Anybody else buying AMD out of pity?

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GFORCE100

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,102
0
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Originally posted by: madoka
I dunno about you guys, but I'm absolutely terrified of a world without AMD to keep Intel in check. That's why I feel somewhat compelled to support AMD regardless of what maybe the best deal out right now or what they've done in the past.

If one thinks this will help any with a handful of enthusiasts teaming up to buy 1000 AMD CPU's then there's no harm in trying, but if you really want to help AMD then there's no point in buying the cheap AMD CPU's. Head straight to the Quad father FX-74 chips where the real profit is. The profit from say an Athlon X2 3600+ will only buy AMD some peanuts for their board room meeting guests.

 

AVP

Senior member
Jan 19, 2005
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Not out of pity but I will be buying a new AMD rig in the next few weeks over an e4300 because I am not a big overclocker so I will get better performance (4400 or 4600 havent decided) and because am2 has a larger upside right now with the future in mind.
 

tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
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Upgraded an entire office of 14 PC's , they did not want to invest in the time or the hassle of reinstalling the OS/Apps on every system so a simple plug in of a processor buys them 1 maybe 2 years of performance benefit with no downtime
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,310
687
126
AMD and Intel are mainly fighting over market share right now. Profit of course, but comes second. Intel wasn't losing money when Opteron was hitting hard. They were losing market share. Right before the 'Upcoming Conroe Sneak Preview', Intel's retail share dropped to 50%, and AMD was gaining towards 30% of server market. With the unprecedented paper launch in Intel history, they had to put out the Opteron fire so they won't lose any more market share.

Likewise, AMD must be losing money on many chips they're selling right now. A dual-core for $70? I can't think of any cheaper PC part than CPU today. (maybe a HSF.. hell even that's close with most high-end HSF costing $50) But AMD has no choice. People don't like to change platform. Switching video cards, adding memory, or upgrading CPU aren't too difficult task for IT managers. But stripping the whole thing out and changing motherboard et al. is a lot more daunting and intimidating. The whole '4x4' and "you can upgrade to Barcelona when it arrives' is on the same line. It's all about 'Platformization' and that's the battlefront where AMD is desparately trying to defend. It will be fierce till the end of year because Intel will once again push their platform towards DDR3 and for their 45nm chips. Why is Intel hurrying with 45nm chips when they're comfortably winning position in foreseeable future? Answer: Because they want to tie people up on their platform without giving any chance to Barcelona.

I have to admit that AMD has been much more user-friendly (be it their intention or not) than Intel as far as motherboard support is concerned. People blame AMD for cutting Socket 939 off, but is there anyone who didn't buy a new motherboard (and memory) with her/his Conroe purchase? And how long do you think your board will be supported with Intel's new CPUs? If I had to guess, what we have now would be just about it. Before moving to 45nm, if we're lucky we'll see 3.2~3.3GHz 65nm dual/quad-core parts from Intel. (which we can do on our own right now) After that, there is no upgrade path. You'll need a new motherboard (and possibly new memory, in the case of X38) for 45nm parts. And I didn't even start talking about Nehalem which comes a year later.

Edit: spelling and grammar
 

Acanthus

Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
19,915
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ostif.org
Originally posted by: lopri
People blame AMD for cutting Socket 939 off, but is there anyone who didn't buy a new motherboard (and memory) with her/his Conroe purchase? And how long do you think your board will be supported with Intel's new CPUs? If I had to guess, what we have now would be just about it. Before moving to 45nm, if we're lucky we'll see 3.2~3.3GHz 65nm dual/quad-core parts from Intel. (which we can do on our own right now) After that, there is no upgrade path. You'll need a new motherboard (and possibly new memory, in the case of X38) for 45nm parts. And I didn't even start talking about Nehalem which comes a year later.

Edit: spelling and grammar

AMD drove away sales by pricing 939 products higher than AM2, theres a big difference between dropping an X2 into an exsisting system, and having to buy a new platform with it.

My choices were:

1. Buy an AM2 X2 and new motherboard
2. Buy a 939 X2 for the same price as an AM2 X2 and new motherboard
3. Buy a Core 2 Duo and new motherboard (much faster, much higher overclock) for slightly more.

option 1 and 2 werent even thought about on my part, it was a no brainer.

AMD made a stupid move forcing AM2 and DDR2 down our throats with their massive 0-5% increases....
 

lopri

Elite Member
Jul 27, 2002
13,310
687
126
My understanding is that AMD set the prices of AM2 CPUs lower than 939 CPUs, in order to attract people to their DDR2 platform.. They didn't raise the prices of 939 chips, did they?

