AMD swollow ATI good or bad?

RichUK

Lifer
Feb 14, 2005
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:thumbsup:

Read the Articles, it seems a pretty positive move to me.
 

kknd1967

Senior member
Jan 11, 2006
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It is hard to say but I don't feel as positive as many do:
1. ATI chipset sux
2. Gaming community is a small portion of total PC sale. It would be interesting to see where the NV+AMD business platform goes.
3. to win in mobile, telecommunication is at least 1/3 of the story and it is getting more important. AMD ATI do not have that.

As there are many positive aspects too. The future is really unclear...
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
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Originally posted by: kknd1967
It is hard to say but I don't feel as positive as many do:
1. ATI chipset sux
2. Gaming community is a small portion of total PC sale. It would be interesting to see where the NV+AMD business platform goes.
3. to win in mobile, telecommunication is at least 1/3 of the story and it is getting more important. AMD ATI do not have that.

As there are many positive aspects too. The future is really unclear...

And what's wrong with ATI chipsets? Only the USB is really a problem.
 

deathwalker

Golden Member
May 22, 2003
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Originally posted by: Aflac
Originally posted by: kknd1967
It is hard to say but I don't feel as positive as many do:
1. ATI chipset sux
2. Gaming community is a small portion of total PC sale. It would be interesting to see where the NV+AMD business platform goes.
3. to win in mobile, telecommunication is at least 1/3 of the story and it is getting more important. AMD ATI do not have that.

As there are many positive aspects too. The future is really unclear...

And what's wrong with ATI chipsets? Only the USB is really a problem.

I agree...most performance reviews you see on mobo's with ATI chipsets are very competitive witht he except of their South Bridge USB implementation. There X300 integrated graphics solution is very satisfactory when compared to other integrated solutions also. It should also be noted that mobo's with the ATI northbridge can be compbined with a ULI southbridge to bring competitive USB performance. I think ATI's biggest problem is "image". Until recently no one has thought of them as anything but a graphics company.
 

imported_inspire

Senior member
Jun 29, 2006
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ATi makes more than just Video Cards - like the graphics chipsets on some gaming consoles, so this is, in a way, a move towards diversification, which should really give AMD a boost.

I personally think that in a year or so when AMD's Torrenza platform comes out, it will come out swinging with HTX Slots and ATi-built HTX Video Cards and integrated chipsets.

In all honesty, it may be too early to tell, but I certainly don't see it as a bad thing.
 

Henny

Senior member
Nov 22, 2001
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AMD needs chip set expertise. Chip sets have become a much more critical platform component. If AMD can get that from ATI it's good for them.

However AMD facing a weak balance sheet and has some huge challenges facing them. (K8L, late with 65nm, Fab converisons and the need to invest in new Fab capacity). The ATI merger could become a major distraction at a time when they need to focus.
 

orangat

Golden Member
Jun 7, 2004
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Originally posted by: Henny
AMD needs chip set expertise. Chip sets have become a much more critical platform component. If AMD can get that from ATI it's good for them.

However AMD facing a weak balance sheet and has some huge challenges facing them. (K8L, late with 65nm, Fab converisons and the need to invest in new Fab capacity). The ATI merger could become a major distraction at a time when they need to focus.

I was thinking the same thing. The timing of the merger isn't fortuitous with AMD having issues of its own not to mention its flagship cpu is once again behind Intel.
 

imported_inspire

Senior member
Jun 29, 2006
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Originally posted by: Henny
AMD needs chip set expertise. Chip sets have become a much more critical platform component. If AMD can get that from ATI it's good for them.

However AMD facing a weak balance sheet and has some huge challenges facing them. (K8L, late with 65nm, Fab converisons and the need to invest in new Fab capacity). The ATI merger could become a major distraction at a time when they need to focus.


Good point, I like to give AMD credit - they're trying to catch up on a lot of things that have held them back in the past. I'm seriously hoping (as much for competition's sake as my own personal affinity for AMD) that they can catch up.

Yeah, they've got a lot on their plate right now, but only time will tell if they can make it a happy plate. :)
 

BF04

Member
Sep 25, 2004
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I am concerned, I prefer Nvida chipset which they would have bought them :)

I have not used a ATI chipset and Nvidia card, any issues?

I will try and keep open mind, but if this effects AMD and Nvidia relationship alot then its a bad move IMO.
 

LittleNemoNES

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2005
4,142
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The RD600 will fix the southbridge issues. The ATI chipset is usually passively cooled and doesn't really need to be OCed except in the most extreme OCs.

Funny I have a different opinion than what seems to be all of you (so far). I am upset not cos AMD will be bogged down by loser ATI but actually that ATI will be bogged down by now loser AMD...

I wanted to have a great Intel C2D and Crossfire setup. Hope this doesn't impede.
 

kknd1967

Senior member
Jan 11, 2006
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I guess the major goal of this move is for the mobile market.
Guess who will merge later? Maybe Qualcomm will buy AMD.
 

agent2099

Golden Member
Sep 8, 2002
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Originally posted by: kknd1967
It is hard to say but I don't feel as positive as many do:
1. ATI chipset sux..

