AMD and ATI finally tie the knot, embark on "Fusion" honeymoon

We all knew it was just a matter of time, but AMD has finally completed its $5.4 billion acquisition of ATI, after jumping through all the necessary regulatory and shareholder hoops. They sure aren't wasting any time, either. The newly joined pair is taking this special moment to announce their upcoming -- and totally expected -- integrated platforms, which should debut in 2007 and will present a rough equivalent to Intel's integrated offerings. However, the new AMD also has a new "Fusion" technology in the works which goes quite a bit beyond regular old integrated graphics. The "new class of x86 processor" integrates the CPU and GPU at the silicon level, supposedly allowing for better performance-per-watts and all other kinds of good times. This sort of "modular" processing has a lot of potential, and we should be seeing Fusion-based products in late 2008 or early 2009. The chips are supposed to make it into everything from laptops to desktops to servers, and could provide a delightful twist to the AMD vs. Intel wars everybody is gearing up for.

[Via Randomly Accessed]

[John Stracke @ Oct 25th 2006 9:12AM]

Hmm. For this to work, the CPU and the GPU have to share access to the memory controller...which AMD can do, because they have on-chip memory controllers. Intel might have a harder time of it.

[Ian Jardine @ Oct 25th 2006 9:12AM]

Nvidia + Nvidia = AMD + ATI;)

ALL IMHO of course:)

[Karl @ Oct 25th 2006 10:00AM]

wow. It's going to be tough for Intel to counter this, as they're also going to want to beat them to market.

Although Intel do have exerience building GPUs, ATI have experience building higher perfomance ones. It's going to be interesting to see what sort of GPUs get integrates - gamer-oriented DX10 modules? Or Consumer-friendly, cheap and low power modules.

Then again, Intel could just add another core and use it for graphics. It's not like they need any help when it comes to slapping on lots of cores on a die...

[Intrepid @ Oct 25th 2006 10:14AM]

They better make something that'll beat a SLI NVIDIA 8800GTX / CORE 2 QUAD setup. Because that's what I am buying next year!!!

[Darryl @ Oct 25th 2006 10:55AM]

For it to be outdated only 3 months after you spent $10,000 on it!

[Matt B @ Oct 25th 2006 11:38AM]

*Drooling*

[Alex @ Oct 25th 2006 10:26AM]

All I have to say is that Intel'd better buy Nvidia right now. Might be tough considering the layoff trouble they've been in, but I think it needs to be done.

[Paul @ Oct 25th 2006 10:27AM]

When large corporations do battle, only one group wins, and that would be the consumer, good times are foreseen in the future.


(the Firefox 2.0 spell check is unreal)

[dawggpie @ Oct 25th 2006 10:31AM]

Ian,
From my understanding, GPU design is much less complex than CPU design. Therefore there is more risk, from a technical standpoint, with Nvidia moving into the CPU market vs 2 companies merging that have knowledge in both areas (Although Nvidia seems very capable). On the other hand there's always risk in 2 companies not merging efficiently.

Downside to having a single CPU/GPU is that you can't do partial upgrades as easily. I usually tend to go through 2-3 graphics cards per CPU to that buy. Anyway, more competition is more better so I look forward to all 3 companies offerings =)

[GreenBikerDude @ Oct 25th 2006 10:44AM]

Ian Jardine is right

Nvidia is thinking about making a GPU+CPU Hybrid chip use there own tech not intels. In the near future we might see micro-pcs and laptops for under $500 with these chips.

@Alex

Nvidia is to big of a company for intel to buy out. Also Nvidia and intel don't share the same ideology when it come the GPUs and chipmaking. The reason the AMD+ATI deal with through becasue they were two small companies compared to intel and nvidia.

[xstaci @ Oct 25th 2006 1:11PM]

great, now their drivers will NEVER work.

[Keaton @ Oct 25th 2006 3:56PM]

look at what i posted like a month ago.....
http://gaming.engadget.com/2006/09/29/gazing-down-intels-roadmap-quad-core-yorkfield-set-for-q3-2007/
And I was right!!! Everyone thought it wasn't possible...
I am really excited to see this Fusion thing in action. I believe integration of gpu's and cpu's is the future. Gpu's are excelent at number crunching as has been shown in the recent past. If cpu's could offload the "boring" tasks to a gpu, obvious speed increases will occur. The only problem I could see is the FSB limiting the overall speed. That could definately be an issue... hmmm... We will see!

http://www.soggycowdesigns.com

[PEZ @ Oct 25th 2006 4:31PM]

Smack my byotch up! This is why you gotta suck it down with the shock and awe in 2006 baby.
AMDTI!

[Clipp @ Nov 21st 2006 8:37AM]

Does anyone know if the new chips will still use the AM2 socket?