AMD Manufacturing
With all the talk about AMD giving up manufacturing of their chips completely, including processors, they spent quite a bit of time on that front at the analyst day. Because they have such a large range of products to product now, they need to spread out the production in a way that is most cost efficient for them. That means combining AMD’s own fabs, foundry partners and outsourced assembly.
These slides detail what AMD has planned for production going forwards. For now it looks like the ATI-based chipsets and graphics will continue to be built at TSMC while the AMD processors will be produced at AMD’s fabs and Chartered Semiconductor.
While I didn’t get real detailed information yet, it seems as though AMD is looking to back down on their own production of processors and would prefer to get much of it in the hands of others, reducing the amount of risk they take on AMD as a company.
AMD’s plans for future technologies looks pretty solid based on this time line, but then most things do. I find it interesting that as of the end of 2008 there is no differentiation between GPU and CPU process technologies — so either they are going to be in sync or this is just an omission.
The future of AMD’s production plans is detailed as it moves from 45nm to 32nm with high-k metal transistors to enable smaller scaling.
This last slide shows the “traditional” mix of fabrication facilities and products continuing through 2009. Afterwards, AMD has shown their own fabs, Chartered, TSMC, UMC and others all mixed together when it comes to the Fusion, Bulldozer and Bobcat product lines. It is entirely possible that AMD will simply be sourcing out the chips to the lowest builder — be it an AMD fab or other company.
Final Thoughts
The general summary from the analyst day should look something like this:
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Barcelona – it’s nearly here
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Puma platform for mobiles
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Enthusiast 4 card CrossFire
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2009 will bring first Fusion products
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Bulldozer
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Bobcat
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Completely new CPU design from ground up
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Discrete graphics will continue at AMD
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Manufacturing will continue as-is for now, with changes after 2009
Take all that for what you will; as the days go by now I am sure we’ll see more details emerge about all of these components and topics. It looks like AMD is well aware of their stance compared to Intel in the various markets and is determined to develop a product line to surpass them once again. It’s a long, uphill battle, but AMD’s leadership is ready.
If you want to discuss all these new AMD developments, or ask a question, please join us in this thread of the PCPer forums!
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