AMD Ready To Fight in 2012, Says CEO
AMD CEO Rory Read mentioned "thin and light" in his 2012 attack speech to analysts.
AMD CEO Rory Read is putting on the boxing gloves and preparing for a fight in 2012. It won't be done in the boxing ring, but in the consumer arena spanning desktops, laptops and tablets. His secret weapon seemingly won't be a right hook either, but a "thin and light" assault that will surely hit Intel beneath the belt.
Read used AMD's first analyst day since 2010 to present his challenge to contenders, revealing a focus on the fast-growing mobile computing segment. But you won't see AMD taking a dip in the smartphone pool. Oh no sir, that's too crowded as it is with Intel making its Medfield-based entry and ARM seemingly ruling the mobile market on the SoC level.
"We're going to double down on client and mobility," he said. "I'm not suggesting we dive into smartphones, a heavily crowded space with low margins. I'm going to focus on client mobility, thin and light."
Thin and light probably refers to the rumored "ultrathin" form factor we've heard about for several months. The move to push a new form factor seemingly indicates that AMD is still out to compete with Intel on some level, but a spokesman for AMD said back in November 2011 that the company is shifting away from competing with the long-time processor rival Intel. Instead, AMD will dump its competitive energies into its mobile assault, cloud computing, and entry-level offerings in developing countries.
"We're at an inflection point," said AMD spokesman Mike Silverman. "We will all need to let go of the old 'AMD versus Intel' mind-set, because it won't be about that anymore."
At the same time in a separate report, Read announced that he was slashing 10-percent of AMD's workforce to save about $20 million in annual operating costs. Presently AMD sits at around 19-percent of the overall processor market share, down from a 23-percent share in 2006. However the company doesn't plan to push the envelope with new technology in 2012. Instead AMD rather focus on improving its overall execution.
"We don't want to be on the bleeding edge of technology where we're leading in with our chin and we don't execute cleanly and that breaks down trust," he told analysts.
Reuters reports that Read gestured with his hands and delivered a presentation with the energy of a motivational speaker. He clearly seemed excited about the possibilities that 2012 will bring to the struggling chip manufacturer.
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Really? I think Intel is dominating. Espicially with >60% market share. Just look on the fourms. Even though AMD gives you more core and a cheaper price, many people still recommends Intel. i5 2500k & i7 2600k FTW!!!
Maybe they shouldn't have even invested money in Bulldozer
in other words: you lost in the high end race, and you know it. don't count out intel in the mobile sector either, i suspect they've got it covered. The only thing I respect amd for is keeping prices in check.
And I admit, I am biased for having amd after amd chip failing on me after all these years, wich could be just bad luck. (and I have never overclocked)
Really? I think Intel is dominating. Espicially with >60% market share. Just look on the fourms. Even though AMD gives you more core and a cheaper price, many people still recommends Intel. i5 2500k & i7 2600k FTW!!!
No, I still recommend AMD for lower end to mid-low computing needs. For example, I'd rather have a Phenom II X4 over an i3, or an APU over Intel Atom for HTPC. However, once you get to the upper range, then yes I agree an i5 and i7 are worthy of our money.
First Acer, now AMD... what's up with all the feisty attitude?
I think AMD should re think whatever strategy they have. And start revamping and re thinking on ways to come back to the desktop fight with Haymakers. I went with Intel for a new processor after I saw Bulldozer sink past it tracks on release day. They have to focus on keeping the graphics department on the straight and narrow and get the CPU de-railer fixed and chugging again!!!!
we hear ya talking AMD, I guess we'll see.
I guess this means Piledriver is much ado about nothing as well.?
Doesn't sound like AMD plans on competing with Intel on desktops at all. It's a shame really, My first AMD processor was a k6-2. Man that thing was a beast... I'm gonna miss those guys.
No, I still recommend AMD for lower end to mid-low computing needs. For example, I'd rather have a Phenom II X4 over an i3, or an APU over Intel Atom for HTPC. However, once you get to the upper range, then yes I agree an i5 and i7 are worthy of our money.
Really? Even though the i3-2100 still dominates the p2 x4 at pretty much everything?
You do know he is talking about mobile, don't you? 2500k and 2600k are desktop processors that AMD admited won't try to overtake with technology alone. And in mobile space, I only recommend Intel if I can't find an AMD alternative, as many times the extra cores will help, and when it won't nobody will miss an i3/i5. AND if anything 3D at all appears on screen, the Intel platform is doomed to crawl.
