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Part of this is that AMD is using TSMC’s ‘7nm’ process, which is comparable to intel’s delayed 10nm. Development of that process was funded by Apple (as they us
by agloeregrets 7y ago
Part of this is that AMD is using TSMC’s ‘7nm’ process, which is comparable to intel’s delayed 10nm. Development of that process was funded by Apple (as they use it for the A12/A13). So the pairing of AMD and Apple can out spend and out develop intel.
- phatfish 7y agoIs this really true? It seems very unlike Apple to let another company profit from their funding. Surely TCSM already had the tech and they are just licensing it to both AMD and Apple?
- wongarsu 7y agoIt's developed by TSMC, but you can argue that they developed it primarily to offer it to Apple. In that sense you can say Apple paid for it, just by singlehandedly making the investment worth it.
- agloeregrets 7y agoExactly. Apple said “if you do X we will pay Y” in that sense, Apple put the money up to cover development costs.
- gameswithgo 7y agoapple has TMSC build their chips. amd has TMSC build their chips. apple doesn't quite have to clout to tell TMSC not to build chips for anyone else.
- chungus_khan 7y agoIt also doesn't benefit them in any way to do so. AMD doesn't make any products that compete directly with anything they make, and is their primary provider of dedicated Macintosh graphics hardware.
- gameswithgo 7y agogood point, it is probably a win win to have more money in the node.
- agloeregrets 7y agoTo top it off, AMD competing well with intel reduces the price of parts Apple puts in Intel Macs.
- thechao 7y agoMy brother has a bankrupt after market motorbike company; that company—combined with Apple—can outspend Intel.