AMD's chances as a mainstream CPU manufacturer

How long will AMD last? In what capacity?

  • 1-3 years, then go out of business

  • 4-6 years, then go out of business

  • 7-10 years, then go out of business

  • It'll survive indefinitely as the underdog.

  • It'll become the dominant force.

  • It'll become a good competitor, but not dominate.

  • It'll survive, but not as a conventional CPU manufacturer.


Results are only viewable after voting.

Sleepingforest

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 2012
2,375
0
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I just wanted to see what people think about AMDs success/survival chances, hopefully in a dry cut way that prevents disputes and anger. There's no need to argue or justify, or really even post--just vote. In if you do post a justification, please refrain from commenting on other's justifications, and please refrain from merely attacking.

Remember: this is an opinion poll. If someone believes something because of a "lie" or mistruth, let them be--what they say has no bearing on reality, and it's too easy to get riled up about very little from behind the anonymity of a screen.

Hopefully, I won't get shut down or banned for inciting a riot... knock on wood. :awe:

EDIT: Since the poll is impossible to edit, I'd like to clarify that "go out of business" may refer to either actually going out of business or merely having to file Chapter 11 protection (bankruptcy).
 
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Mar 10, 2006
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Big cores go away, AMD keeps pushing small cores across is product lineup into thin & light PCs, and leverages such cores in microserver oriented SoCs eventually.

Or they eventually become an ARM SoC design house after selling all x86-64 patents to Intel for a cash infusion.
 
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2timer

Golden Member
Apr 20, 2012
1,803
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Well, that's a hard question to answer. I don't know how the more knowledgeable folks would answer, but to me, it appears like AMD is making a lot of the right moves to "get back" to being robust. They were hurt by a lot of dumb decisions, and they seem to be learning and trying, at least, to regain their position.

Prediction: If AMD can deliver modest IPC performances with Steamroller, ie, 8-12%, and not screw up titanically, they will be in a much stronger position than the past couple years.
 

jaqie

Platinum Member
Apr 6, 2008
2,471
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It's quite simple. The first time they struck out on their own was with the very 386 that I have built myself and is in my signature. They had one great time when intel was not thinking and let them get ahead, and might again if and when intel screws up again... but their bread and butter has always been surviving on being a value cpu manufacturer.

Any company can muck things up royally, if they don't they are and always were well positioned to keep being the secondary company with some quick jaunts to the top when intel screws up.
 

Idontcare

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
21,110
59
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I see bankruptcy, but not necessarily out of business.
The way GloFo has them over a barrel for 11 more years with the exclusivity contract combined with the take or pay contract...yeah, its difficult to see them undoing that without seeking Ch11 protection to reorganize.
 

bononos

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2011
3,921
177
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I voted wrongly. In the coming 3yrs AMD will go out of the mainstream cpu business but will be making cpus for consoles.
 

leper84

Senior member
Dec 29, 2011
989
29
86
With Jaguar cores as good as they're rumored to be I think Intel may be caught with their pants down just a little bit. That plus console wins and HSA taking off and I think AMD might have a shot at a decent turn around.

The big variable I think for the next year is what kind of marketing success Intel will have with GT3 mobile graphics. I think as powerful as it will probably be IRL the drivers will still be so broken even Trinity will still be a better buy. I'd be worried for AMD that Intel owns the market and good press so much however Haswell really is its gonna sting pretty bad for AMD either way.
 

lamedude

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2011
1,206
10
81
I wonder if MS has a plan B in case AMD can no longer provide chips. Do they simply bail them out?
 

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
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The way GloFo has them over a barrel for 11 more years with the exclusivity contract combined with the take or pay contract...yeah, its difficult to see them undoing that without seeking Ch11 protection to reorganize.



Will this nullify the contract between glofo and AMD?
 

Centauri

Golden Member
Dec 10, 2002
1,631
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These poll options are kinda dumb. But I voted anyways for some reason. I guess you win.
 

2timer

Golden Member
Apr 20, 2012
1,803
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With Jaguar cores as good as they're rumored to be I think Intel may be caught with their pants down just a little bit. That plus console wins and HSA taking off and I think AMD might have a shot at a decent turn around.

The big variable I think for the next year is what kind of marketing success Intel will have with GT3 mobile graphics. I think as powerful as it will probably be IRL the drivers will still be so broken even Trinity will still be a better buy. I'd be worried for AMD that Intel owns the market and good press so much however Haswell really is its gonna sting pretty bad for AMD either way.

True that. With notebooks Intel is looking to steal AMD's thunder. True, AMD will up the IGP ante by releasing Richland and AMD's total IGP performance will be better overall. But, keep in mind that with Haswell Intel's IGP has really matured, judging by the way it ran Dirt 3, I don't think that the IGP will be such a weak spot for Intel anymore.
 

MaxPayne63

Senior member
Dec 19, 2011
682
0
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Can you tell me why? I can't really change it, but it would be nice to know.

Because you're combining time period with fate, and leave off a few options for what will ultimately happen with AMD. I'm reasonably certain they'll abandon x86 altogether but putting a time period on something like that requires a crystal ball.

edit: I view your final answer as 'other,' and it's a poorly designed poll if the other answer is in the lead :p If I were inclined to make a poll like this I would've covered options like abandoning x86, abandoning CPUs, being focused on budget x86 solutions, and things like that instead of just 'Do they win or lose or tie?'
 
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Sleepingforest

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 2012
2,375
0
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Because you're combining time period with fate, and leave off a few options for what will ultimately happen with AMD. I'm reasonably certain they'll abandon x86 altogether but putting a time period on something like that requires a crystal ball.

edit: I view your final answer as 'other,' and it's a poorly designed poll if the other answer is in the lead :p If I were inclined to make a poll like this I would've covered options like abandoning x86, abandoning CPUs, being focused on budget x86 solutions, and things like that instead of just 'Do they win or lose or tie?'
Okay, that makes sense. I was thinking that having them go bankrupt/out of business was something that people were betting on happening, and the other choices were what would happen if they didn't fail, but I definitely understand why it's not a great poll. Fortunately, I have yet to see a majority pick the "other" option. :awe:
 

Redoitall

Member
Feb 11, 2013
98
0
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I think they will survive. I am not a a fan of their products but they do work. The way the market is going they could possibly find themselves in a good position. No BK .
 

Dark Shroud

Golden Member
Mar 26, 2010
1,576
1
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Ultrabooks are crapping out so I can see AMD doing well with jaguar core netbooks/convertible tablets. Cheap/basic desktops/work stations running AMD APUs could also do well. Especially when Kaveri finally gets out the door. I'm also looking forward to Steamroller; as others said this will be a nice improvement baring anything really stupid happening.

Plus all that console money will keep stable cash flow for years.

My choice: It'll become a good competitor, but not dominate.
 

Arg Clin

Senior member
Oct 24, 2010
416
0
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APU's will serve them well as HTML5 web content makes its way into mainstream comuters and laptops.

But they will remain underdog - Intel has just too much weight to be pushed around. AMD had superiour chips for years and didn't really change much.

In any case, Intel will keep AMD alive to avoid (more of) the wrath of anti competition authorities. So while Intel probably could undercut every single product in AMDs line they will not.