If memory serves....

[eece_ret]

Morning all!

 

Wondering if anyone remembers something that has been rattling around my head the last year or so.  The impetus has been AMD stepping up and Intel++++++++++++ (ie not so much).  We've got to go back in time, talking somewhere right around skylake release.  I seem to recall reading (Anandtech??? Tomshardware???).  Intel was saying they were diverting their primary focus to DataCenter and Mobile.  Desktop Enthusiast market was being left by the wayside.  Does anyone recall this?  If im recalling correctly... Are they reaping what they sewed?

[eece_ret]

Ive been google hunting for awhile and cannot locate.  But I swear back in 2016, 2017, the articel, on tomshardware.  Something to teh effect "Intel, the deksotp is dead".  Was speaking of Intel ditching their enthusiast centered "stuff".  I recall the writer lamenting the loss of advertising and user engagement activities (like promotions etc.) Now AMD, is swopping that area up and Intel fumbling around.  

It could have been a dream...  But it just keeps popping up in my memory as when I read it (dreamed it?), I recall thinking "um, bad idea".  Like an auto mfg exiting racing...

[SpaceGhostC2C]

Yes, it was something along those line. It wasn't exactly about leaving a market, but more about focusing in "growth markets" (DIY PC building is a pretty much stagnant market if not a declining one), the two you mentioned being prime examples.

[eece_ret]

  Glad to know my brain is still working.  

 

Which brings around the real item scratching my brain.

With the benefit of hindsight.

Bad decision on Intel's part?   Had they stayed engage in this avenue, could things be different for them now?

Or is this simply interesting because of hindsight and really, just "looks worse" given current situation.

[Radium_Angel]

On 8/27/2020 at 1:31 PM, eece_ret said:

Bad decision on Intel's part?

I suppose it depends on the revenue stream from corporations vs home users.

[straight_stewie]

Node size has nothing to do with anything.

 

On 8/27/2020 at 12:31 PM, eece_ret said:

"looks worse"

Is where you hit the nail on the head. There is nothing wrong with Intel processors. In fact, many of them still have better performance than AMD processors. Intel was never a value brand. They were always a performance brand.

Optimizing over the same node size for many generations just looks bad. But it's actually beneficial in many ways: They have very high yields, they have gotten so good at that node technology that they can bin processors so well that they ship from the FAB with almost no overclocking headroom (meaning: Running at nearly full performance from the factory. Something that has never really been seen before).

Business-wise, it can also be beneficial: Intel has a cash reserve sixteen times larger than AMD does, because they don't have to spend money completely rebuilding all of their CPU FABs every year (well, and they're in more markets too). And, contrary to popular belief, they do make 10nm processors, just not 10nm "enthusiast" processors, so they have the capability if they want it. All of this means that when Intel decides to go for it, they can really go for it. Rest assured, Intel will be back in spades.

[piratemonkey]

5 minutes ago, straight_stewie said:

Is where you hit the nail on the head. There is nothing wrong with Intel processors. In fact, many of them still have better performance than AMD processors. Intel was never a value brand. They were always a performance brand.

AMD fan boys would like to disagree.

 

6 minutes ago, straight_stewie said:

Business-wise, it can also be beneficial: Intel has a cash reserve sixteen times larger than AMD does, because they don't have to spend money completely rebuilding all of their CPU FABs every year (well, and they're in more markets too). And, contrary to popular belief, they do make 10nm processors, just not 10nm "enthusiast" processors, so they have the capability if they want it. All of this means that when Intel decides to go for it, they can really go for it. Rest assured, Intel will be back in spades.

But AMD doesn't use their own fabs. they use TSMC's fabs mostly. Intel has more cash likely because they were the go to for about a decade for pretty much all sectors. They also saved money by not innovating. Even tho AMD doesn't have their own fabs, they still research new architectures and that type of stuff. I don't foresee Intel coming back for a long time (if they do). AMD, in the eyes of most consumers, is now the go to.