Nvidia may merge into AMD as ATI did. - voogru.com

Balemur · #1 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

A little summary to clear up what's going on. Intel has been winning the war in CPU's since their Core2duo chipset was released. Intel has been talking for several years now about getting into graphics. They originally were going to buy ATI but AMD closed the deal and ATI merged with AMD. So then Intel turned to Nvidia, formed a little alliance, and instead of merging with Nvidia Intel is going to officially start creating their own video card line named "Larrabee".

So, as several articles has stated, ATI's new 4800 line is by far more efficient than any current or past graphics card to date. The current talk is about Nvidia merging into AMD so instead of having 2 different CPU companies and 2, soon to be 3, video companies. It may be purely AMD vs. Intel or "Daamvidia" vs. "Larrabee". The overall thinking is "There can be only one." Uniting three big companies, AMD, ATI, and Nvidia, may make a stronger match than whatever Intel has planned.

AMD's "Torrenza" seems like a really neat idea. It sounds similar to that of Ageia's Physx cards but with several steps taken further.

"Torrenza - accelerator enabling technology that connects into the AMD64 fabric. Torrenza could facilitate the acceleration of FLOPs, XML, gaming physics or whatever the market demands. AMD claimed that Torrenza enables its partners to build the most exciting solutions in history. With its ATI acquisition, the company is now a co-processor accelerator player as well."

Why AMD should merge with Nvidia - The INQUIRER

Kenpachi · #2 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

I look forward to seeing the product of the cards that appear. Intel have a shit load of money, so it probably won't be that hard for them to compete with ATI, AMD, and NVidia, though the trio should turn out to be an extremely strong alliance. I just hope it doesn't become one company dominating the market with no competition, cause thats when you see prices start to rise.

Heimdal · #3 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

won't happen

SoBe Green · #4 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

Ditto ^

Warden · #5 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

no offense, but i loled when i saw this post. Even though amd/ati may have won this round of the gpu war, it doesnt mean its over. Besides, ati/nvidia have a HUGE jump on intel that i seriously doubt intel will make much of a splash unless they pull something out of their ass.

Mr Poopy Pants · #6 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

I bet Intel will become a power house with video cards in the next few years, and it is too early to see what nVidia will do.

Balemur · #7 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

Several possible merges happened in the past and never successfully happened. Maybe this is another one of those but compared to Intel, neither AMD nor Nvidia have much money. If it weren't for anti-trust violations, Intel would probably buy AMD and Nvidia out.

The same goes for AMD. Until Intel releases their new video card series any AMD/Nvidia merge would be considered an anti-trust violation.

You never know but Intel may end up buying Nvidia, and if not, then I believe AMD/ATI will merge with Nvidia.

G2 · #8 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balemur

Several possible merges happened in the past and never successfully happened. Maybe this is another one of those but compared to Intel, neither AMD nor Nvidia have much money. If it weren't for anti-trust violations, Intel would probably buy AMD and Nvidia out.

The same goes for AMD. Until Intel releases their new video card series any AMD/Nvidia merge would be considered an anti-trust violation.

You never know but Intel may end up buying Nvidia, and if not, then I believe AMD/ATI will merge with Nvidia.

Intel already produces video cards, therefore no anti-trust.

Balemur · #9 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by G2

Intel already produces video cards, therefore no anti-trust.

Intel isn't considered to be a major contender yet and most of their "video cards" are integrated into motherboards. Once they become a major contender then there will be no more anti-trust issues.

SoBe Green · #10 (**permalink**) 08-08-2008

Also make note of your news source which is one known to pretty much post anything small as news and make it sound like its in the up and coming or current goings of things. Not saying they are always wrong just usually off the mark.

Onlyasandwich · #11 (**permalink**) 08-09-2008

Well hell, nobody thought we'd see the last of the old voodoo cards either. Remember when the TNT2 was nvidia's little up and coming baby boy? Who knows what might actually happen? I for one will be glad if intel puts on a serious face for this. With their wads of cash and intellectual capital, I'm sure intel can come out with a worthy competition for old atinvidia.

Either way we get pretty new video cards...maybe even smooth-running, perfect, purring drivers sometime along the way!

UnfuN · #12 (**permalink**) 08-11-2008

I'm definitely a fan of AMD, but a also a fan of Nvidia. I have nothing against ATI, but Nvidia won me over with the "bang for the buck" attitude back when they were the underdogs. Now, it seems ATI has that attitude, so I've been looking at their chips more.

I have friends that work for Project Offset, who were acquired by Intel. They tell me that the "Larrabee" has a huge amount of potential. They should know cause it's what they are working on/with. In short, I would think twice about buying any new video card at the moment.

AsYLuM-DeMoN · #13 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008

Few reasons I can list as to why this won't happen.

#1 AMD Can't afford to buy nVidia. They are worth too much.
#2 Intel does not have a good relationship with nvidia at all. So seeing Intel buy nvidia isn't gonna happen.
#3 As for one company dominating that won't happen as that would start a monopoly in which the government would step in and help the falling company.
#4 Don't really understand why AMD would want to buy nvidia even if they could afford it if they bought ATI.

If anyone could buy nvidia and make it work out well would be IBM. They have experience, the technology, and the money. There was an article about who could buy nvidia and make it work not too long ago at Toms Hardware. I can't find it right now but it's there.

Mr Poopy Pants · #14 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AsYLuM-DeMoN

Few reasons I can list as to why this won't happen.

#1 AMD Can't afford to buy nVidia. They are worth too much.
#2 Intel does not have a good relationship with nvidia at all. So seeing Intel buy nvidia isn't gonna happen.
#3 As for one company dominating that won't happen as that would start a monopoly in which the government would step in and help the falling company.
#4 Don't really understand why AMD would want to buy nvidia even if they could afford it if they bought ATI.

...

#1. Its merger, as in 2 companies becoming one not one company eating another (aka corporate takeover buyout). This is kinda like Square Soft and Enix merging to be Square Enix)
#2. Old news.
#3. Government do not help failing businesses to stop monopolies. Once a monopoly occurs they break the company down into many different companies, kinda like AT&T Bell or Standard Oil.
#4. AMD is probably not interested in nVidia now, period. They may of at one time (when they were deciding on how to get into the GPU market, hence ATI buyout) .

You have a good point with IBM though, they could buy out nVidia if they wanted to get into the GPU market. But why would they since they have such a strong foothold on business computing? If things keep going the way they are going with nVidia, with recent lines of GPU's having issues, then who knows what may happen to the video giant.

But what do I know.

AsYLuM-DeMoN · #15 (**permalink**) 08-15-2008

Whoops. Guess I shouldn't post when I'm tired and have been working on my computer the last week.