MS to purchase AMD?

[TheGeneral]

Azure servers already run AMD CPUs. The most likely scenario is MS buying AMD or parts of it and licensing it back to AMD. That way AMD and the GPU business continues as it is. If this happens , it very likely to build custom servers for Azure, keeping costs and energy use down. Of course, the Xbox will benefit too as all the research and development that goes into this will go into the next Xbox. The only downer is that this could potentially p*ss off Intel. But as long as MS don't manufacture PCs and Servers for general retail they will be happy.

 

[team56th]

Azure servers already run AMD CPUs. The most likely scenario is MS buying AMD or parts of it and licensing it back to AMD. That way AMD and the GPU business continues as it is. If this happens , it very likely to build custom servers for Azure, keeping costs and energy use down. Of course, the Xbox will benefit too as all the research and development that goes into this will go into the next Xbox. The only downer is that this could potentially p*ss off Intel. But as long as MS don't manufacture PCs and Servers for general retail they will be happy.

Yeah the only downside of all of this is that this could piss off Intel, and they really can't afford to do that because Microsoft has been getting some serious advantages from Intel partnership, like launching Haswell-U and Atom x7 on Surface tablets. Which is why I think this could end up being a joint operation between the two companies, like Microsoft purchasing AMD with Intel taking some stakes of it or vice versa, Microsoft getting Radeon Technologies assets and server side while Intel consolidates CPU business, etc.

 

[pravus]

Do it for the lolz.

 

[Ketto]

Would be nice to get some decent GPU drivers from AMD for a change, too bad the x86 license wouldn't transfer in the event of AMD being purchased.

 

[Sasquatch Montana]

Do it for the lolz.

Have to agree.

Satya: Sure Kaz, we have no plans to discontinue PS4 chip production.
Kaz: Phew. I was afraid there for a second.
Satya: That's understandable, we're happy to continue supply at the revised price of $12,000 per chip. 7 Million you said? That'll be 84 Billion Dollars please.
Kaz: :-O
Satya: Backward compatibility with PS5 is extra you realize?

Yeah the only downside of all of this is that this could piss off Intel,

Alternately, they could be more buddy, buddy with Intel, share designs and create a Duopoly/cartel on the CPU market.