumours at all about a delay to Agena (which is all anyone here really cares about).

AMD's Finances

1. You have to admit that predicting a company's demise based on a single bad quarter is a bit silly...keep things in perspective.

2. For those of you haven't kept up on things, AMD no longer has any cash problems. No matter whether you think it was smart or not, last month's bond offering has assured that AMD has plenty of money for at least the next 2 years...btw, considering that AMD's share price is up well over 10% since news of the bond was out there, I think most investors consider it a good thing.

3. The ATI purchase was and is necessary. The only other choice would have been to buy Nvidia, which would have cost more than double what they paid...

4. Barcelona isn't going to effect this years income much anyway, though the other K10s (which haven't been delayed) will...server chips for new platforms require at least 6 months to be qualified before they sell in any significant quantity.

 

[dmens]

Originally posted by: Viditor
It makes a good deal of sense that if this is true, AMD would scrap any launch with the "A" rev and start with the "B" rev at launch.

a-step to market is not possible for a new product; amd would never have planned it to begin with.