AMD + ATI Deal

[Michael]

It looks as if AMD's acquisition of ATI is becoming very close to happening, according to CNN Money.

Unless talks break down, a deal could be announced as early as Monday, the source said.

What is everyone's thoughts on this deal? One of the things is, if the acquisition goes through, it will be interesting to see if AMD has any affect on ATI's drivers.

[shoegoo]

One of the things is, if the acquisition goes through, it will be interesting to see if AMD has any affect on ATI's drivers.

Definitely one of the thoughts that crossed my mind. Right now the deal makes me a little uneasy as I have been partial to AMD and NVIDIA (for both graphics cards and chipsets) for quite some time. Even though your redblog ended with a positive review of ATI, it will take a long time for them to break the stigma they have forged in my mind for so many years. Hopefully, if the deal goes through, AMD will push them to bring the drivers up to par with NVIDIA's performance wise. I also really hope NVIDIA's focus on AMD system's will not lessen.

Another potential issue that doesn't affect me personally, but I find quite interesting anyway is Apple as they use Intel and (mostly) ATI.

I guess the bottom line is, if the deal leads to improvements in both AMD and ATI technology without hurting NVIDIA's relationship with AMD, I can only see things to look forward to. I am skeptical that that will be the case though.

[Michael]

Another potential issue that doesn't affect me personally, but I find quite interesting anyway is Apple as they use Intel and (mostly) ATI

Good point. That's not one of the commonly discussed areas that would be affected by the deal.

[Michael]

Rahul Sood (owner of Voodoo PC) has some interesting thoughts up on his blog about the AMD/ATI acquisition -- http://voodoopc.blogspot.com/2006/07...one-three.html

I am busting at the seams here, I have been holding my opinions on this potential ATi + AMD deal for many months now. Obviously everyone knows Intel?s latest product offering is excellent and news on Conroe/Woodcrest is humming along ? but this deal with ATi + AMD has positive cataclysmic effects on the entire industry. This deal slightly overshadows any news going on in our industry at the moment.

[Michael]

She's official: ATI + AMD.

On July 24, 2006, AMD and ATI announced a plan to join forces, in a transaction that will combine AMD?s technology leadership in microprocessors with ATI?s strengths in graphics, chipsets and consumer electronics. The result is a processing powerhouse: a new competitor, better equipped to drive growth, innovation and choice for its customers in commercial and mobile computing segments and in rapidly-growing consumer electronics segments. The transaction, valued at US $5.4 billion, is expected to close in Q4 2006 subject to approval by ATI shareholders, court approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California with centers of excellence around the world, the new company will have a combined workforce of approximately 14,900 employees. This transaction breaks new ground for both companies and is expected to provide increased customer benefits in four key technology areas:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/0,,3715_14197_14198,00.html?redir=goBG01

[Rob Williams]

I am still not sure whether I should be happy or sad... it's such a crazy thing to happen. A large CPU manufacturer buys a GPU manufacturer... there's definitely going to be some amazing things happening. I just hope they are all good, hah.

They seem to have a lot of goals for the future, which all sound pretty good to me. Maybe their Linux support will improve, who knows, hah.

So, until we see where this is going, my mood ranges from to to .

[niniendowarrior]

I myself feel very uneasy with this. AMD and ATi? On one hand, you could see better processing unit developments and perhaps, better drivers (or totally drop Linux support), or other things.

It's a huge shake up but I think most of the uneasiness thrives from the fact nobody knows where this is heading. ATi competes with nVidia. AMD competes with Intel. Now with the two entities joining forces, where does this fit in any equation for that matter?

For now, no answers. We will know in the future though. Everyone, fasten your seatbelts!

On a sidenote: Michael, is there any response from the connections you have from the ATi Linux developers about this new merging force?

[Michael]

On a sidenote: Michael, is there any response from the connections you have from the ATi Linux developers about this new merging force?

Ideally I will have public information to pass along soon.

[Andrew]

I'm praying that AMD will support the Linux users more than ATI have been.

You never know, the graphics card of choice may swing from Nvidia to AMD Radion if they providing better drivers and better support.

Hell, opensource the drivers so we don't have to break GPL (ala Kororaa) or require the user to apt-get/emerge/rpm post distro install...

If they do that, I'll switch to AMD gpus overnight!

[Andrew]

I'm praying that AMD will support the Linux users more than ATI have been.

You never know, the graphics card of choice may swing from Nvidia to AMD Radion if they providing better drivers and better support.

Hell, opensource the drivers so we don't have to break GPL (ala Kororaa) or require the user to apt-get/emerge/rpm post distro install...

If they do that, I'll switch to AMD gpus overnight!

They're considering it

http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=15446