Is AMD Switching Foundry Camps?

[HardOCP News]

Reports have surfaced claiming AMD and TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.) have signed a major foundry deal in the microprocessor sector.

In a research note, FBR said that TSMC may boost its capital spending after "winning high-end CPU biz from AMD." Under the plan, TSMC would make 45-nm processors on a foundry basis for AMD, with "volume ramp in 2Q '08," according to the firm.

 

[Blacklash]

You fellows may wish to add this somewhere on the forum or front page:

Dave Orton has officially resigned from AMD:

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070710/20070710005460.html?.v=1

 

[SpoogeMonkey]

Hopefully this is true, it's one of the smarter business plans amd has had in a while. Outsourcing the manufacturing of their products will eliminate the need to constantly upgrade/build new fab plants and allow them to quickly jump into the 45nm game.

 

[D-OveRMinD]

TechReport says no. http://www.techreport.com/

AMD spokes person said the rumors are untrue. Which is sad because all the money AMD is spending on buying people but not on production would lead me to think they would be augmenting it some other way.

But Sony said last week they weren't cutting the PS3's price, too.

 

[Manny Calavera]

You fellows may wish to add this somewhere on the forum or front page:

Dave Orton has officially resigned from AMD:

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070710/20070710005460.html?.v=1

Good riddance ! Now if they can fire the whole board of directors... This is a half decent start if nothing else.AMD needs new blood !

edit: who is correct on the first post ? This sounds good for AMDati,but is it true ?

 

[ICE_9]

Sounds to me like he is getting out while the gettin is good.

 

[Lou Ceifer]

Sorry folks, but far too many people are speaking out the rear orifice on the AMD and TSMC deal. All the deal is is nothing more than a renewal of thier former ATI manufacturing services, namely for AMD's new chipsets and GPUs. TSMC's fabs from what I understand are not capable of producing next gen K10's period, they are not up to 45nm(maybe 65nm though) nor are they using immersion.(which will be a key point to AMD's 45nm process they are working in conjunction with IBM on)

As far as Dave Orton's resignation goes, I fear the ultimate responsibility of lackluster performance and late release schedule of the R600 rests firmly on his shoulders. I believe he took his option to resign in the ATI aquisition agreement due to that particular factor.(since it's been nearly a year since the beginning of the aquisition) Since AMD is promoting individuals in thier ATI division and within AMD to cover his position, hopefully this will payoff as the right decision due to their experience within the company, Lord knows they can't afford any other major execution mistakes as a company right now.