Would Apple Buy AMD?

[Dietrichw]

 

 

Many are thinking this one simple question: How likely is it that Apple buys out AMD?

 

 

The computer design philosophies of Apple and AMD are beginning to become similar with HSA fitting Apple's idea of optimized programming with lower power hardware instead of brute force with a inefficient OS that has more overhead to support more hardware. 

 

 

 

What could Apple gain?

AMD's core competency is in the design of CPU cores, graphics IP, and system-on-chip products that implement that IP, among others. This is a competency that appears to be serving the company quite well in landing semi-custom design contracts such as the processors for both the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 game consoles.  

That said, Apple has demonstrated exceptional competency in designing its own CPU cores, as well as the system-on-chip that surrounds it. Indeed, it is arguable that Apple's latest mobile CPU is the most advanced smartphone/tablet core in production today. However, two "gaps" in Apple's silicon capabilities to date have been the lack of communications/connectivity IP and an in-house GPU IP team. Since Apple already has hired many ex-AMD CPU engineers, there could be an argument for the graphics portion of the equation.

 

 

 

Foolish bottom line

While the idea of Apple picking up AMD would have made more sense if Apple hadn't already demonstrated exceptional CPU/SoC design capability, today it seems extremely unlikely. While Apple is unlikely to acquire a major, publicly traded semiconductor in order to bolster its in-house IP teams, it would be more likely to pick up the rest of Imagination than to buy AMD if it were to do so.

Apple would be able to gain a lot from talking to AMD as HSA would be a perfect fit for Apple's programming over brute force eco-system

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/04/02/will-apple-buy-amd-out.aspx

[samuel]

God no! From what I know, the x86 licence cannot be sold!

[CtW]

HEEELLLL NO.

[DefinitelyNotAPedophile]

I feel like Nintendo would buy amd before apple does

[Brazsty]

Lets hope not. AMD is good and need to stay good

[Dietrichw]

Appe wouldn't buy AMD as Apple doesn't make big buys but they would benefit from teaming up

[Fred Castellum]

Wouldn't happen, from a investors standpoint I'd bail on Apple stock if they made such a ridic move, they'd be buying into a market where their companies competitor has the upper hand. 

 

Financially operating AMD after purchasing it would cause a lot of strain on Apple. So its definitely a no go from what I see. 

 

EDIT: BTW This belongs in Off Topic not Tech news OP.... 

[qwertywarrior]

it depends if shareholders are willing to sell

Mubadala for example has 19.4 percent stake and they rarely ever sell

highly doubt this

[MangoJuiceStain]

Lol, that's like saying Facebook would buy Oculus. Oh wait...

In all seriousness though, it's VERY unlikely. 

[Ssoele]

Source: Fool.com, says enough...

[Polyvalent]

The question isn't would Apple do it, its would AMD let it happen.

 

And the answer to that is undoubtedly no.

[GoodBytes]

Ok. Just to let people know.

People have been talking about this since Apple did the switch to Intel x86 CPU from IBM.

It never happened.

Apple benefit in AMD is Global Foudaries which is owned by AMD. They produce processors. Apple can use it to make their processors instead, and because the facilities is there, it can be upgraded to produce memory and all sorts of chips. Plus they can get the knowledge in AMD in their CPU and GPU's.

But so far Apple is not interested in AMD.

[Suika]

They'd develop a GPU more premium than Nvidia. 

[matin94]

i can imagine the titles on newspapers if this happens, "good guy AMD goes bad"

[s3ns3]

God no! From what I know, the x86 licence cannot be sold!

intel owns x86 license,amd pays intel to use it.sort of a rent.

 

apple doing what with amd? mobile chips? i dont see that

 

 

They'd develop a GPU more premium than Nvidia. 

die shrink doesnt happen in a day.look at the maxwell 20nm gpus,delayed.but lol apple competing with nvidia? is like the least of their problems.and so is the high end gpus market 

[mr moose]

I can see apple venturing into technologies that will continue to grow over the next 20 years like battery manufacturing, but I can't see them investing in  foundries for what will essentially be minor returns.   Buying AMD could add enough extra layers to the business that it detracts from any gains made. 

 

I Might get a little bit flamed for this but,  half of apples market is mobile devices and AMD don't make very good mobile chips, so if they were to buy out AMD they might not be able to capitalize on the acquisition with half their mobile devices still requiring the performance of the A series.  This also takes into consideration that if they own the foundry they also own the risk of process failure. 

[Lyons]

Wouldn't happen, from a investors standpoint I'd bail on Apple stock if they made such a ridic move, they've be buying into a market what that companies competitor has the upper hand. 

 

IMO the reason they would make the acquisition is to distance themselves further from Intel and Samsung. Apple loves its walled garden, and I think their long term goal is to become completely self reliant. Acquiring AMD sounds very silly, but I think we'll see a move similar to this in the next 10 years.

 

Apple haters will have the predictable knee-jerk reaction of 'but muh games', without realising what the point of a situation like this is. Sad...

[Xsilent(X)]

if apple had 200 bilion dollars maybe!

[Fred Castellum]

IMO the reason they would make the acquisition is to distance themselves further from Intel and Samsung. Apple loves its walled garden, and I think their long term goal is to become completely self reliant. Acquiring AMD sounds very silly, but I think we'll see a move similar to this in the next 10 years.

 

Apple haters will have the predictable knee-jerk reaction of 'but muh games', without realising what the point of a situation like this is. Sad...

"Wouldn't happen, from a investors standpoint I'd bail on Apple stock if they made such a ridic move, they'd be buying into a market where their companies competitor has the upper hand." 

 

Good god I need to read my posts before posting so many typos.

 

If they had a good plan laid out at the time of buying AMD I might consider holding, its risky because a failed acquisition could cripple the company for a while. 

[That Norwegian Guy]

It would probably be more of a good thing than a bad thing. Apple could pour billions into the R&D AMD needs to catch up to both Intel and Nvidia.

[Dylan522p]

Dobut it. The only company I could see Apple buying some of would be Intel. Not the whole company obviously, but a portion of it, and then Apple could start using Intel's Fabs and be even closer on their laptops.

[LegendKillerRG]

Apple Vs. Intel&Nvidia

Lol...

凸＇へ＇凸 Apple...

[SpaceSquid]

8350 will now cost $2000 because even the 4960x has 6 "cores" but the 8350 has 8 "cores". Hyperthreading does nothing!

[CJPowell27]

Oh god AMD chips would become so overpriced D:

[pit5000]

personally i think AMD should merge with Qualcomm