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Except that we're really running AMD's x64 ISA, not Intel's, so this moat concept doesn't really fit with the reality. Intel clearly thought x86s days were over
by cesaref 2y ago
Except that we're really running AMD's x64 ISA, not Intel's, so this moat concept doesn't really fit with the reality. Intel clearly thought x86s days were over when they started their 64 bit Itanium effort, and then quickly (and luckily) managed to get back into having a competitive x64 implementation when they realised they had backed the looser. I'm actually quite impressed with how they pivoted as lesser companies would have had trouble ditching that sort of investment.
- Cold_Miserable 2y agoBiased article. 14nm was delayed and 10nm was delayed by 4 years.
- dralley 2y agoIt's a moat around both AMD and Intel, since they're really the only two that can compete, due to the cross-licensing deal.
- The_Colonel 2y agoVIA also has a "dormant" license, potentially willing to sell.
- dralley 2y agoI thought the VIA license was only for Intel IP, which makes it kind of useless. Especially given a lot of patents are expiring soon.
- timw4mail 2y agoThat can't be the case, as the Zhaoxin CPUs have the same kinds of instructions as similar Intel chips, including those cross-licensed from AMD, like the 64bit instruction set.
- fourfour3 2y agoThat license is what https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhaoxin https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhaoxin use to produce their x86 chips, now.