I disagree.

And with the merger the chipsets can only improve. We will likely see the stability and performance we have come to expect from intel chipsets paired with intel cpus.

 

nyker96

Diamond Member
Apr 19, 2005
5,630
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I personally think it's a decent move at diversifying into graphic card arena. This allows AMD to compete with Intel better and also maybe ATI can make some cooler chips for a change.
 

kknd1967

Senior member
Jan 11, 2006
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It is just so ironic NV just tried to prove their combination with AMD is the best in the world. And ATI just announced their chipset is best for Conroe to OC. Guess what they will try to say after the merge...

Originally posted by: agent2099
Originally posted by: kknd1967
It is hard to say but I don't feel as positive as many do:
1. ATI chipset sux..

I disagree.

And with the merger the chipsets can only improve. We will likely see the stability and performance we have come to expect from intel chipsets paired with intel cpus.

 

Viditor

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 1999
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Originally posted by: orangat
Originally posted by: Henny
AMD needs chip set expertise. Chip sets have become a much more critical platform component. If AMD can get that from ATI it's good for them.

However AMD facing a weak balance sheet and has some huge challenges facing them. (K8L, late with 65nm, Fab converisons and the need to invest in new Fab capacity). The ATI merger could become a major distraction at a time when they need to focus.

I was thinking the same thing. The timing of the merger isn't fortuitous with AMD having issues of its own not to mention its flagship cpu is once again behind Intel.

1. 65nm isn't late...Intel released first but financially that has been a plus for AMD
2. A big part of K8L and K10 and their entire platform going forward will include companies like ATI (graphics on the CPU, new chipsets, graphical coprocessors for Torrenza, etc...). By acquiring ATI, they also acquire a whole lot of very experienced engineers in fields that AMD is going to need.
3. When AMD released the first Athlon, they also had to release their first chipset in order to assure a successful launch. Since then, AMD has developed a chipset for every new type of chip they produce...and AMD chipsets are still the most widely used for Opterons.
What most people don't realize is that the chipset costs more to develop than the CPU does for AMD. This is because they have to contract out a team for it's development (they don't really have a huge chipset development division).
 

Blazin Trav

Banned
Dec 14, 2004
2,571
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I don't see any of these problems that you guys are claiming. AMD is pretty on target and knows what they are doing. I am going to laugh at all you doubters when K8L rocks Intel's socks.

That is all.
 

broly8877

Senior member
Aug 17, 2004
461
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Very, very good on AMD's part.
Now that they've acquired ATI, they not only have more talented engineers, but a solid chipset division.

Look at current chipset offerings. AMD is at Nvidia's mercy. They need to have one of their own.
 

imported_inspire

Senior member
Jun 29, 2006
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Originally posted by: Viditor
2. A big part of K8L and K10 and their entire platform going forward will include companies like ATI (graphics on the CPU, new chipsets, graphical coprocessors for Torrenza, etc...). By acquiring ATI, they also acquire a whole lot of very experienced engineers in fields that AMD is going to need.

Yes, I see this as a big step towards Torrenza and HTX Slots - a very good thing.

 

kknd1967

Senior member
Jan 11, 2006
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I am afraid ATI's gaming focus will be gone, although they sure will continue to make good 3D cards.
ATI will now focus on AMD's platform, particularly the mobile part. It may not care about GPU performance crown much anymore, as Intel always does.
 

dexvx

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2000
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It would make nvidia nervous, thats for sure. I bet they're fidgeting around.
 

kknd1967

Senior member
Jan 11, 2006
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maybe only their chipset division. Not their GPU division.

Originally posted by: dexvx
It would make nvidia nervous, thats for sure. I bet they're fidgeting around.

 

dexvx

Diamond Member
Feb 2, 2000
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Originally posted by: kknd1967
maybe only their chipset division. Not their GPU division.

Originally posted by: dexvx
It would make nvidia nervous, thats for sure. I bet they're fidgeting around.


Why? ATI will get first stab at Dev and Q&A for their integrated chipsets, giving them an edge over the nForce ones with an IGP (which is huge). Moreover, AMD is surely gonna force SLI to be operable on ATI XFire boards as well, cutting down on their SLI exlusivity.
 

coldpower27

Golden Member
Jul 18, 2004
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Originally posted by: dexvx
Originally posted by: kknd1967
maybe only their chipset division. Not their GPU division.

Originally posted by: dexvx
It would make nvidia nervous, thats for sure. I bet they're fidgeting around.


Why? ATI will get first stab at Dev and Q&A for their integrated chipsets, giving them an edge over the nForce ones with an IGP (which is huge). Moreover, AMD is surely gonna force SLI to be operable on ATI XFire boards as well, cutting down on their SLI exlusivity.

That's not necessarily a given, we don't know if Nvidia will allow SLI to be operable on ATI chipsets, the technology does belong to Nvidia after all and not AMD.

If they wish for fair competition, it will remain most likely Nvidia chipsets for SLI and ATI Chipsets for Crossfire.