I firmly believe AMD is on the right track for efficient mobile notebook platforms, especially after the OpenCL article from Toms. Yes, Bulldozer seems to be a failure, but just because the ecosystem it tried to enter is not ready for it (mid-heavy threaded software). But I have faith in them, and exciting times are still to come (from both manufacturers).
lol a fight? well i guess this means they are ditching BD and starting from scratch again
and don't blame BD's lackluster on windows 7. that is just a pathetic excuse
I wish AMD would come back to the main CPU market
But lets look at the demographic where the market is. Is the chip market in the highend segment? No. Is the chip market in the portable and utlra portable segment now? Yes. AMD made a smart move by shifting their focus towards the segments where most consumors are buying. AMD got in a lot of trouble trying to compete with intel in the highend segment where it's a small market and don't have the resoruces to compete. So it was a waste of time and money trying to compete against something that isn't where the market is. In order fro them to survive they had to shift focus and do the most logical thing that they can to compete and make profit from and they are doing just that with their focus on portable and ultra portable devices in the chip segment. It was either doing that or going under.
I think AMD's best hardware is their fusion chip, but I hope they don't give up on Bulldozer.
I suspect they may be working on a Tegra3 clone given that they, like Nvidia, have a good grasp on how to do Graphics and Processors.
Really? Even though the i3-2100 still dominates the p2 x4 at pretty much everything?
Uhhh.... i3-2100 vs 970BE.... 3DS Max 2010, Photoshop CS5, After Effects CS5, Blender, Cinebench, ABBYY Fine Reader, 7 Zip, Main Concept, Handbrake, etc. all show the 970BE beat the i3-2100 by a considerable margin. Yes there are a few areas that the i3 bested the 970BE, but overall having 4 real cores vs 2 is measureable. So you're claim of "at pretty much everything" is baseless and ignorant.
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 33-15.html
Wow, Read is actually sounding like a good choice, I'm really starting to like this guy. I'm glad he isn't fooling himself about trying to get into the smartphone market right now.
Bulldozer failed and AMD doesn't have any good higher-end chips., but the APUs are pretty good for what they are. There's a reason my desktop has an i5 750 and my laptop has an AMD E350. Plus, the ati graphics division is quite competitive (beating nvidia right now).
Uhhh.... i3-2100 vs 970BE.... 3DS Max 2010, Photoshop CS5, After Effects CS5, Blender, Cinebench, ABBYY Fine Reader, 7 Zip, Main Concept, Handbrake, etc. all show the 970BE beat the i3-2100 by a considerable margin. Yes there are a few areas that the i3 bested the 970BE, but overall having 4 real cores vs 2 is measureable. So you're claim of "at pretty much everything" is baseless and ignorant. http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 33-15.html
Yes, but that is all video/photo editing. That is a small portion of the market when compared to the office and gaming markets. Even a Pentium G630 is on par with a Phenom x4 955 for gaming uses and will be ahead for most office uses because of the significantly better single threaded performance.
http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 20-10.html
This means that pretty much the only place where AMD beats Intel is in a cheap computer that will be used primarily for rendering. There aren't as many people who are looking for something like that.
One of the reasons I went with AMD is because they're the underdog.
If it's not about Intel VS AMD anymore, then I guess I don't have to feel bad about my next processor.
Yes, but that is all video/photo editing. That is a small portion of the market when compared to the office and gaming markets. Even a Pentium G630 is on par with a Phenom x4 955 for gaming uses and will be ahead for most office uses because of the significantly better single threaded performance.http://www.tomshardware.com/review [...] 20-10.htmlThis means that pretty much the only place where AMD beats Intel is in a cheap computer that will be used primarily for rendering. There aren't as many people who are looking for something like that.
That's why my original post is that I recommend the Phenom II X4 over the i3 line because its a more balanced chip. In gaming, it's a toss up between the two, but overall content creativity and general uses, the Phenom II is a much better buy. There's only a $10 price difference between the i3-2100 and Phenom II X4 970.
One of the reasons I went with AMD is because they're the underdog.If it's not about Intel VS AMD anymore, then I guess I don't have to feel bad about my next processor.
