Is Intel doomed?

Hmm,

With the advent of the 785G and the Athlon II X4, should one think as though Intel is doomed?
AMD has managed to create an interesting enthusiast platform with the release of its latest products.
Currently, the Athlon II X4's main competition, the Core 2 Quad Q8200 is priced almost ridiculously at $149 whilst the Athlon clearly matches its competition at $99. (No, I'm not eeven taking into consideration a 785G can unlock a Phenom II X2/X3 into a fully blown Phenom II X4).

That's not only to mention the fact that LGA 775 is a dead platform that's going nowhere.
Sure Intel keeps on writing about i3, but I ask you, how expensive will it be to integrate a graphics die and a CPU into the same chip? Won't there be problems with existing chipsets like the P55? How can the IGP express it's data? Intel already has 3 sockets selling in the market, won't ANOTHER socket/chipset just add more fury to the fire? Isn't it already annoying enough you have two socket for i7?

Seriously, Intel is starting to sound like AMD a few years ago when they had the performance lead with the Athlon! Creating more sockets is almost like an Nvidian idea, and that by itself is enough to deter most users from buying an Intel computer, not to mention the fact i3 isn't even out yet. For Intel, the $99 CPU space is all LGA 775, all dead end options with nothing to upgrade to. At least with AMD and the one AMD socket, life is a bit easier.

AMD has learnt it's lesson. I think Intel needs to learn it too. Sure you all know AMD screwed me other with the 690G, but AMD is making amends. The tickey price to a full AM3 motherboard, the 785G is only a small amount, like $70 or something. The way Intel prices its boards means you get something cheap like a G41 with little HD support and few CPU upgrade options. Intel's comparable IGP motherboard platform, the G45, not only costs more, but performs poorly in games, worse than the 785G. The only point that the G45 bests the 785G is through 8 channel-LCPM support which quite frankly, only appeals to audiophiles, and obviously, most audiophiles just go with discrete audio anyway.

What I'm saying is this. Intel has no effective counter in the lower segments of the computer market to counter AMD. We all know that the lower end is were the majority of computer sales are, so as consumers become more aware of value and 'that other CPU comp[any'. Don't you think Intel is in a steaming kettle when it comes to mainstream products. So in a nutshell, is Intel doomed in the mainstream sector?

Reynod, now will you marry me?

-afg

No, I mean if AMD can maintain it's position in the budget sector, selling more volume chip sales, that will lead to higher expansion of global foundries. Once that happens, AMD will have a more significant market share and higher production capability etc.

The first thing AMD could do with is a decent marketing team, then the world and it's dog may get to hear of Fusion as a computer platform until then the average joe hears the word fusion and thinks of men in white coats and atomic reactors.

But the question is, how much is the actual cost for intel to make a C2Q. They have been making these chips for nearly 2 years and have been improving the process ever since. For all we know, it might cost intel just 75% or less off the retail price and could just do a price cut anytime.

With the advent of i5 and i3, intel still maintains its very good price to performance ratio (when you factor in overclockability) and could further push down the prices of old tech.

Also you do have to factor in the intel marketing machine. Everyone remembers the Pentium D, they were hot, consumed a lot of electricity and in most ways less superior to the Athlon X2 but a lot of people still bought them. Now considering that they are technologically superior to AMD, is financially good, they are holding most of the cards.

Funny whwre I hear "Fusion" I cant get those damn gillette Mache 3 Turbo Fusion razor advetrs out of my head

But then concenus is that nobody wants an outdated platform.

http://www.fudzilla.com/content/view/15733/1/

GO ARM !!!

oooo.......

Now i can surf the web while shaving at the same time. Could be helpful if you get a razor cut and need to find a why to stop the bleeding.

1: Intel has more then enough cash to get by, where any miss by AMD (especially CPU wise) threatens to bring down the company. Nevermind everyone pays them for the X86 license...

2: This is a parody of the "Is AMD Doomed" thread, right?

I3 will have its own socket (probably not compatible with i5), so it may be just as much of a dead end as socket 775 (which is still cheaper.) You also forgot that people who get budget builds usually don't upgrade very often, so it won't matter to them that S775 won't be around by the time they upgrade (three or four years from now), since all current sockets will be gone anyway and they'll just buy a whole new budget build.

Not true. Clarkdale is Socket 1156. Compatible with current i5 boards. Will have its own chipset to add the integrated graphics path, but assuming you don't care about integrated graphics the Lynnfield and Clarkdale CPUs are cross-compatible with each other's motherboards.

Nothing's changed. Where did you read the i3 would be on a different socket?

AMD has a $99 quad! Why? Because everyone wants Intel right now. Because its the best.

Amd had to make a $99 quad to stay in business.

Intel could make a $99 quad any day, and I suspect it will by xmas.

i have to agree.

My 2 cents worth... I don't think it's a testament to Intel's marketing, but rather a testament to AMD's lack of marketing... sort of like the Aplio.

This has been the plan since 2007 at the very least. Sorry people were spreading FUD.

Go Cyrix, go Cyrix.

Go Via go, come on c3 where's are you now

Intel are the ifadells or known as the intodells. We must raise up comerades against all evil. AMD will win dis var and we be victorious.

