BAD HARDWARE WEEK

But, Intel tells employees there’s a bigger fish to fry than AMD.
Independent analyst Brookwood said he believes AMD will be able to raise the chip's frequency by 10 percent a quarter, to about 3 GHz by fall 2008. Some 200 Mhz per quarter? Please note some fuses at picture above. If some cores don't pass test, their fuses will be blow out, and product will be still sold as a low performance 2 corer. What do you think, could Intel do that? Even in 45nm? Intel has no HT implemented, and it now uses only 2 separately tested core dies, so have to glue them together on MCM. And it will stay so until Intel's CSI emerge.
Beside, Northbridge is incorporated in K10h, so its power consumption is much lower than Intel's one.
And that kind approach makes 4 core chip manufacturing prices lower than at Intel. Thus, lets prices go down.
By the way, I remember well when Northbridge chip alone costed $31. Today you can purchase Sempron 3200+ for that money. Add some Linux atop and you will get dirty cheap firewall, router or whatever you want. Especially if you are from China. If China is strategic market for Microsoft, why shouldn't be for Intel and AMD? Ie. todays tantalum capacitor 3300 microF costs $250. 8 times more than the cheapest single core Sempron. !
Some say AMD is doomed. Looking up to the end of 2008, I am not so convinced. And in 2009 low priced Fusion chips will follow. Seems Intel will be in bigger troubles , after constant margins eroding. I mean its products are after one year worth only 33%, just like AMD's. AMD is in financial troubles, Intel will be soon.
Nieztche once said: What doesn't kill me, will make me stronger. Currently, seems than Intel only cures AMD, not kills it. Beside, why AMD can now successfully lower its prices? Because now, low end processors Chartered fab started its volume production. Previously AMD had no general solution to Intel's strategy. But, lets wait and see the final price war outcome.


Seems quite good before AMD 45nm appearance under TMSC agreement in 2Q08. The 65-nanometer Barcelona will have to compete with Intel's upcoming 45-nm Penryn, which will also ship this year.