AMDs Phenom II Processors to Reach End of Life

[IPlayNaked]

Originally Posted by Denial

Yeah because they'd have the choice of buying AMD processors. If AMD didn't exist, you wouldn't have that choice, you'd buy Intel CPU's for increased prices.

Originally Posted by IcE

When you have no competition there's a pretty high ceiling you can stick the prices at before people actually won't be able to afford to buy your products.

But saying people won't buy them because they disagree with the price is silly, everyone needs computers. This is 2012.

High end, yes.

Consumer level, tablet and notebook variants with ARM processors become more popular. Hell, honestly, that's already happening, with AMD and Intel both.

Because, quite frankly, on a browser or simple productivity level, there's nothing a good ARM processor can't do at this point.

[Mannerheim]

Old days.. Intel Pentiums cost like arm and leg. AMD come with socket 7 CPU (AMD K6) and got quite good market share. Lot cheaper than Intel.
IF AMD woud go bankcrypt.. we woud have to pay 700€ for damn celeron.

[Denial]

Well the thing you have to ask about monopolies is, does it actually hurt the consumer? At the moment I think we'd all agree that Intel definitely has a commanding presence in the market, but that really hasn't stopped that from innovating. They just built a $5B facility in Arizona, that's more than all of what AMD currently worth. They've been developing new technologies on multiple fronts and their products are pretty much top notch in every single division they own. If AMD was to suddenly go belly up, I have a feeling it wouldn't really stop Intel from doing it's current thing. Prices may go up slightly, but Intel could definitely function solo and I still personally think we'd get good products out of them. Eventually some company would obviously step up to complete, but I really wouldn't see any government forcing them to break up, at least not for a long time.

[Gromuhl'Djun]

Originally Posted by Denial

Well the thing you have to ask about monopolies is, does it actually hurt the consumer? At the moment I think we'd all agree that Intel definitely has a commanding presence in the market, but that really hasn't stopped that from innovating.

Where does it have a monopoly? If Intel had a monopoly it would be bad, but it hasn't, that's why they still innovate, as they have to.
Especially now that platforms shift. The standard home pc market is becoming relatively smaller with the new phone/tablet market. Intel cannot afford to act like a monopolist, as they would price themself out of the market. If standard pc's would become that much more expensive than other types of computers, who would buy them? If a consumer pc costs $4000 (like they used to once upon a time) and a tablet or android pc costs $400 which can do all the things most people want to do on a computer anyway, what do you think will happen?

[Denial]

Originally Posted by Gromuhl'Djun

Where does it have a monopoly? If Intel had a monopoly it would be bad, but it hasn't, that's why they still innovate, as they have to.
Especially now that platforms shift. The standard home pc market is becoming relatively smaller with the new phone/tablet market. Intel cannot afford to act like a monopolist, as they would price themself out of the market. If standard pc's would become that much more expensive than other types of computers, who would buy them? If a consumer pc costs $4000 (like they used to once upon a time) and a tablet or android pc costs $400 which can do all the things most people want to do on a computer anyway, what do you think will happen?

I didn't say it has a monopoly, in fact my first post said the exact opposite. What I said is that they have a commanding presence. They can easily set their processor prices way lower, subsidize the cost with their other products, and drive AMD out of business overnight and still probably post record breaking profit while doing so. That gives them leeway in terms of spending their money in things like R&D.

Anyway, my point is, as long as Intel continues on the path they are going now, even if AMD does go belly up, I doubt the US would seriously consider "Ma Belling" Intel to death. It only makes sense to break up monopolies when it's actually effecting the customer, in Intel's case, despite being heavily in the lead in multiple areas, they show no signs of slowing. Not to mention the fact that investors probably wouldn't like seeing the company get split, seeing as they pay out an insane amount of money to stock holders ($112 Billion since it's inception)

[Black_ice_Spain]

Guys, you should leave gaming, AMD still has very good options in CPUs (and server class ones), not for gaming tho, PHII is the best perf/$$.

[Gromuhl'Djun]

Oh? I game quite a lot on my windows tablet with AMD C-50

[IcE]

Originally Posted by Black_ice_Spain

Guys, you should leave gaming, AMD still has very good options in CPUs (and server class ones), not for gaming tho, PHII is the best perf/$$.

Phenom II still games fine. I can only think of three games in my library when I compared with a 2600K where I was like WOW. And even then the Phenom II performs admirably.

[The Chubu]

Originally Posted by Gromuhl'Djun

Where does it have a monopoly?

Intel has like... 8 times more people than AMD? You cant seriously think Intel is actually under pressure to "compete" with AMD. AMD's main function right now is preventing Intel from getting sued in international courts for having a monopoly.

Im dead sure that Intel could start selling their CPUs at 100 USD less and leave AMD in ruins in two years.

Don't take me wrong, I was this close from getting a 990 mb + PII x6 combo instead of this i5 build, but it looks to me that every market "edge" that AMD had has been an artificial one, created by Intel's unwillingness to lower its prices among others.

[Pill Monster]

Phenom II's still have plenty of life left, shame to see them reach EOL before their time.

Trying to find a Thuban or Zosma is proving difficult in NZ.

Saw a 2nd hand 1090 go for $334 after some intense bidding this week - that's $30 more than a brand new 8150!

Go figure...

[INSTG8R]

AMD just need to keep focus on their APUs. That is something they are doing well with that Intel can't touch right now.

[Pill Monster]

The IGP is great, now AMD just need to work on the CPU side of things.

I considered an APU for a home office system I just completed, but went with the i3 instead because of the stronger CPU......

APU's make good HTPC processors tho...