SemiAccurate: Apple back to nvidia?

[cotak13]

http://semiaccurate.com/2011/11/21/exclusive-apple-swaps-gpu-suppliers-again/

If it's true this suggest a few interesting things about the next gen GPUs from both vendors.


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Original thread title: "Apple back to nvidia?"

Moderator amended thread title: "SemiAccurate: Apple back to nvidia?"

Administrator Idontcare

 

[Genx87]

Llano is a mid level GPU now? kk

 

[Cerb]

Apple uses both vendors, choosing what to use by cost and benefit. Until the 2nd round of Fermi, AMD had the best GPUs for any graphics purposes you could name, and had far superior performance per Watt.

Llano has far better performance per dollar than Intel offerings, but performance per Watt will be superior with an Intel CPU and some added GPU (that kind of matters for a Macbook Air). Remember that, originally, Llano was going to have a bit better power consumption, and the common models were going to have higher non-turbo speeds. AMD let production times slip, then had to back off on performance.

IMO, it's SA making a mountain out of a mole hill, again.

 

[happy medium]

I don't know much about Apple notebooks. How would this effect Nvidia's earnings potential? Is this a large money making market ?

 

[notty22]

NVDIA: Lonbow Agrees They Pushed Out AMD At Apple

writing that she has “independent confirmation” of the story by SemiAccurate’s Charlie Demurjian from earlier today that Nvidia (NVDA) has pushed AMD out of the business for graphics processing units (GPU) in future Apple laptop designs.

 

[happy medium]

NVDIA: Lonbow Agrees They Pushed Out AMD At Apple

Ah that article answered one of my questions, thanks Notty. About 41 million in sales to Nvidia.

"We estimate that this Apple business will have generated $40-43M in sales for AMD in 2011."

But what hurts worse is......

"This is “the other shoe” dropping for AMD, which takes a hit to its reputation, she writes, and, conversely, it’s a “lifeline” for Nvidia. "

 

[Cerb]

If AMD needs to rely on Apple's revenue, and lick Apple's boot heels for reputation, they have no place in the PC market. IMO, that analysis in investors acting like gossiping little old ladies [with gambling addictions].

Has AMD's reputation been stellar as of late? No. In fact, it's been kind of blah, outside of mid-range and high-end graphics, since 2008. Did AMD get Llano out on time? Not even close. Bobcat? A bit late. BD? Very late, very hot (except when idle), very slow (for its cost and power). Did AMD get Llano out at the speeds expected? Not in high volume, even after the long delay. Has AMD put the software effort in to create an equivalent to Optimus (and it's not like Optimus doesn't suck, sometimes!)? Kind of, but not remotely like NVidia.

It has very little to do with AMD's next-gen GPUs, and much more to do with NVidia's prior GPUs, NVidia's attitude, and that Apple is only just now about to change their line-up. The performance per Watt of AMD's has been superior by leaps and bounds, until post-GF100 Fermi. Apple wasn't going to get into those Geforces. Now, it's different, and Apple and NVidia think similar: focus on software, advance proprietary technology, and try to provide higher value at high cost (read: margin) to the consumer.

If AMD doesn't destroy itself, Apple could use them in the future, again. As it is, however, it is more or less the wheels of business turning slowly. If AMD's reputation wasn't on the rocks by this January, you were under one.

 

[Dribble]

Would be interesting to know why - is it because nvidia's next gen is better? is it because AMD mucked up this gen (e.g. driver problems)? is it because nvidia gave apple a very good deal?

 

[s44]

Charlie posts a positive NV story... are pigs flying somewhere I don't know about?

I don't suppose Apple wants to muck around with Optimus... though they do value battery life.

 

[alfa147x]

I wish nVidia would support more than just two monitors per card. Would make hackintoshing a lot more easier

 

[Medu]

I would of guessed this is all about NVIDIA Optimus which is far superior than AMD's offering although S|A has a different take on it...

 

[cotak13]

I would of guessed this is all about NVIDIA Optimus which is far superior than AMD's offering although S|A has a different take on it...

Common misconception but apple don't use nvidia's Optimus.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...book_pro_graphics_switching_isnt_optimus.html

 

[tviceman]

Common misconception but apple don't use nvidia's Optimus.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...book_pro_graphics_switching_isnt_optimus.html

That is because Apple never adopted any of Nvidia's GPU's that are Optimus-capable.

 

[Idontcare]

Common misconception but apple don't use nvidia's Optimus.

http://www.appleinsider.com/article...book_pro_graphics_switching_isnt_optimus.html

Interesting. I wonder what motivated Apple to avoid Optimus? Are the licensing fees really all the exorbitant that it paid better dividends to develop their own internal solution to graphics switching?