Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[chipguy]

Paul outside of youself and Intel some would say that there are concerns with IPFs sustainability and longevity. Only time will tell.

No, I would turn that around and say such concerns are
largely confined to a few detractors in the trade press
and AMD fans. The former are fuelled largely by whispers
in the ear by those in the industry most threatened by
IPF. The latter is simply to be expected because IPF
represents an important path taken by Intel along which
AMD is unable to tag along for a free ride.

Have a look at this:

http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MAG/vol41-3/paper03.pdf

It is a description of the five device 90 nm chipset for the
Fujitsu PRIMEQUEST. The level of investment and effort
here makes Horus and Cray's STAR ASIC look like a joke
in comparison. That is just one IPF OEM. HP has two new
sets of IPF chipsets, SGI has its new SHUB2. Hitachi, NEC,
Bull each have their own IPF chipsets and so on.

Web forum types like you and I can debate this all we want
but it is clear Intel and its seven major IPF OEMs (and
many more minor ones) along with major ISVs of high end
business and technical apps have made a huge investment
in IPF silicon, hardware, and software and it is showing
with quarter after quarter of rapidly growing sales and
market share. This year IPF will likely easily grow past
SPARC and PA-RISC and push sales to $4B+ and 20+%
market share.