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Rumor: Microsoft is interested in buying AMD
- Thread starter statham
- Start date
Can mobiles and consoles be compared though? For example imagine this gen if MS knew in advance the design for Sony's console would the company have adopted a similar architecture that it ended up with?
Sony selling sensors to Apple and HTC is very different than collaborating on something that is the core diffrentiator for a fixed platform that has to survive for multiple years.
What are their assets worth? patents, research, etc.
Memorabilia
Member
Even after they bought Nokia? Owning the design IP at AMD makes perfect sense for a variety of reasons.
Steverulez
Member
They're already in deep, perhaps they feel their current efforts aren't really good enough. I think a major part of this is Hololens more than anything else, although obviously it will affect things like Xbox, Surface, WP and others too.
Sounds like it would be a relatively cheap acquisition even adding in a premium to their current value, they could end up paying not much more than they paid for Minecraft! Not sure how likely I think it actually is, though
Sony would be forced to switch GPU vendor for PS5. Otherwise they will be 1upped against MSs' next console as MS would be manufacturing both GPUs. Sony cant afford another PS3 (under powered vs the competition).
Anyway AMD offers nothing of value to MS, their CPUs are garbage vs Intels' offerings. Their GPUs on the desktop side need to have bargin bin prices to even move the marketshare needle. Their console contracts aren't bringing in much money otherwise they wouldn't be losing so much money every quarter. So what do they offer MS?
Anyway AMD offers nothing of value to MS, their CPUs are garbage vs Intels' offerings. Their GPUs on the desktop side need to have bargin bin prices to even move the marketshare needle. Their console contracts aren't bringing in much money otherwise they wouldn't be losing so much money every quarter. So what do they offer MS?
Satya is about widespread adoption so this would have zero effect on Sony and Nintendo. If MS moving towards a unified platform across the board this makes perfect sense and would net them high profits. AMD is under really bad management and they need a change in ownership to light a fire under their engineers.
Zvonimir Boban
Banned
Well yes, if you sell everything at cost price then you go out of business pretty quickly.
Poodlestrike
Banned
Dubious. Isn't Nadella pretty cool on hardware? Like, they're still gonna make it, but their primary focus is pretty firmly back on software and services. I really don't see this happening.
Not in the slightest.
Obliterator
Member
An AMD powered by MS cash money has a much better chance of preventing an Nvidia monopoly than current AMD
Microsoft's most important business relationship is with Intel so why would they want to blow that up? The cost of a few fees mean nothing to Microsoft.
kruis
Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.
MS pays royalties to the Blu-ray Disc Association, not just Sony.
Memorabilia
Member
No. Just no. And I wish people would stop talking about the x86 license like its something the Feds are going to actually disallow. The feds have been breathing down intels neck for over a decade about being an effective monopoly & people think the they're going to make it official just like that? Not gonna happen.
Collateral22
Member
Doesnt Sony get money from every XB1 sold because of Blu-ray?
Gemüsepizza
Member
I think something like this could be very positive for the market if AMD can increase their R&D spendings that way. With a big company like Microsoft or Samsung backing them, they could finally become competitive.
You have to buy Microsoft Surface to enjoy DX12?
kruis
Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.
It doesn't work that way. Microsoft would still have to pay the production costs of the APUs. They'd save on licensing costs, but that's not a billion dollars a year.
While a nvidia next gen console would be great (look at some of the great stuff that came from the OG xbox) i don't think anybody would venture down that path, especially after seeing how they screwed MS over. Not to mention like another poster said, i do not believe sony could afford them at this time.
Kinda curious how this would work out, I was under the impression that the x86 license was null if AMD was bought out. The same thing was discussed when the rumor was Samsung buying out AMD.
I guess maybe if AMD was retained as a wholly separate entity owned by MS? I know nothing of contract law, so this stuff is a bit interesting to me.
I guess maybe if AMD was retained as a wholly separate entity owned by MS? I know nothing of contract law, so this stuff is a bit interesting to me.
Maintenance
Member
You have to get Windows 10 to get DX12. I'm not talking about devices here (future PS or future Nintendo console), I'm talking about the PC ecosystem.
Ballmer bought Nokia because he felt they had to, to prop up Windows Phone.
