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August 02, 2006 | Comments: (0)
Apple finally goes with AMD
At the end of this year, AMD will close a deal that will have Apple buying AMD chips for the first time.
AMD will close the deal, all right. The question is, will Apple keep using ATI, which is being acquired by AMD (it's all over but the foregone shareholders' vote), as a supplier for its critical graphics components? For all it's worth (rather little), I'm on record as supporting AMD selling ATI technology under the AMD brand. In other words, Intel OEMs that use ATI cards or integrated graphics chips will be issued new badge stickers saying, "AMD Inside."
Whether AMD chooses to use or lose the ATI brand will make no difference in the way ATI's products are treated post-acquisitioin. Intel will cast the stinkeye at any sizeable OEM that continues to use ATI parts. Some will bend to Intel's will and some will keep using what works best for their systems. At present, ATI has strong leadership in power-efficient, fast 3-D graphics. The MacBook Pro I'm using has a 256 MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 GPU. With it, I can pile all the QuickTime or Quartz Composer instances I please on the display at once without anything going jerky. MacBook Pro is a desktop replacement-grade notebook, and it needs desktop graphics.
On August 7, I predict that Apple will claim the distinction of being the first first-tier vendor to integrate 64-bit Core Microarchitecture CPUs across its notebook, desktop, workstation and server products (the iMac for the academic market, MacBook and Mac mini won't get the new CPU). Intel's Paul Otellini can be expected to make his customary 30-second appearance on stage with Steve to commemorate this event. But is Paul going to be steamed that ATI/AMD and Intel guts will be strapped together in every 64-bit Intel Mac?
That's presuming that Apple doesn't change horses mid-stream. If it does, it doesn't necessarily mean Intel had a hand in it. Apple sends the message that it won't get pushed around, and I can't see Apple letting anyone wink, hint, whisper or disincentive-ize it into switching suppliers.
When Intel OEMs start their entirely coincidental synchronized exodus from ATI to NVidia and Intel integrated graphics in 3...2...1, will Apple join the march? We'll know on August 7.
Posted by Tom Yager on August 2, 2006 07:34 PM
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This is the stupidest, most overzealous article I have ever read and has no credence to anything at all. So you are predicting, because Apple uses ATI graphics, they will jump ship to AMD. It is called NVIDIA. Which they do use on occasion and not to mention Intel having the better roadmap for processors. NVIDIA is the leader right now in graphics not ATI.
Posted by: Brew at August 2, 2006 09:55 PMNvidia is usually more costly integrated, I think isn't it. I thought ATI was a leader with IGP, that's why AMD bought them. They were cheaper.
I think it depends on what solution AMD has to offer for Apple as a complete solution. I would think the Intel Nvidia graphics card combo would cost more because it's really not the future right(?), and maybe Apple wouldn't care about the openness AMD might bring, since Apple is closed. If anything Linux stands to benefit the most here I think
To me, AMD would really have to come up with a very fast IGP (integrated graphics processor), solution to make it work because I don't see AMD as knowing how do do graphics cards well. I don't see the point. Why monetize complexity.
Posted by: Mark at August 3, 2006 07:22 AMThis is one of the most poorly written articles I have ever read.
What is your point? I assume it is Intel will try and nudge Apple to drop ATI and switch to nVidia like they will do with other OEMs?
Missing a few key points. Apple doesn't badge their computers so there will never be an AMD Inside sticker as there will never be an Intel Inside sticker. Also in Apple Intel has found a partner that will embrace the advances Intel has tried to bring to modern PC hardware.
Posted by: James at August 3, 2006 08:59 AMI suspect all we'll see August 7th is that the Mac Pro continues with NVIDIA, same as the current Power Mac (except the base card will be 7600 vs 6600). The Mini, MacBook, and edu-iMac will continue with Intel integrated graphics. So all this really affects is a couple of Apple models, the iMac and MacBook Pro, and it may not be until next year, and the Santa Rosa platform, before we see significant changes to those (1st generation Napa Merom isn't a significant change).
I also wouldn't be surprised if AMD continues to market video hardware under the ATI brand, which may have better name recognition anyway.
Wow, that is interesting news. I never understood why Apple was going after Intel when Intel had not shown any clear roadmap since the 80s. AMD seemed like such a better candidate.
I thought Apple saw something hapening at Intel we had not. Maybe Apple has done something else, revamp the playing field between two chip makers in a very, very dull PC market sorely missing on innovations.
I'm interested to know how Apple will market both chips. As on old PC user who has always liked AMD chips, my preference was AMD but with modern chips, the most likely next candidate would be again another laptop instead of a beefed up desktop and maybe Intel would edge out AMD? At least the field is better leveled and for once because of an unlikely ally, Apple.
Posted by: Nick at August 4, 2006 10:10 AM
