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Elmer Phud

11/16/06 12:44 PM

#5535 RE: jhalada #5532

Speaking of Dell:

http://www.spec.org/cpu2000/results/res2006q4/cpu2000-20061016-07644.html

Dell releases SPEC scores where a single socket Xeon QC is 30% faster in SPECint_rate_base than ANY dual socket Opteron system.

AMD can only use pricing to compete here and ASPs will reflect that.
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chipguy

11/16/06 1:04 PM

#5538 RE: jhalada #5532

Which would make it extra sweet if iCon tells Intel to go f. themselves, and starts purchasing microprocessors from AMD, just as Dell did.

That is a somewhat credible scenario given Jobs's past
antics with IBM and Motorola but that is quite different from
the ludicrous BS claim of yours that Apple should have
gone AMD from the start.

PS: Wasn't the argument that Dell will never use AMD that Intel provided all the engineering and hand holding to Dell?


It was that factor vs the competitiveness lead AMD had in
x86 server MPUs in 2005 and the first half of 2006. What
is surprising about Dell's move IMO isn't so much that it
happened but when it happened - after Intel closed the gap
with AMD in 4S and opened a significant performance and
power efficiency lead in 2S. Talk about closing the barn
door after the horse has left. IMO that supports the view
that Dell management made the move 1) mainly to be seen
by Wall street as doing something to address its slipping
position vs HP, and 2) Dell is going to have to compete
on bargain basement pricing and margins more than ever.
The fact that Dell hung on for so long before going AMD
suggests the above factors did indeed carry a lot of weight.