AMD

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Sunnyvale, California, United States, that develops computer processors and related technologies for commercial and consumer markets. While initially it manufactured its own processors, the company became fabless after GlobalFoundries was spun off in 2009. AMD's main products include microprocessors, motherboard chipsets, embedded processors and graphics processors for servers, workstations and personal computers, and embedded systems applications.

AMD is the second-largest global supplier of microprocessors based on the x86 architecture and also one of the largest suppliers of graphics processing units. It also owns 8.6% of Spansion, a supplier of non-volatile flash memory.[6]

AMD is the only significant rival to Intel in the central processor (CPU) market for (x86 based) personal computers. Since acquiring ATI in 2006, AMD and its competitor Nvidia have dominated the discrete graphics processor unit (GPU) market.

Timeline: How AMD changed over the past 39 years

The 1960s to 2000s

1969: A group of former executives of Fairchild Semiconductor, including Jerry Sanders, found Advanced Micro Devices on May 1, 1969, with and initial investment of $100,000.

The company’s focus was the design of logic chips.

1970: AMD introduces the Am2501 logic counter, its first proprietary device.

1972: AMD goes public.

1975: AMD enters the RAM chip business, reverse-engineers the Intel 8080 microprocessor and creates bit-slice processor elements for minicomputer designs.

1979: AMD joins the New York Stock Exchange and opens its new manufacturing facility in Austin, Texas.

1982: AMD becomes an Intel-licensed second-source microprocessor supplier of 8086 and 8088 chips for IBM. AMD creates the 80286 clone called Am286, based upon Intel's design and microcode.

1985: ATI (later acquired by AMD) develops its first graphics controller and first graphics board product. AMD enters the Fortune 500 list.

1986: Intel cancels its license agreement with AMD and refuses to divulge technical details of the i386. An eight-year legal battle follows.

1987: AMD acquires Monolithic Memories and enters the programmable logic business.

1988: AMD established the AMD Submicron Development Center which would later supply next-generation technology to all AMD fabs worldwide.

1991: AMD debuts a reverse-engineered alternative to the Intel 386 processor dubbed Am386, which sold more than one million units in less than one year.

1993: AMD launches Intel 486 processor clone Am486. NOR Flash joint venture with Fujitsu founded.

1994: AMD lands major long-term deal with Compaq to supply Am486 processors.

1992: ATI subsidiary in Germany established, the first VESA and PCI products brought to market and Mach32 unveiled, ATI's first graphics controller and accelerator on a single chip.

1994: Legal fight with Intel over the 386 chip ends and the Supreme Court of California sides with AMD.

1995: K6 launches as Intel Pentium rival and first independently designed CPU.

1996: AMD acquires microprocessor company NexGen for rights to their Nx series of x86-compatible processors, a move that put AMD into direct competition with Intel in the microprocessor market. Plans of construction of Fab 30 in Dresden, Germany, announced.

1997: AMD introduces the K6 processor as an answer to Intel’s Pentium II.

1998: K6-2 launched. AMD announces partnership with Motorola to co-develop a copper-based semiconductor technology that would become the foundation for the K7 manufacturing process.

1999: AMD debuts the Athlon (K7) microprocessor. The processor was designed by a former DEC team led by Dirk Meyer who was one of lead DEC Alpha engineers and would become AMD CEO in 2008. AMD demonstrates the first 1 GHz processor at 1016 MHz.

The 2000s

2000: AMD unveils mobile AMD-K6-2+ processors with power management. Jerry Sanders recruits the president of Motorola's semiconductor business, Hector Ruiz, to become AMD's president and COO. ATI acquires ArtX and integrates its future CEO Dave Orton into the company. ATI introduces its Radeon series of graphics cards. AMD begins revenue shipments from its 200 mm Fab 30 in Dresden.

2001: AMD intros the Athlon MP, its first workstation processor. HyperTransport is adopted by Agilent, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, IBM, nVidia, Sun, and Texas Instruments.

