Overview
"The supposition that the future resembles the past. Is not founded on arguments of any kind, but is derived entirely from habit ."
David Hume, 1737
As Hume stated some 260+ years ago, the future is subject to dramatic change. Few industries today demonstrate this concept better than the computer industry. The combination of our quest for knowledge and the potential provided by computers has created the internet industry. Fortunes were made almost overnight while the internet has helped invigorate struggling economies world-wide. Yet, the average computer user still understands barely more than the brand names responsible for the PDAs, notebooks, desktops and servers they use every day.
The key to the internet, DVD-players, MP3s, and all other computers in various forms is the microprocessor. Made of the same silicon found in sand, microprocessors are the heart and brain of many electronic devices. The predecessor to today’s chips was the transistor made in 1948. Now we have the power of an ENIAC computer in a video game console. There are other chips that can be found in computing devices, but the microprocessor field is small and market share is held in few hands. This GoldStar report will delve into one the world’s leading chipmakers, Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. was founded in 1969 by Jerry Sanders. The Company trades on the NYSE under the symbol AMD and is best known for its microprocessors. The Company creates and markets the Athlon 64 FX, Turion and other models that can be found in desktops and mobile processors globally. In addition the company creates Server and Workstation processors, flash memory devices and low-power processor solutions that can be found throughout the communications and consumer electronics industries. The Company currently maintains 16.9% of the microprocessor market, while owning 6500 issued patents with numerous pending patent applications. The Company generates 5 billion in revenue (12/26/04) with over 7 billion dollars in total assets.
Of the products produced by the Company, the Opteron dual core chips target the supercomputer, server and workstation marketplace which require higher speeds, simultaneous executions and minimal power increase. The Athlon chips are targeted to the Desktop computer market and allows for 32- and 64- bit computing simultaneously. The Turion chips are for thin & light notebooks, with wireless compatibility and 32- and 64-bit computing. The Company also makes Flash memory under Spansion LLC which are used in digital Cameras, DVDs, MP3s, mobile phones and automotive electronics.
Computers are the devices that could only be dreamed of in decades past. If Hume is correct computers, technology, and everyday life may become the dreams we have today. Until that time Advanced Micro Devices and companies like it provide us with the ability to travel, work, or be at home and still reach the rest of the world.
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Products
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. is know for its microprocessors. The Company has several lines of integrated chips, each targeted primarily for specific end users. The product lines of the Company include:
Opteron - simultaneous 32- and 64-bit computing with direct connect architecture. For servers and workstations, the dual-core processors connects two CPUs on one die to compute intensive multi-threaded applications or multiple applications simultaneously.
Turion - allows the ability to run 32- or 64-bit applications. For thin notebooks, Bluetooth and wireless compatibility are featured. These chips are designed for the mobile user.
Athlon 64 - built for desktops, this line is capable of handling 3d games, streaming audio/video, and multitasking. Similar to the other chips of the Company, they are capable of 32- and 64-bit applications.
The Spansion family of Flash memory - includes MirrorBit technology. MirroBit is capable of Burst-mode access as fast as 80Mhz, densities from 16 to 512 Megabits, and a cost structure similar to 90nm multi-level cell floating gate technology.
The Company has many other products and specializations within each product line. More information and descriptions can be found at the Company’s website www.amd.com
