Processors

Apple's rise to test Intel's next CEO

The success of the iPad and iPhone is a problem for Intel's next CEO.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini seems to be exiting in the nick of time. His successor will face an increasingly hostile world of customers like Apple fashioning chips for their own purposes.

Apple is a big Intel customer. Macs are all Intel-based. Problem is, most of Apple's growth is happening in tablets and phones.

This is not a trivial issue for Intel. As Apple ships more iPhones and iPads, more R&D and money flow to Apple's internal chip development -- in the … Read more

Otellini's legacy at Intel: Plentiful profits, mobile misfires

When Intel CEO Paul Otellini retires in May, he'll leave a mixed record.

On the one hand, Intel's processor manufacturing prowess remains second to none, with the company often introducing new miniaturization technology years ahead of rivals. As ever more companies withdraw from chip manufacturing, Intel manages to keep turning the crank profitably. During Otellini's reign, Intel has so far generated $107 billion in cash from operations and paid dividends of $23.5 billion.

But Intel also has failed to come to terms with a powerful force in the processor world -- the rise of mobile devices … Read more

Intel CEO Paul Otellini will retire in May

Intel's Paul Otellini will retire from his post as president and CEO in May 2013, the chipmaker announced today.

The time frame will give the board of directors almost six months to look for the right person to succeed Otellini. The board said that it's open to either internal or external candidates for the job, a sign that the company doesn't appear to have anyone specific in mind at this point.

Otellini's retirement will close the door on almost 40 years of employment with Intel.

"Paul Otellini has been a very strong leader, only the … Read more

AMD reportedly hires bank to explore options such as a sale

Struggling chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices has reportedly hired J.P. Morgan to help it explore strategic options -- in other words, to look at possibly breaking up its operations or selling the entire company.

Reuters reported that an outright sale of the company isn't a priority and that AMD may consider selling its patent portfolio.

A person familiar with the situation told CNET that AMD has worked with J.P. Morgan, but it's not considering selling the company.

An AMD spokesman, meanwhile, said that "AMD is not actively pursuing a sale of the company or significant assets … Read more

Intel's 60-core chip ships; elites like Hawking get it first

Intel's first 60-core chip is here, but only elite institutions like Cambridge University will get early access.

The chip, generally called Phi, isn't your typical Intel processor. It's less like a central processing unit (CPU) -- which is the chipmaker's bread and butter -- and more akin to a graphics processing unit (GPU) that works in conjunction with the CPU.

In fact, Intel tried to bring out a consumer GPU card called "Larrabee" based on the technology but canceled the project in 2009.

But the company still needs the technology to compete with Nvidia … Read more

Titan steals No. 1 spot on Top500 supercomputer list

Predictions that Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Titan supercomputer had become the most powerful machine in the world have turned out to be right.

The machine, powered by Nvidia graphics processors and Advanced Micro Devices computer chips, stole the No. 1 spot on the Top500's list from another U.S. machine, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Sequoia.

Sequoia, which uses processors from IBM, became the top computer in June with a performance of 16.32 petaflops a second. Titan beat that showing, sending Sequoia to second place on the list, with a result of 17.59 petaflops per second. … Read more

Samsung to Apple: Our chips will cost you more

Samsung has hiked the price of its mobile processors by 20 percent, but to only one of the Korean technology giant's customers: Apple.

The report comes from The Wall Street Journal's MarketWatch, citing a person familiar with the negotiations between the two smartphone and tablet makers.

According to the report, Samsung requested an increase in the price of the mobile "application" processor supplied to Apple, which the Cupertino, Calif.-based technology giant was forced to swallow as only Samsung provides the specific hardware required to make the shiny rectangles of various sizes work properly. … Read more

Apple aims to dodge 'Intel tax' (Q&A)

Apple has become a formidable chip designer with its A series chips. And that's probably not good news for Intel, says a chip expert.

I asked Nathan Brookwood, principal analyst an Insight 64, about the shifting dynamics of the relationship that began in 2006, when Apple dropped the PowerPC for its Mac line.

Brookwood said, in effect, that if you reduce the relationship to the fact that Apple must continue to pay an "Intel tax" for chip designs it doesn't control, the future is not very cheery.

Q: What is the significance of Apple's A6 … Read more

Intel's tiny desktop PC for DIYers coming this month

Online retailers will begin selling a 4.5-inch-wide Intel-branded desktop PC for do-it-yourselfers later this month.

The product name is a mouthful -- the "Next Unit of Computing," or NUC for short.

"It's geared more to home theater/home media center," said Intel spokesperson Dan Snyder. One usage scenario he suggested: slap it on the back of a wide-screen display (see photo below).

But note: as Anandtech points out, it is truly a bare-bones system aimed at DIYers. … Read more