This is just a theory based on speculation, but it occurred to me that perhaps part of the reason nvidia isn't pushing the boundaries as much as we'd all hoped (with the 9-series and 200 series) is that they want to allow AMD breathing space so that AMD can stand up to Intel in the CPU department?
I mean, if nvidia could actually make a decision "let's try to stay just ahead of the Radeons, so that we make money but don't crush them" then it would seem that a good rationale for that would be that it would give AMD the strength to turn the heat up on Intel's CPU dominance so that Intel doesn't wipe the floor with both Amd AND nvidia with the combination of their huge CPU lead and investment into the graphics sector with Larrabee.
Basically, my theory is:
Nvidia gives AMD ATI room to breathe
AMD has the confidence and funding to put more money against Intel
Intel is put on the defensive in the CPU sector, need to spend more money on research
Intel has less clout / less of a threat in the graphics arena.
I know I sort of sound like an nvidia fanboy because I'm assuming that nvidia is capable of more performance than they have dished out. So let me just say that I think 4870 and 4850's are amazing cards. But I'm just curious if this sort of strategic thinking is a possibility in the nvidia camp. My understanding of the way corporations work isn't the best, and I know this is a sort of simplistic theory but I'm wondering if on some level this is going on.
I mean, if nvidia could actually make a decision "let's try to stay just ahead of the Radeons, so that we make money but don't crush them" then it would seem that a good rationale for that would be that it would give AMD the strength to turn the heat up on Intel's CPU dominance so that Intel doesn't wipe the floor with both Amd AND nvidia with the combination of their huge CPU lead and investment into the graphics sector with Larrabee.
Basically, my theory is:
Nvidia gives AMD ATI room to breathe
AMD has the confidence and funding to put more money against Intel
Intel is put on the defensive in the CPU sector, need to spend more money on research
Intel has less clout / less of a threat in the graphics arena.
I know I sort of sound like an nvidia fanboy because I'm assuming that nvidia is capable of more performance than they have dished out. So let me just say that I think 4870 and 4850's are amazing cards. But I'm just curious if this sort of strategic thinking is a possibility in the nvidia camp. My understanding of the way corporations work isn't the best, and I know this is a sort of simplistic theory but I'm wondering if on some level this is going on.