One of the reasons I "had" an AMD chip was because its all I could afford at the time. Now I'm working full time again and am able to get my current i7 2600k. I don't care what brand is who, all I know is that I want what's best for my own uses and my budget. It just turns out that the i7 2600k is the best for practically everything. I even had an FX-8120 at one point and it was great during highly threaded apps, but during gaming it just didn't cut it for me.
no amd processors for desktops, so my next upgrade will have to be an intel. I don't mind this, but I will have to pay 2x as much because there will be no competition.
I wonder if cyrix is willing to considering making a comback?
keep going strong AMD, you're causing intel to make awesome processors like the i7 gens. thank you and your stuff still is nice.
One of the reasons I "had" an AMD chip was because its all I could afford at the time. Now I'm working full time again and am able to get my current i7 2600k. I don't care what brand is who, all I know is that I want what's best for my own uses and my budget. It just turns out that the i7 2600k is the best for practically everything. I even had an FX-8120 at one point and it was great during highly threaded apps, but during gaming it just didn't cut it for me.
I currently have a x4 955 because it was in my budget and gave me the best bang for my buck at the time.
Now I want an i5-2500k but have been holding off for price drops/special deals.
Just shut up and come up with the best product on time... Avoid the broken promises that characterized the company after the 1st 64bit Dual Core Success.
The industry need a successful AMD but the company should just zip its mouth and just produce the right product in a timely manner.
One of the reasons I went with AMD is because they're the underdog.If it's not about Intel VS AMD anymore, then I guess I don't have to feel bad about my next processor.
that is interesting. you go with the company that makes a lower quality product. i guess i will follow suit and not buy that new panasonic TV and go for a no name TV even though i know it is going to be crap
But lets look at the demographic where the market is. Is the chip market in the highend segment? No. Is the chip market in the portable and utlra portable segment now? Yes. AMD made a smart move by shifting their focus towards the segments where most consumors are buying. AMD got in a lot of trouble trying to compete with intel in the highend segment where it's a small market and don't have the resoruces to compete. So it was a waste of time and money trying to compete against something that isn't where the market is. In order fro them to survive they had to shift focus and do the most logical thing that they can to compete and make profit from and they are doing just that with their focus on portable and ultra portable devices in the chip segment. It was either doing that or going under.
the whole point in makeing a flagship is repurposeing the r&d in it to more mainstream areas.
making the advancements costs money, and amd more or less has their thread solution figured out, its not as bad as intel was when it first had theirs... but its also not good. the refinement needs to be made, and and that's hopefully what pile driver is, refined bulldozer, hopefully with a single core performance between phenom II and the i7 with multicore trading blows with the i7 at a cheaper price point than it. it doesnt need to beat it it just needs to be an alternative.
and amds multi thread soltion could be closer to a true 8 core in multi core performance, i think they stumbled hard on bulldozer, but their version 2's have usually been great.
Fight for what? The value market? Plain and simple, AMD's R&D division is not as good as intel's which is why they lost the CPU battle. Bulldozer should've never been put to market.
How many times have I heard this from AMD. They have been chasing Intel for how long now? I won't buy second grade because I feel sorry for them or I always root for the underdog. That would be cheating myself. I have bought AMD several times over the years thinking this time they might have it right.
I'll try them again but only for a machine I could care less about. They will not be in a primary machine of mine.
Didn't he state that there will be no "AMD vs Intel" anymore not very long ago? IIRC, there was an News article about this at THG.
Really? I think Intel is dominating. Espicially with >60% market share. Just look on the fourms. Even though AMD gives you more core and a cheaper price, many people still recommends Intel. i5 2500k & i7 2600k FTW!!!
Its actually >80% for Intel right now.
I currently have a x4 955 because it was in my budget and gave me the best bang for my buck at the time.Now I want an i5-2500k but have been holding off for price drops/special deals.
Thats different than what you said at first. First you said because they are the "underdog". And honestly, they are not a "underdog" anymore. They are a very large company and have resources, they just haven't produced a directly competitive product for the past 7 years.
And I find it interesting that AMD is saying this jut after they said they wont be competinng with Intel anymore and are focusing on other markets.
TBH, I don't think AMD will easily take over Intel again like they did with the Athlon 64. Intel is on a roll and will stay on a roll. With IB coming out, they will again increase their process lead (not to even add in the 3D trigates).
I wish AMD luck but they really need to come out with something pretty stellar to catch up with and beat Intel.