I do understand the dilemma you faced. But imagine AMD set AM2 price higher than 939. What do you think would happen to today's AMD? ;)
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
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My latest CPU purchase was a Brisbane 3600+. Pity? Nope, just looking to have some fun this weekend seeing how far I can push a $53 CPU. :D

Yes, I have a C2D somewhere, and a 939 x2, and an FX, and a San Diego, and x2 Turion, and Core Duo... they're all good in their time and place. People just like to jump on bandwagons. Either that or Intel fans want some payback for a couple years of living with Netburst, haha.
 

Puffnstuff

Lifer
Mar 9, 2005
16,187
4,871
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Well I did just buy an s939 x2 3800 for the machine I built my parents. Otherwise c2d all the way baby and this comes from a long time amd fanboy who recently jumped ship. There's no sense in denying the c2d superiority over the amd architechture. AMD did bring us reasonable prices and good performance for a long time and I am grateful to them for that but their latest efforts suck. Then the hd2900xt shows up as their touted 8800gtx slayer and it barely competes with a 8800gts which is substantially cheaper. AMD is messing up and they'll continue to loose market share until they show us something different.
 

HannibalX

Diamond Member
May 12, 2000
9,359
2
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Originally posted by: Phynaz
What pity did AMD show you when they were selling 3800 X2 for $300?

Funny you mention $300.00, that is what I paid for my FX-60. Just one year ago this chip was $1000.00.
 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,665
21
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Is it any less greedy to want something for less than it is to sell something for more?

I don't pity AMD. They deserved this and if they don't go bankrupt, then I hope they become less complacent and learn a lesson like Intel did.
 

Soubriquet

Member
Feb 6, 2005
78
0
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I am sorry but IMHO the X2 are over priced, in the UK anyway, and that is AM2. The 939 X2 upgrades, what few there are around are either more overpriced or silly money and they are pushing the punter to do exactly what the OP did and upgrade the mobo and CPU at which point the only rational choice is Intel C2D. So no I am not buying AMD out of pity I am buying Intel and pity AMD for free, who don't seem to realise they are shooting themselves in the foot.

I think the problem is they are talking the product up and then believing their own flimflam, big mistake because the punters don't. They would not have been doing this kind of thing 5 years ago, they used to be very fast on their feet with realistic price responses which hit the target. Guess the new management structure has to learn the facts of life all over again. I am just sorry they are so screwed up with corporate BS (judging from the mindless business speak you keep hearing from their reps) they cant do the right thing. I hope that changes but it wont if they dont realise they are responsible for what is happening and have the ability to change it by responding to the real world.

Another example the Radeon HD2900 , just about on a par with 8800GTS320 but 50% more money. pfff forget it.

Actually I am angry at them, because they have a responsibility to compete with Intel and they are blowing it and continue to do the same because they are responding like frightened rabbits caught in the headlamps of an onrushing juggernaut.

RUN AMD RUN for your lives!!!
 

Wheelock

Member
May 3, 2007
154
0
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I love AMD. I am running an A64 3000+ w/NForce3 mobo, overclocked to 2.4 GHz. It was a recent Fry's deal, and it only cost me $49.99. Can't beat that price. I could overclock further, but with diminishing returns being what they are, I can't be bothered.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: madoka
I dunno about you guys, but I'm absolutely terrified of a world without AMD to keep Intel in check. That's why I feel somewhat compelled to support AMD regardless of what maybe the best deal out right now or what they've done in the past.

who cares if AMD goes out of business?

if they do it because of crap business decisions and underwhelming launches ... while spinning FUD and lying about product delays to alienate their fans ...
well, then perhaps they *deserve* to die .. it is the LAW of the business jungle

and i would'nt worry about intel's "taking over" ... private equity will buy AMD
--there is HUGE money to be made in CPU/GPU/MB ...

perhaps the new company will have better business sense
 

tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
0
0
"Who Cares" !!!!

If there were no AMD, then Intel could charge whatever they wanted since they were the only game in town
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
34,890
1
0
alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: tallman45
"Who Cares" !!!!

If there were no AMD, then Intel could charge whatever they wanted since they were the only game in town

so you only read the first two words of my post :p
:thumbsdown:

yeah ... WtF cares?
 

GFORCE100

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,102
0
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Originally posted by: tallman45
"Who Cares" !!!!

If there were no AMD, then Intel could charge whatever they wanted since they were the only game in town


Just because a company goes belly up doesn't mean it will dissapear. It will most likely be sold to the highest bidder or another company who the main investors support in performing the takeover.
 

Amaroque

Platinum Member
Jan 2, 2005
2,178
0
0
I like both my C2D, And X2 systems. Both are fast, and stable.

AMD makes a good product. I skipped the entire P4 line (with the exception of builds for customers).

I remember back in the day when I bought a PII CPU's for insane prices because there was no good competition. If there were no AMD today, C2D prices would be about double for most CPU's. Heck w/o AMD, we probably wouldn't even have the C2D. Intel would be content with the P4.

W/O competition, a company goes stale. That's a fact in just about every industry.


My 2¢