Intel, AMD Fiercely Fighting For Market Share
Blue vs. Green.
According to iSuppli, Intel finished 2010 with 81.0% revenue share, which was up 0.4 points from 80.6% in 2009, while AMD was down 0.8 points to 11.4%. Sandy Bridge appeared to help Intel boost market share as the Q4 revenue share was up to 81.5%, while AMD was down to 10.9% and is in danger of dropping into the single digits.
The apparently uneventful market development could suggest that both companies are somewhat happy with what they have, even if I can still remember AMD targeting about 30% of the market just five years ago. However, it could be exactly the opposite as well: iSuppli noted that the two manufacturers are fighting for every dollar in the market: The total processor market (including RISC and other general purpose processors) was about $40 billion in 2010 - about 25% more than in 2009.
Both AMD and Intel are trying to catch up in the smartphone and tablet race. AMD fired its CEO Dirk Meyer and COO Bob Rivet in an effort to realign the company, while Intel just kicked Anand Chandrasekher, who was in charge of the firm's Ultra Mobility business, to the curb. iSuppli said that about 17.4 million tablets may have been shipped in 2010 - up from virtually nothing in 2009. It's a market Intel and AMD are not competing in yet and if the general predictions of 240 million shipped tablets by 2014 (iSuppli) are true, then it is a big opportunity for the two - an opportunity that could shift market shares again.
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Douglas Perry was a freelance writer for Tom's Hardware covering semiconductors, storage technology, quantum computing, and processor power delivery. He has authored several books and is currently an editor for The Oregonian/OregonLive.
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NapoleonDK I didn't realize their market share was that far apart. Seems odd when so many of the gamers I know are thrilled to death with their Phenom 965's and HD6950's...Reply -
jskilnyk NapoleonDKI didn't realize their market share was that far apart. Seems odd when so many of the gamers I know are thrilled to death with their Phenom 965's and HD6950's...Reply
The enthusiasts market is only a small part of the total PC market. Its not surprising at all. But, I just hope AMD can pull some more in with their new line of APUs.
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Does anyone ever mention that Fusion will be powering tablets by the end of the summer???!!! - if not sooner?Reply
How about the fact that Fusion is totally crippling and eating away at Atom?
and...last but not least, that Bulldozer is about to bulldoze INTEL straight down??? -
toastninja17 Yeah too bad this is happening, AMD chips and architecture are designed more for gamers and less expensive, while Intel definitely focuses more on enterprise and business use. Not saying that Intel chips aren't good for gaming, they're outstanding...just, I think AMD is a little more aimed towards the gamer with less dough to blow.Reply -
PudgyChicken LOL @Pat1234Reply
Fanboy much. Taking Intel's market share with one new product line just isn't gonna happen. I don't like to pick sides, but the last few rounds have all gone to Intel. Lets face it: Core iX (1st gen) vs Phenom IIs is no competition. Core iX (2nd gen) vs Phenom IIs... If possible, even less competition. While I would be thrilled if AMD brought some real muscle to the table, realistically I don't see it happening. -
rmse17 toastninja17: The only reason that AMD is aimed towards the gamer with less dough to blow is that their processors are not at the top. Lest we forget the 1000$ Athlon FX-51 and it's successors before Intel pulled out the C2D. Both companies charge the most money they can for their products, at the moment AMD is behind, and has to charge less, especially to keep it's market share.Reply -
rmse17 Pat1234: You have to remember that even in the days of P4, when AMD's processors were superior to Intel in everything but the Mobile market, Intel still had some 80% market share. AMD has issues just with the Intel logo, regardless of processor quality, and it doesn't help to not have the most powerful or efficient chips like now. Hopefully Bulldozer will be able to beat SB, but given the market share, number of enigneers, and company pocket books, unfortunately AMD is on the losing side of statistics. Intel has way more money and engineers to throw at a problem, and as we all know from Civilization games... :)Reply