Darling, Intel has enough money to buy a small country like Bosnia, they don't give a damn what AMD does in the budget sector. Its always been the mainstream chips that win the war, and thus far AMD has made good on their promise to improve product lineup, but Intel is still the better choice if you want pure speed. Intel is similar to Apple in the respect that their market share mainly consists of those people who have deep enough wallets to afford their products, and just like Apple they'll never go down, at least not easily.

As for the expansion of Global Foundries, its not up to AMD to oversee and assist with expansion, they've done more than enough to set the company up in the first place. GB must just get a contract with ARM, and then they will emerge as a viable as sensible alternative to TSMC. Until then, the company's like a baby still walking in its diapers to many investors and clients.

Hey, I'd choose an outdated platform because, well...you know, LGA775 is still a bloody good option, and it does the job well. Likewise for the whole "DDR2 is dead" argument because its not, honest. Not for a good few years anyway.

I think maybe there's confusion with the fact that Intel's Core i3 will encompass both the LGA775 and LGA1156, rather than just include the latter and allow 775 to step away from the Core brand and instead be related to the Pentium and Celeron processors.

"As the terminology has shifted around ultramobile PCs, mobile internet devices (MIDs) and netbooks, some may have made the assumption that any given PC would be powered by either an Intel processor or one designed by ARM Holdings plc (Cambridge, England) and implemented by one of its semiconductor licenses.

In turns out that assumption is too simplistic. Some PC makers are using an Intel processor to run the Windows operating system but finding ways to let an ARM processor run some key applications for the sake of its power efficiency and the resulting longer battery life for the computer"
http://www.eetimes.eu/213402291

So what on earth did that link have to do with the thread's topic?

Intel is indeed doomed. I sold all my stock today. Now I'm headed to Nepal to become a hermit. Anyone know where I can buy a couple of yaks really cheap?

I agree that the business sector also defines which side wins, just as the porn industry determines which physical media takes home the cake. Keep in mind, however, that Intel still offers much bigger rebates on its chips when bought in bulk by companies than what AMD can offer, because of the fact stated earlier that they manufacture their chips so close to a profit loss. Intel also is popular with businesses because of its strong history of always being the market leader, and naturally businesses want to be associated with that.

Also, how often do you see AMD-based computers or laptops in stores these days? I bet you'll be able to count them on one hand, while you'll run out of appendages for the Intel-based ones. Its not just the fault of inadequate marketing scheme that AMD has employed, but also the companies that pawn computers push forward the Intel stuff because they know it'll sell well. Yes, it is an unfair situation, but its really only their fault for not marketing their products properly, as evidenced by the market share of Intel and Nvidia thanks to advertising in games and having their products recommended on software box covers (the first Crysis recommended a Intel quad with an Nvidia GPU).

You're right about the negative perception about the previous-generation chips bundled on AMD motherboards, but that was years ago. Its now no longer about their chipsets but about how AMD's PR and Marketing teams can turn around this series of unfortunate events. Sadly, here in South Africa we have the situation reversed, where its actually more expensive to buy AMD products than Intel simply because of the shipping costs involved. The PC/laptop that I'm saving for unfortunately will come with an Intel chip - there's no way I can squeeze an an Athlon X4 and a 785G motherboard into my budget even if I wanted to. Its either one or the other, in which case I'd take the motherboard and blow some money on a Sempron 140 and try unlock it.

I hope some burglar sneaks into your house and steals your pc in order to sell it on to somebody else. Business is business after all.

EDIT - obviously i dont really mean this, but the point should be clear enough.

^You robbed the words out of my mouth, i completely agree with your point.

While the budget segment is great it will still go to the one who can mass produce cheap chipsets and CPUs. Intel still holds that.

While a Athlon II X4 and 780G is a decent combo for those looking for a low end system and possibly a HTPC, it wont be able to grab Intels market share there easily since Intel can outproduce AMD on a large scale, probably greater than 100 to 1. Intels chipsets are cheaper as well.

Now as for the low end gaming area, its a great solution IF you want to play basic games as is a Intel low end IGP. But the higher up in the chain of games and graphics and features go the more demanding they will get which will in turn mean the need for a discrete GPU where then its just a matter of budget. For some a Core i5 or C2Q on the cheap with a HD4870/GTX260 will do them good and both are cheap. Others a Phenom X3/X4 will be better if they have drop in upgrade abilities.

It seems to me that a lot of Phenom II/Athlon II sales are for drop in upgrades and not full built systems.

Either way, Intel is not doomed. They control the high end, have a new Xeon that will challenge AMDs server market share and still have some of the best chipsets around at pretty low prices. If anything intel will be around and kicking until we move on to something else while AMD might become something else maybe another company IF they continue to lose cash at this rate.

And with the fact that they are being funded by middle eastern based investors it might soon become a bunch of squigilly lines for the symbol.

*EDIT*

Also Intel tends to keep the prices of their CPUs up higher right now due to market dominancy. At the current yields and life of 45nm they could easily cut prices and undercut AMD. But as both AMD and Intel ened each other in some form to stay innovative, Intel will not do that. Intel will control when they can the certain markets. But they will leave AMD some areas to dominate.

At that point its up to AMD to keep that segment and not screw up (Phenom). Thats the only thing Intel cannot control. And considering that Intel hasn't cut prices recently it makes me wounder why AMD is not making more money.