Chicobaud writes: “The two big companies anounced a combination of efforts in developing new high performance CPU fabrication aiming 65 and 45 nm (nanometers) in order to lower power comsuption and improving performance.” Read the press release at the AMD website.
Will it be PowerPC based (perhaps this has something to do with Cell?) or will it be x86 derived? Maybe AMD knows that the future of computing lies with the Cell platform.
AMD in the news again? It’s time for another edition of “what does this really mean for AMD”. (Shit, I’m sounding like some idiot AOLer saying that.)
Apple uses Motorola and IBM processors. Motorola has screwed up. Apple would like to increase its reliance on IBM. There have been many rumors that Apple might like to increase its reliance on AMD. Maybe this is the answer?
We still don’t know whether Apple plans to switch architectures. But it does seem quite obvious now that AMD has found an exit strategy, namely being a “strategic partner” or quite possibly being bought outright by IBM. Finally IBM will have an excuse to make low-power processors, and finally Apple will have an excuse to end its relationship with Motorola and buy all IBM/AMD processors.
will it be x86 derived?
I hope they make it PowerPC instead (since IBM is on it).
I also couldn’t avoid thinking about Apple’s new G4 from IBM.
“Will it be PowerPC based”
This is a fabrication process, not a specific architecture. IBM has definately had a leg up in this area, while AMD tends to trail ever so slightly behind Intel. Working together, this should be a definite advantage for AMD.
I sure hope its PPC based. And yes, this might signal a shift in the balance of power from x86 to PPC/RISC solutions. Intel will be sent reeling if AMD/IBM/Sony/Toshiba can realise a superior cpu platform based on this massively parrallel, albeit elusive “The Cell” architecture.
Can we count this as the beginning of the end of x86 dominated systems? Highly speculative at this point. But fun to think of, nonetheless.
Apple uses Motorola and IBM processors.
This is definately not true. as for now Apple still relies on just the Motorola’s, In the light of the lack of prestations of Motorola chips, Apple will need to swich to another manufactorer, but, even though the IBM PowerPC chips look pretty, I haven’t heard any conclusive news about Apple adopting the IBM PPC. Heck, they might even choose x86, but even if they do so that won’t mean that everyone can run OSX on his $200 Walmart PC, they would lock normal PC’s out, since that would destroy Apple’s business, they are software vendors, not hardware.
Furthermore: you seem to suggest that apple would like to rely on both AMD and IBM. First of all: I can’t really imagine that. Secondly the article doesn’t suggest anything of the kind. This cooperation as I see it will mostly involve developing 65 an 45 nm technologies, not specific chips. AMD and IBM will develop their own chips on those technologies and have different production ines, but those developments are arely noticeble at the front end of the shop, except for cheaper R&D costs and faster development times, so Apple wouldn’t really notice.
Sincerely,
Remco
Huh? What are you guys talking about? Press release:
“AMD (NYSE: AMD) and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced the two companies have entered into an agreement to jointly develop chip-making technologies for use in future high-performance products.”
Nothing about a new chip.
no, you are false. The G3 CPU used in the iBooks
is produced by IBM.
I concur with the Ralf.
The G3’s come from IBM presently. IBM and Motorola (I am not sure if there were others) partnered to create the PowerPC architecture.
The upcoming Power4 desktop chips may replace the G4’s from Motorola (media speculation) that are currently used by Apple on there professional line.
Nothing about a new chip.
Yes, I was induced in error… Anyway, at the present time (end of the Athlon clock speeds) a help from and a joint venture with IBM is very good for AMD (which doesn’t have time and money for R&D to keep competing with Intel).
It’s also good news for PowerPC arch, finnaly (at 2005…) a CPU that matches i386.
I also don’t think it’s Cell tech but rather silicon-on-insulator technology.
It’s also good news for PowerPC arch, finnaly (at 2005…) a CPU that matches i386.
Thats pretty funny. I would love to see you educating the Mac Faithful at MacWorld.
I can see it now, several MacHeads or whatever they are called demanding you chant over and over, “Mhz is a myth” and “Altivec Velocity Engine rules”. All the while explaining the evils of a lengthy pipeline. Of course few will actually know what a pipeline is but “Yoda” oops I mean Steve told them its evil.
this is good news for AMD and probably us consumers as well.
Err the G3 used in the ibooks are from IBM. What are you talking about?
yes, ibm wil be passing on helpful hints like using caffeine laced whips on their factory hands to make themwork faster.
The only thing actually behind this story is the splitting of costs of state of the art fabs now about $3-4Billion and future processes. There is a more detailed story at EET front story.
http://www.eet.com/
http://www.eet.com/semi/news/OEG20030108S0038
and a related fab story
http://www.eet.com/semi/news/OEG20030107S0024
This is good news for IBM, Apple, Apple customers, not to mention X86 users as well.
The joint relationship appears as if it will give intel something to strive for in the way of high end performance. (but then again, it seems like this would have been the case even without AMD’s included efforts based on what we know about the 970 and the Power 4/5.)
I was reading an article about AMD in Business 2.0 last month. AMD is very much tight on cash reserves and they are banking a lot on the “Hammer” x86-64 technology. If they can co-operate w/ IBM on developing future technologies then it will certainly help them on two fronts. Who knows, they might also help develop other technologies if relationships go well.
