so..
a few tech/financial sites are speculating that ibm and amd may merge or form a deeper partner ship of sorts some time soon.
amd has commented on the speculation with a "No Comment", tho i wouldent be saying no as it seems to be doing wonders for the stock price.

"A deal could see IBM's microelectronics division merge with AMD at some point, possibly in the near term," reported David Zielenziger in the Financial Times Wednesday afternoon, citing unnamed "industry sources."

i personally would see amd remain as an independent company, but the way that there in now seems to make it quite a viable solution rather then fight to the bitter end.

linkys,
http://www.reuters.com/article/hot [...] 7920080123
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/fb1583da [...] 10621.html
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/st [...] t=hplatest
theres more but there just reporting the same stuff.

Its about time someone got there act together and saved this company from going into the abyss.

I just wish they had done it sooner after the problems with the 4x4 platform that was embarrasing to say the least.....

AMD needs a cash injection now.

Then we will see something amazing as IBM are readying a 45nm process.

And what will they cook up with that 45nm process? Not x86 compatible chips - AMD's x86 license is governed by a change of change of control clause that cancels the agreement on buyout or merger. That's one big reason why something like this has not happened sooner, and why I have some doubt that it's just around the corner.

I would expect a diligent suitor to have a new x86 agreement worked out with Intel prior to a merger (listen for rumors of closed door talks). I suppose the courts might be used to force a new arrangement after the fact, but that's quite reckless.

I think it is a real possibility.

This would see IBM's enormous R&D capacity bent toward X86 again ... after so many years away.

Plus their SOI fab superiority ... currently being applied to RISC.

I wonder how many of the old dogs from the original group who worked together way back then are still at Intel and IBM ??

Would be interesting.

Geriatric revenge a distinct possibility??

War with walking sticks !!!

Make no bones about it there is still an old score to settle there.

Post if you know what I am talking about ...

From the reuter's article...
http://www.reuters.com/article/hot [...] 7920080123

and

I don't see a merger/buyout happening any time soon, but a deeper partnership? Certainly possible, I suppose.

Again, x86 is Intel property. IBM needs Intel's O.K. to make x86 product. Wishful thinking aside, what makes you think Intel will give them permission to play?

IBM used to make x86 cpus back during the early pentium socket 7 days.



As far as I know their x86 license has never been revoked.

This is where it becomes funny - the question is when is a chip x86. I believe IBM had Cyrix design the 6x86 (and 5x86) chips due to Cyrix's agreement with Intel. IBM did the mfg part, but Cyrix did the design. I don't know if IBM is allowed to design chips based upon the x86 architecture. Also, I don't know if that is what the x86 license specifies. Anyone have an idea?

FFS, would you all read the articles before you start speculating?

But I thought all the Fanboys said AMD was doing fine?

Sharikou, IN YOUR FACE!

I believe IBM does have x86 license.

However, I really don't see this happening. IBM has just transformed from a hardware company to a software / service company, there is no way they'll go back to being a hardware company. Aside from that, they need to pay AMD's outstanding 5 billion debt, and restructure AMD's management. It'll be a year or so before AMD can start to be competitive again. By then, Intel would be so far ahead it wouldn't be funny anymore.

They do have the background, and the resources to do it. They just don't have a motive to.

I seriously doubt this: IBM has systematically rid itself of nearly all of it's consumer-based offerings, the largest and most obvious example being the spin off/sale of IBM's PC/Laptop division to Lenovo. Sam Palmisano got rid of that stuff because they simply are not interested in low margin commodities. IBM works and profits best in a Business to Business, they know it, and there is no reason at all for them to take on AMD's debt and market position.

Makes for great rumors, but I don't see this happening at all.

Isn't the key thing to make a CPU that can run Windows and Linux - even if it's not X86, MMX, SSE - 1,2,3,4. Heck, if anyone can introduce a new operating System with a suite of programs to go with the CPU's - IBM can. They can potentially release products to compete against Apple.

However, IBM doesn't have the history, the knowledge, or the reason to. They're perfectly fine in providing services to other companies.

Plus, if they were to create a new OS, it would at least take them 5 years to find the necessary engineers, train them, setting up a goal, misc. By the time they release the OS, unless they're very similar to Windows, and a lot more efficient than it, IBM is going to find themselves fighting against Linux.

To put it simply, IBM is doing very good business at the moment. They don't need to tread those water that would potentially lower their profitability.

I don't think IBM would buy out AMD. The best option would more or less be to perform a soft merger. Basically each company would remain technically "independent and separate companies", But IBM would then have access to AMD's fabs and micro processor design teams. And AMD would have instant access to IBM's money and probably one of the best R&D groups that exist in the computer world.

Not to mention IBM would have instant access then to more or less free or at cost AMD processors for half of their blade server, business workstation lines.

This would also be the only way around the x86 license. Since AMD would still be managed by it's own people. And just to be sure, I think someone should post a link to said license so we all know whats actually true about what can and can't be done according to it. I see people all the time say oh that can't happen because of the license, but noone produces a viewable source of said license to quote from.

Besides if I'm correct IBM already has a x86 license, they just don't make much use of it since they stopped working too heavily on supplying their own processors. besides, neither AMD or Intel would like still exist today if it weren't for IBM introducing the computer to the business world. And if it weren't for Apple the PC probably wouldn't of proliferated so much in the home use market.

I Agree completely. Basically, why would IBM want AMD?

Monopoly Fear (law suits)

What would give them permission to play? Why would Intel want to be the only chip company for notebooks and desktops? Intel is taking enough heat from their huge market share based on borderline agreements during the Netburst days. Why would they want more tsouris?

While I do not believe that anyone will buy out AMD, I can see Samsung or IBM investing, with as close an R&D relationship as possible. AMD will eventually pay off their debt and get back to their X2 market niche. I can't see them growing past Intel because Intel will always have more to invest in R&D.

All AMD fans can hope for as long as x86 holds is that Intel will slip up again, like during Netburst, but next time around without getting away with restrictive OEM rebates and other dubious business practices.

What I'd like to see is IBM research towards an architecture to replace x86 on the desktop, the Cell is a good start. Then they could buy AMD without much concern for archaic x86 license, but I doubt they'd even need to, unless the brand Phenom really takes off. I like the Stars based CPU's, but hate that Phenom name. Note to Hector Ruiz; fire the marketing department).

Dunno how IBM would go about making an x86 CPU without having the license.
AMD cant just be bought without destroying AMDs business model (which conincidentally is x86), it will either get money by the government or be left bleeding out.