2002: AMD acquires Alchemy Semiconductor and its low-power, embedded processor technology. The Athlon XP integrates AMD’s Cool'n'Quiet technology. Hector Ruiz succeeded AMD co-founder Jerry Sanders.

2003: AMD and IBM partner on future generation manufacturing technologies. 64-bit technology debuts with Athlon 64 and Opteron processors, the company’s first true server processor. AMD acquires National Semiconductor’s x86 business and announces a strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems. AMD and Fujitsu form a new flash joint-venture called Spansion.

2004: AMD demonstrated its first x86 dual-core processor and establishes subsidiary in China with Beijing HQ.

2005: Turion 64 for notebooks as well as the dual-core Athlon 64 X2 and dual-core Opteron processors are announced. 300 mm Fab 36 in Dresden, Germany opens. AMD files antitrust litigation against Intel for illegally abusing its monopoly to exclude and limit competition. Spansion goes public.

2006: AMD announces $5.4 billion merger with ATI and announces plans for the 2010 Fusion processor. ATI CEO Dave Orton is named Executive VP of Visual and Media Businesses. Dell announced AMD-based systems. AMD demonstrates its quad-core x86 server processor based on the Barcelona core and establishes Shanghai Research and Development Center to focus on mobile platforms.AMD transitions to 65 nm CPUs and promises to reduce the manufacturing distance to Intel. Production plans of 32 nm fab in New York State announced.

2007: Dave Orton resigns. Opteron and Phenom quad-core processor launch with TLB bug. AMD announces triple-core CPUs, claims first 45 nm processors manufactured. The company loses billions of dollars in a processor price war with Intel in an effort to retain its market share.

2008: AMD introduces triple-core processors and launches its 4800 of graphics cards. The second generation of Barcelona Opteron processors without TLB bug. AMD begins selling non-core businesses as well as 200 mm manufacturing assets. Production of first 45 nm processor started. President and COO Dirk Meyer replaces Hector Ruiz as CEO. AMD announces to split into two companies – a chip manufacturing company and a chip design firm.

AMD-originated architectures

AM2900 SERIES

In February 1982, AMD signed a contract with Intel, becoming a licensed second-source manufacturer of 8086 and 8088 processors. IBM wanted to use the Intel 8088 in its IBM PC, but IBM's policy at the time was to require at least two sources for its chips. AMD later produced the Am286 under the same arrangement, but Intel canceled the agreement in 1986 and refused to convey technical details of the i386 part. AMD challenged Intel's decision to cancel the agreement and won in arbitration, but Intel disputed this decision. A long legal dispute followed, ending in 1994 when the Supreme Court of California sided with AMD. Subsequent legal disputes centered on whether AMD had legal rights to use derivatives of Intel's microcode. In the face of uncertainty, AMD was forced to develop clean room designed versions of Intel code.

In 1991, AMD released the Am386, its clone of the Intel 386 processor. It took less than a year for the company to sell a million units. Later, the Am486 was used by a number of large original equipment manufacturers, including Compaq, and proved popular. Another Am486-based product, the Am5x86, continued AMD's success as a low-price alternative. However, as product cycles shortened in the PC industry, the process of reverse engineering Intel's products became an ever less viable strategy for AMD.

AM286

The Am286 was one of the results of this contract, earlier examples being the AMD versions of the 8086, 8088, 80186 and 80188.

Essentially just an 80286, the Am286 was in reality Intel-designed all the way, pin and instruction compatible, based upon Intel's microcode. The chip was later sold by AMD as an embedded processor. It had an advantage over its Intel brethren: a higher clock speed. Intel’s 286s topped out at 12.5 MHz before they switched production to the i386, but AMD continued the production of 286 CPUs and had a 16 MHz version of the 286 for sale in August 1987, later even offering a 20 MHz version.