I was thinking along the same lines about Apple choosing the next processor line w/ this annoucement, but this has been discussed to death (here and elsewhere). Not only is it pure speculation and the next “buzz” in the industry this is afterall an annoucement on CPU fabrication. Not developing new processor lines.
A lot of people are jumping to false conclusions here, and I think many haven’t read the press release.
First off, from what I have heard IBM and AMD have been “Process Sharers” (or some description like that) for some time. That means that any discovery IBM makes with regards to forming silicon and impurities into transistors AMD get to use, and vice versa.
So what this press release boils down to is IBM and AMD have agreed to split the costs on a large chunk of research. Otherwise one could have sat back and waited for the other to pay for it all.
Yes, this announcement is about sharing R&D costs and discoveries. But these will ultimately lead to new products. Of particular importance in the press release was the phrase “reduced time-to-market for customers”. This has long-term (3 – 5 year) benefits for their customers, and has obvious implications for the Macintosh brand.
But there’s another angle to this. The question must be asked, if they’re sharing fabrication techniques, what else are they sharing? And it’s here we get into some very interesting speculation…
Making 80×86-compatible processors is the majority of AMD’s business. The reason for this can be summed up in two words: backwards compatibility. Nothing describes better why current Intel processors and Windows OSen can still process with flair legacy Win16 applications designed and built a decade ago. This means that, to a large extent, Intel and Microsoft call the shots when it comes to what’s in and what’s out of the mainstream PC, primarily because customers indirectly demand it.
Now, enter a partnership betwixt AMD and IBM. Both stand to benefit, and both are companies that, when they stand up and speak, people pay attention. Both are, at this point, directly competitive with Intel, and both are indirectly competitive with Microsoft. And both have likely allies in consumer-friendly businesses like Apple, AOLTimeWarner, and Sony.
While it may be hard to conceive, I suggest that AMD and IBM are ramping up for their part in breaking up the “Wintel” hegemony. And I think we can agree, they could be a force to be reckoned with.
Of course, this is all pure speculation. Unlike Trance Gemini, I can’t see all the possible futures, ‘perfect’ or otherwise. But, for sure, I’ll be keeping an eye on this alliance, and you should, too.
Current CPU process is 130nm. AMD is ready to start production on 90nm chips. The agreement with IBM is to work on 45nm processes.
The processes will be used for any chip (x86 or PPC) that the companies want to use it on. The main advantage is that using a smaller process means less voltage, faster clock speeds, and smaller chips.
The details also state that AMD can start using IBM’s copper, IOS, and low K technology. Combined, these can let you drop the voltage and heat by about 30% or run the chips 30% faster at the same tempatures.
Expect some great processors from AMD later in the year!
If IBM starts using AMDs 90nm process, then expect faster PPC chips shortly.
If IBM starts using AMDs 90nm process, then expect faster PPC chips shortly.
IBM will have 90nm process at its upcoming fishkill plant very soon… they don’t need AMD for this
Is AMD making a move to being a fabless chip maker? That is what I am seeing plastered all over this article. IBM is already manufacturing chips for others. The alpha, Cray X1, Xilinx FPGA, Sony Playstation 3, Nintendo Gamecube, Toshiba, come to mind. I’m sure there are a zillion others. IBM is the #1 ASIC supplier. Why couldn’t they manufacture the hammer et al. for AMD?
And for those of you saying this has anything to do with x86 vs PPC or is in any way related to Apple, YOU ARE WRONG! Apple has all but announced they will stick with PPC until the end of time, and there has been lots of news about IBM making a cute little mini-Power4 for them. Apple knows if they go x86 they will become Gateway, dead in the water.
They should have to use AMD x86-64 procs in the future apple’s …
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/amd-hammer-family/index.html
>>>They should have to use AMD x86-64 procs in the future apple’s …
Why? Especially when the 2Ghz Opteron has lower peak benchmarks than 1.3 Ghz Power4 (which in its simpler form will most likely powered new mac’s)
Exactly!
<snip>
While it may be hard to conceive, I suggest that AMD and IBM are ramping up for their part in breaking up the “Wintel” hegemony.
<snip>
Hell yes! Let it be, and quickly. The arrogance of these two companies is atrocious, not to mention the arrogance of their fans. I would love to see all the wintel a#$%^es brought low along with their precious gods. The world is full of evil people that want to force their way down everybody’s throats , instead of playing nicely and letting EVERYBODY have a piece.
There is enough for everyone… Bill could have stopped years ago and not had to worry about ANYTHING. And now he wants to be in my wristwear, my clothes washer, my video recorder, probably my toilet(good place hehe)…. At least he hasn’t made it into life support monitoring systems, like I read he wanted to on OSNews long, long ago. The same goes for chips/chipsets. Some things have to be specifically engineered and crafted, not built with Legos.
Sure, IBM WAS the evil giant a while back, but they don’t turn out Tinker Toys, at least not the stuff that isn’t x86 lol….
enjoy
I don’t care whether it says AMD or Intel or something else on a heat-prone and power-hungry processor, nor does anyone else. AMD is an Intel clone manufacturer, and fooling yourself that you’re threatening Wintel by choosing AMD is like thinking that you’re supporting environmentally friendly cars by choosing a Skoda over a Seat, when they’re in fact built on the same platform. AMD and Intel are the same rubbish, and they run the same M$ code.
Besides, I don’t quite understand what IBM has to gain from this partnership. Is AMD going to teach them how to make overheating PowerPC processors?