AMD

Guide Note

AMD, or Advanced Micro Devices, is a company that specializes in the production of microprocessors and related technologies. They design microprocessors for desktops, laptops, workstations, servers, and also for other handheld devices. They are currently the second largest producer of microprocessors, behind Intel.

Fast Facts

1. Ticker: AMD (NASDAQ)
2. Founded in 1969
3. Headquarters: Sunnyvale, California
4. CEO: Hector de Jesus Ruiz
5. Current Processors: AMD Sempron, AMD Athlon 64 X2, AMD Phenom
6. Current Socket: Socket AM2+

AMD was founded in 1969 by a group of Fairchild Semiconductor executives. They initially were in the RAM business, but then later transfered over to the CPU business when they reverse engineered an Intel 8080 microprocessor. AMD then decided to switch gears from the RAM business to the microprocessor business.

AMD has released many products in the companies history. One of the most famous processors was their "AMD Athlon" series, which forced Intel to come up with a new processor that would completely beat this one. A few years later Intel launched the Intel Core 2 Duo, which took AMD off-guard and forced them to rapidly make a decision on what they would want to do. At the time AMD was using Socket 939, which was released in 2004. Since Intel was now using DDR2 RAM, they switched sockets to Socket AM2 so they could also use DDR2.

On July 24, 2006, AMD announced that they would merge with ATI. Together the company would supposedly make a new processor set named AMD Fusion, which will come out sometime in 2009. The reason AMD made the move was to stay competitive in the graphics card area and further challenge Intel to follow their lead.