Am286

A 68-pin PLCC Am286-12 in a CPU socket

Produced From 1984 to 1990

Marketed by AMD

Designed by Intel

Common

manufacturer(s)

AMD

Max. CPU clock rate 8 MHz to 20 MHz

FSB speeds 8 MHz to 20 MHz

Min. feature size 1.5 µm

Instruction set x86 (IA-16)

Microarchitecture 80286

Cores 1

L1 cache Motherboard

dependent

L2 cache none

Application Desktop, Embedded

Predecessor Am86

Am186

Successor Am386

Package(s) 68-pin CLCC

68-pin PLCC

68-pin PGA

AM386

The Am386 CPU was a 100%-compatible clone of the Intel 80386 design released by AMD in 1991. It sold millions of units, positioning AMD as a legitimate competitor to Intel, rather than being merely a second source for x86 CPUs (then termed 8086-family)

Am386

An AMD 80386DX-40 in a 132-pin PQFP, soldered onboard

Produced 1991

Marketed by AMD

Designed by AMD

Common manufacturer(s)AMD

Max. CPU clock rate 20 MHz to 40 MHz

FSB speeds 20 Mhz to 40 Mhz

Min. feature size 1.5 µm to 0.8 µm

Instruction set x86 (IA-32)

Microarchitecture 80386

Product code 23936

Cores 1

L1 cache Motherboard dependent

L2 cache none

Application Desktop, Embedded (DE-Models)

Predecessor Am286

Successor Am486

Package(s) DX variant:

132-pin PGA

132-pin PQFP

SX variant:

88-pin PGA

100-pin PQFP

AM486

The Am486 is a 80486-class family of computer processors that was produced by AMD in the 1990s. Intel beat AMD to market by nearly four years, but AMD priced its 40 MHz 486 at or below Intel's price for a 33 MHz chip, offering about 20% better performance for the same price.

The Am5x86 processor is an x86-compatible CPU introduced in 1995 by AMD for use in 486-class computer systems. It was one of the fastest, and most universally compatible upgrade paths for users of 486 systems.

Introduced in November 1995, the Am5x86 (also known as 5x86-133, Am5x86, X5-133, and sold under various 3rd-party labels such as the Kingston Technology "Turbochip") is an Enhanced Am486 processor with an internally set multiplier of 4, allowing it to run at 133 MHz on systems without official support for clock-multiplied DX2 or DX4 486 processors. Like all Enhanced Am486, the Am5x86 featured write-back L1 cache, and unlike all but a few, a generous 16 kilobytes rather than the more common 8 KB. A rare 150 MHz-rated OEM part was also released by AMD.

An early Am5x86-P75 for Socket 3, model ADW

Produced From November 1995 to 1999

Marketed by AMD

Designed by AMD

Common

manufacturer(s)

AMD

Max. CPU clock rate 133 MHz to 150 MHz

FSB speeds 25 MT/s to 33 MT/s

Min. feature size 0.35 µm

Instruction set x86 (IA-32)

Cores 1

L1 cache 4-way associative 16 KiBunified code and

data,write-back or write-through.

L2 cache Motherboard dependent

L3 cache none

Predecessor Am486

Successor AMD K5

Socket(s) Socket 1 (with voltage regulator)

Socket 2 (with voltage regulator)

Socket 3

Package(s) 168-pin PGA

208-pin SQFP

AM29000 SERIES

The AMD 29000, often simply 29k, was a popular family of 32-bit RISC microprocessors and microcontrollers developed and fabricated by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). They were, for a time, the most popular RISC chips on the market, widely used in laser printers from a variety of manufacturers. In late 1995 AMD dropped development of the 29k because the design team was transferred to support the PC side of the business. What remained of AMD's embedded business was realigned towards the embedded 186 family of 80186 derivatives. The majority of AMD's resources were then concentrated on their high-performance, desktop x86 clones, using many of the ideas and individual parts of the latest 29k to produce the AMD K5.