http://www.canada.com/nationalpost [...] c9&k=11412
 
This is the Canada's national newpaper. In it mostly only prints or posts anything if there is a highly likely chance it's going to come true or has a good  chance that it could be true.
 
Supporting Reliable Sourses  
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3299
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/ser [...] iness/home
http://today.reuters.com/investing [...] URGENT.XML

Where is the Inquirer?

Here. http://www.theinquirer.net/

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33185
incase you Inquirer fans were missed it from the AMD-Quida fanatics BM or the 9-incher
It's the damn Reuters GD it. thats about as reliable as your favorite guidance councler

 
 
I believe in thinking for myself, though there are alot of people carrying the same story.
 
I still feel that this deal would hurt AMD more than help them as partner investment is a more sound strategy in a volatile market than taking on the whole task.
 
Intel AND Dell are feeling hte pain of this as both have taken hits in sock and profits.
 
For AMD to go down the same road after having solidified partnerships with MULTIPLE OEMs and vendors would be like saying, "Naaaaah, we were just kidding. We were waiting for our chance to become the next Intel."
 
How owuld the recently announced nVidia Business Platform be affected? Badly. AMD would now be in direct competition with the maker of the nForce.
 
That's like competing against yourself. On Newegg there are 37 AM2 mobos and only 4 of them have something other than nForce 4 or 5xx. One is ATi and 3 are VIA.
 
One analyst said something interesting I thought I would quote as it echoes my sentiments.
 

Well its almost offical ,  AMD has done its part and now its ATI turn to hand over the key for the big bag of cash.

 
Feel like you're waking up from a bad dream?  It's time to grow up BM, and start thinking like an adult.  It's a tough world out there.
 
Besides, did you actually ever think that AMD was some sort of Mother Theresa or something?
 
Need a hug?

 
Feel like you're waking up from a bad dream?  It's time to grow up BM, and start thinking like an adult.  It's a tough world out there.
 
Besides, did you actually ever think that AMD was some sort of Mother Theresa or something?
 
Need a hug?
 
 
Adults don't turn back on their word or act in secret.

 
 
The rumor is almost official. I can't see anything good for AMD from this. Can you tell me how they would benefit?

 
Feel like you're waking up from a bad dream?  It's time to grow up BM, and start thinking like an adult.  It's a tough world out there.
 
Besides, did you actually ever think that AMD was some sort of Mother Theresa or something?
 
Need a hug?
 
 
Adults don't turn back on their word or act in secret.
 
Wow, you must be really sheltered.  Ever hear of Pollyanna?
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollyanna

 
This would benefit them, because they can now put a killer GPU, & motherboard chipset right into the CPU(imagine a 2ghz gpu)....  System on a chip will be closer to a reality(it is coming one way or another)....  The cost of buying a computer would go way down, because you would not have to buy a video card, or expensive motherboard chipset....
 
note: Or they can ensure video cards will be made for the upcomming HTX socket....
 
I would rather see them take the MIcrosost approach, and just higher Great Chip developers away from good compaines like ATI/NVidea/VIA/etc....  THey could pay them triple of what they are getting paid now, and it still wouldn't cost them the billions the are going to pay now....

 
This would benefit them, because they can now put a killer GPU, & motherboard chipset right into the CPU(imagine a 2ghz gpu)....  System on a chip will be closer to a reality(it is coming one way or another)....  The cost of buying a computer would go way down, because you would not have to buy a video card, or expensive motherboard chipset....
 
note: Or they can ensure video cards will be made for the upcomming HTX socket....
 
I would rather see them take the MIcrosost approach, and just higher Great Chip developers away from good compaines like ATI/NVidea/VIA/etc....  THey could pay them triple of what they are getting paid now, and it still wouldn't cost them the billions the are going to pay now....
 
 
So how do you recommend they allocate the time of the engineers? They have just opened up the socket and there are no GPU derivatives even planned so it would take at least a year for them to implement any socketed GPUs much less a die-integrated solution.  
 
In that time they need to sell GPUs, chipsets, and CPUs. Since ATi uses TSMC to fab chips they now have an extra expense that won't yield a high gross margin. And ATi engineers can't help with K8L and BullDozer and Rev G so how can they get this done before Kentsfield and nVidia taking a dump on their head(s)?
 
I don't care if God announced the rumor. I have to say it is unnecessary and hurtful to already established partnerships. Just because they own a chipset family (which they are again not fabbed for) doesn't mean they can balance the books enough to compete with Intel's 12 fabs. They then also have to be responsible for reference mobos where previously nVidia and ATi separately provided these to mobo makers.
 
We'll see, I guess on Monday.

What a mistake? Worse thing they could ever do. I'll go back to the evil intellian empire before I let anything remotely connected with ATI in my system. AMD 64's will be the end of the AMD road for me should they buy Always Technically Inept.

I have also read that for less than 1 Billion more they could buy Nvidia.  Seems to me that Nvidia would be a better buy if they were going to do it.  But I also assume AMD has explored both ideas and has decided on ATI for a reason.... we will see..
 
wes

 
[rant] Ya ATI design's innovative, forward-thinking GPU's while Nvidia gives us smoke and mirror's and driver opt's to keep up while sacrificing IQ[/rant]

I was mainly referring to which company makes the most money and would be the best investment from a business aspect.  Sure ATI does produce some good products now, but in general the Nvidia one I have had as of late were still more hassel free than the ATI ones on the drivers side.  And ATI is also getting pretty high in power consumption and heat.  Those are my main issues with ATI, the hardware they produce does perform rather well, and even tends to best Nvidia, only by a small percentage though.

Yes, the chipset side is very true, that is the main reason I would consider buying a Mobo based on an ATI chipset, passive cooling is VERY nice IMO.  I am tired of the whiny Nvidia chipset fans.... but I have had my own issues with ATI video card drivers even a couple of months ago, hopefully if AMD buys them out, they can take care of the driver and power consumption issues, I imagine the first is the easiest of the two.... If that were to happen, I would go ATI all the way.

 
Feel like you're waking up from a bad dream?  It's time to grow up BM, and start thinking like an adult.  It's a tough world out there.
 
Besides, did you actually ever think that AMD was some sort of Mother Theresa or something?
 
Need a hug?
 
 
BTW, if you would like another supporting opinion you can go see Rahul Sood at VooDooPC.
 
He also is of the opinion that this wouldn't threaten nVidia's dominance in the AMD chipset market.
 
I would have to hear what nVidia's CEO would say after Rahul says that the CEOs have "no egos." One of the original sources claimed that Huang (nVidia's CEO) commented that they wouldn't as fully support AMD via chipsets. (can't remember the link)
 
Anyway, I can imagine some exciting possibilities for such a merger, but they are more long term and I don't feel necessary at this time since a tech agreement could do just as much.  
 
Though I have been an ardent supporter of AMD, I had lost faith in ATi even with their continued "pushing of the envelope." I think that if they do it AND release some great ATi 4x4 chipset initiative, it could buoy the stock but just a merger agreement will cost them alot and not return anything before 2008.
 
By making them a wholly-owned subsidiary they could possibly buoy ATi stock and raise the CAP allowing for a structured financing deal, but again the rate of return is very low over the next 2 years.
 
Thinking about it, I may not boycott them but I will be expecting something spectacular to appease me. Perhaps a joint announcement with AMD, ATi, and nVidia.