chip

Details of AMD's manufacturing plans around the corner

AMD could finally be getting ready to explain how it intends to build chips in the future, almost a year after dropping hints that it would revamp its manufacturing strategy.

Hans Mosesmann, an analyst with Raymond James, believes AMD is about to reveal a new manufacturing strategy that will attempt to take some of the formidable costs out of making chips. Mosesmann thinks that AMD is considering spinning out its manufacturing operations as part of a joint venture with another company, making greater use of partners such as IBM and Chartered Semiconductor, or some such combination.

An AMD representative declined … Read more

AMD announces updates to Phenom chip line

As had been expected, AMD on Wednesday announced updates to its Phenom processor line, including four new high-end quad-core chips it claims "can improve performance for gaming and multi-threaded applications," according to a company release. Among those new chips is the Phenom X4 9850, which CNET has already reviewed.

The chipmaker also announced that it is shipping its triple-core Phenom processors, a first for the PC market, as Brooke Crothers of CNET's Blogger Network details in a related blog post.

The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company further announced what it calls "the world's first energy-efficient desktop … Read more

Intel chooses 'Atom' name for new chips

Intel announced Sunday that is has chosen the name "Atom" for a new family of ultra-small chips.

The "Atom" moniker will be applied to a family of chips with two members that are expected to be released later this quarter. One--previously know as Silverthorne--is a low-power mobile processor destined for the next generation of mobile Internet devices. It incorporates a new low-power state, allowing it to essentially shut down in between processing tasks and limit power consumption.

The other, code-named Diamondville, is a single-core processor for ultra-low-cost laptops. Intel refers to the low-cost notebook design … Read more

Gadgettes 77: The Songs Of Gadgettes Episode

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No links today... just a bunch of random clips. You're welcome!

Intel still optimistic despite some economic uncertainty

Though cable news pundits may predict hard times ahead, reports from IBM and Intel for 2008 show the technology industry isn't ready to mimic the banking industry's financial woes just yet.

Intel announced its second consecutive record-breaking quarter Tuesday, though earnings just barely met the company's own projections.

The chipmaker reported its highest-ever fourth-quarter revenue of $10.7 billion and earnings of 38 cents per share. Intel set expectations for this quarter at between $10.5 billion and $11.1 billion, while analysts were anticipating revenue of $10.8 billion and earnings between 38 cents and 44 … Read more

AMD expects sizable write-down for declining value of ATI purchase

Advanced Micro Devices said Wednesday it expects in the fourth quarter to take a sizable write-down for the declining value of intangible assets related to its $5.4 billion acquisition of graphics chipmaker ATI Technologies.

AMD, in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, said it doesn't yet know the exact size of the write-down but expects it to be "material"--or in other words, substantial--when it concludes its review.

The chipmaker said it's planning to write off the value it assigned to the ATI acquisition that was above the actual value of ATI's assets, otherwise … Read more

Photos: Nvidia's weekend gameaway

Nvidia is hosting a weekend-long party to celebrate the release of Electronic Arts' Crysis, and gamers from around the San Francisco Bay Area are spending all hours competing for prizes and respect in a desolate warehouse at the former Alameda Naval Air Station.

Several hundred gamers are expected to attend and compete in tournaments playing Crysis, Team Fortress 2, and Madden NFL '08. Nvidia also unveiled a new processor for notebooks during the event at the Area 51 Events Center, which included a look at the state of the PC gaming industry.

For gamers who run out of steam, the … Read more

Qualcomm likely to avoid another chip ban

Qualcomm has likely dodged a bullet that could have halted the import of some of its chips into the United States.

On Friday, the company said a judge recommended putting an end to an investigation conducted by the U.S. International Trade Commission that is looking into complaints filed by handset maker Nokia against Qualcomm.

Nokia, which sells more mobile phones than any other manufacturer in the world, asked the ITC in August to ban imports of phones that included Qualcomm chips that Nokia says infringe on its patents. The patents are related to technology that enhances device performance, lowers … Read more

Novellus sued for racial bias

The federal government is suing seminconductor company Novellus for discrimination and racial bias on behalf of an African-American employee who says he was forced to leave his job after complaining about a fellow worker's racially insensitive behavior.

Assembly technician Michael Cooke complained to his bosses about a fellow employee who listened to and sang along to rap lyrics aloud, which included slurs against African-Americans.

"That kind of language pains me. The N-word is not something I take lightly," Cooke told the San Francisco Chronicle.

When his co-worker's behavior did not stop and Cooke complained again, Cooke … Read more