Intel Corp (INTC)

[smoothh20]

Chip: RIght now I would presume the micro-architects at AMD have long completed
the K9 and are busy defining and simulating K10 and kicking around ideas for
K11. The K9 is probably well along in detailed logic and circuit design with some
experimental layouts for critical elements done for feedback to the circuit and logic
people. Some circuit and most layout and test guys are probably still busy cleaning
up odds and ends for 130 nm K8 and getting ready for 90 nm K7 and K8.

That may be true at Intel, but I doubt it's that involved at AMD. It takes a lot of money to develop multiple designs as you lay out. I think the process is much more subdued at AMD and their design cycles are longer than at Intel. Intel has these designs running and then cancels some of them. I would think that AMD is maybe one cycle ahead but most of their effort is in designing proliferations of the present architecture. Give that they are having problems with scaling the Operton, this would severely complicate future designs. It doesn't sound like AMD moves processes along like Intel does with their SRAM.

Smooth