It's pretty clear that Nadella and Microsoft's board think it was a mistake.
sturgboski
Member
Damn, and people thought buying exclusive games was a problem. This is a big game changer in that it would essentially force Sony and Nintendo to not go AMD in the future as sales of their consoles would be putting money into their competitors pockets.
Seriously though, why would Microsoft want to do this? What benefit do they have other than now getting the chips for the Xbox One at cost. I dont see AMD helping their Surface line as I believe Intel is way ahead than AMD on the chipsets needed for such a device. So again, I mean they will save money on each Xbox and have to spend billions to catch up to Intel to replace Intel chips in the Surface which is, from what I understand, way more profitable as is than the Xbox.
Or I could be wrong. *shrugs*
Seriously though, why would Microsoft want to do this? What benefit do they have other than now getting the chips for the Xbox One at cost. I dont see AMD helping their Surface line as I believe Intel is way ahead than AMD on the chipsets needed for such a device. So again, I mean they will save money on each Xbox and have to spend billions to catch up to Intel to replace Intel chips in the Surface which is, from what I understand, way more profitable as is than the Xbox.
Or I could be wrong. *shrugs*
Wouldn't it make more sense for Sony to buy AMD? Sony is reliant on saving every penny on PlayStation since it is a pillar of their profit margins.
Microsoft would stand to benefit much less from AMD- unless they are buying this company for the sole intent of buffing profit on the Xbox brand- which for all intents and purposes is proving to be less and less important in their overall vision.
In any case, whoever buys AMD loses. The company is an albatross who does nothing but lose. Outside of cheap silicon designs they have virtually no clout in the CPU, mobile, or server space.
Microsoft would stand to benefit much less from AMD- unless they are buying this company for the sole intent of buffing profit on the Xbox brand- which for all intents and purposes is proving to be less and less important in their overall vision.
In any case, whoever buys AMD loses. The company is an albatross who does nothing but lose. Outside of cheap silicon designs they have virtually no clout in the CPU, mobile, or server space.
Bl@de
Member
Great post. Doesn't sound reasonable or smart to buy AMD.
Relaxed Muscle
Member
I answered the poll jokingly, before I read the "be advised..."
I'm screwed? lol
I'm screwed? lol
These companies don't care about buying goods from each other.
PlayStation development uses Microsoft Visual Studio with Sony developed plugins: http://research.ncl.ac.uk/game/mastersdegree/workshops/ps3introduction/Tutorial0.pdf
The problem with this is they are going to be making a lose if they don't invest a lot into AMD and at that point is their investment going to be really worth it? That's if it works. Personally I just don't see why they would reasonable do this and how they would be getting their investment back.
Duxxy3
Member
Not entirely true. Even if you're just looking at it from the Windows and services viewpoint. Microsoft wants faster and faster chips. Intel has been sitting on their asses for years because they have such a gigantic lead on AMD. The CPU market has been fairly stagnant for a while now.
BronzeWolf
Banned
Why is the focus on consoles?
Microsoft-AMD vs. Intel would have much bigger implications than CONSOLE WARZ.
This would further separate Mac from Windows.
Microsoft-AMD vs. Intel would have much bigger implications than CONSOLE WARZ.
This would further separate Mac from Windows.
Sony is broke (not really, but not in a position to make a buyout of this magnitude).
Munki
Member
I did a quick google search, and apparently Sony makes $2-$3 on every X1.
It's hardly for gaming...I see this (if true...I still highly doubt) as something to make Hololens, Xbox, Surface Hub, and Surface cheaper (still have the i-core versions) going forward. People who think this is about Sony/Nintendo...you are very much stuck in your gaming world and can't think outside of it (even in the linked article). MS making computers, it would make sense for them to get some of the other stuff cheaper. I don't know if they are going to do it, especially with Nadella trying to make his core products lean...this would hire and then fire more people.
I was really hoping the "kthnxbye" made it obvious I was joking
Drunkensamurai
Member
Sony doesn't own Blu Ray tech but they do get about $2-3 for Xbone sales.
Hockeymac18
Member
And windows 10 is free for basically any PC bought in the last 6 years. Not sure what point you're making.
And then Bungie will buy their freedom.