AMD to decimate workforce - bit-tech.net Forums

CardJoe · 9th Apr 2008, 09:14

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/04...te_workforce/1

AMD has announced plans to cull ten percent of its global workforce in response to slower than expected sales across its entire product range.

kenco_uk · 9th Apr 2008, 09:29

I would have thought they'd need all the employees they can get, with the busy times ahead they'll be having. Now that they've sorted the bug in the Translation Look-Aside Buffer (TLB) in the L3 cache, their Quad-Core Opterons are finally a sellable product. Good on AMD for admitting there was a problem, even if it did put their earnings/forecast/profitability behind by a quarter or so.

I just see the lay off as the quickest way of keeping the investors on board.

Btw, first line on second paragraph, change 'law' to 'lay'.

Paradigm Shifter · 9th Apr 2008, 09:42

Not entirely unsurprising...

Still, the best thing about this article? Someone knows how to use the word 'decimate' properly.

Th3Maverick · 9th Apr 2008, 09:52

Paradigm, I was about to say the exact same thing. I'm even more impressed with the b-t editorial staff than ever before.

Xtrafresh · 9th Apr 2008, 10:01

i hope the guy responsible for that TLB bug is among those 10%...

AMD seems in a tight spot. I think this is a perfect opportunity to drag Sun Tzu into this: choose your enemies as carefully as you choose your friends. AMD picked the wrong people to mess with IMHO. nVidea only needs to run on half-steam to beat the ATI cards atm, and Intel's murderous Tick-Tock pace is something i wouldn't wanna be up against.

I do root for the underdog though, i hope they start pulling some rabbits out of the hat soon.

Tomm · 9th Apr 2008, 11:06

I'm rooting for AMD if only because an Intel monopoly would suck. Competition is good for the consumer

D3s3rt_F0x · 9th Apr 2008, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomm

I'm rooting for AMD if only because an Intel monopoly would suck. Competition is good for the consumer

Competition is good however at the moment there simply isnt any.

AMD need to invest there money in R&D and look to the future to find something that can challange Intel and surpass, but its a vicious cycle if you cant make the products now and sell them you cant invest in the future and if you cant invest in the future you cant make the next product line any better.

For me AMD shouldnt of boguht ATI anyway

Tomm · 9th Apr 2008, 12:31

Although AMD is doing pretty badly, Intel is still having to work to keep ahead. With no competitor at all, Intel could just wind down R&D totally. Three years ago, AMD were completely on top (for enthusiasts), it goes in swings and roundabouts. I'm not too worried for AMD just yet.

Xir · 9th Apr 2008, 12:36

AMD'S closed it's FAB30 and doesn't know what to do with the excess people, it's that simple.

pimlicosound · 9th Apr 2008, 14:21

Bonus points to anyone who knows the origin of the word "decimate" - its original popular usage (one for the ancient warfare buffs).

salesman · 9th Apr 2008, 15:04

Intel is tempting me but I'm holding out for a couple months.

E.E.L. Ambiense · 9th Apr 2008, 15:55

I still buy AMD solutions for cheap builds for people, although I wouldn't run one myself for a 'beefy" rig. My work system is AMD-based; both systems; but my main rig is Intel based.

I agree they really need to step it up, but this is all after-the-fact. They know this. And I'm sure they're working on it. They ain't givin' up the farm yet.

Paradigm Shifter · 9th Apr 2008, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by pimlicosound

Bonus points to anyone who knows the origin of the word "decimate" - its original popular usage (one for the ancient warfare buffs).

It was a way of enforcing discipline in the Roman Legions, IIRC. A harsh way, but a way nonetheless.

TheoGeo · 9th Apr 2008, 16:50

Actually, if they were to literally decimate as in the original meaning, then they would have far more to worry about than the core 2 duo.
Killing 1 in 10 of its workforce wouldn't make them too popular with their share holders.

dammit, now i can't stop imagining the CEO of AMD as an over the top bond villain.

johnmustrule · 9th Apr 2008, 21:27

Mabey instead of blowing all thier money on ATI they could've spent it on buying out some of Intels engineers, now they have two second class companies trundeling along under two succesful behemouths. Please innovate.

kenco_uk · 9th Apr 2008, 21:47

I'd hardly call AMD second class! When the AthlonXP came out, it was well ahead of anything Intel could muster up. Intel were more or less caught napping. Intel's Core marchitecture pushed the envelope again. Whether AMD will prove their innovativeness again remains to be seen, but their server cpu's are certainly causing a stir, which in turn filters down to the desktop.

r4tch3t · 9th Apr 2008, 22:37

Hopefully I will be getting a 9500 in soon. Building a gaming rig for a mate and then I can see what I am going to put in mine, seen a Q6600, now want to see a 9500.

johnmustrule · 10th Apr 2008, 00:29

I meant in tech time, which is like a generation, so for right now there flailing and I'm praying for some innovation but if penryn was all they could muster lets hope the got some ace's up there sleeves. I am an AMD guy but not exclusively, thank goodness there losing right now because I can afford a to upgrade to a penryn from my 4800! ATI on the other hand hasn't been on top in a long time but usually a close runner-up to Nvidida.

9th Apr 2008, 09:14	#1
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,945	AMD to decimate workforce http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2008/04...te_workforce/1 AMD has announced plans to cull ten percent of its global workforce in response to slower than expected sales across its entire product range. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

9th Apr 2008, 09:29	#2
kenco_uk I feel your presents. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 6,297	I would have thought they'd need all the employees they can get, with the busy times ahead they'll be having. Now that they've sorted the bug in the Translation Look-Aside Buffer (TLB) in the L3 cache, their Quad-Core Opterons are finally a sellable product. Good on AMD for admitting there was a problem, even if it did put their earnings/forecast/profitability behind by a quarter or so. I just see the lay off as the quickest way of keeping the investors on board. Btw, first line on second paragraph, change 'law' to 'lay'. __________________ MSI X58M - i7 920 4Ghz - 6GB Corsair - GTX260 648/2520 ::: Vote for bit-tech T - theevilelephant - "it sounded like bouncing around on a pogo stick, screaming in chinese while occasionally throwing a cat at a door."

9th Apr 2008, 09:42	#3
Paradigm Shifter Lethargic Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1,210	Not entirely unsurprising... Still, the best thing about this article? Someone knows how to use the word 'decimate' properly. __________________ Core i7 920 D0 @ 3.8GHz \| 6GB Corsair 1600MHz \| Gigabyte EX58-UD5 \| XFX 4870X2 2GB \| 4TB \| WUXGA

9th Apr 2008, 09:52	#4
Th3Maverick Multimodder Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redneckville, USA Posts: 82	Paradigm, I was about to say the exact same thing. I'm even more impressed with the b-t editorial staff than ever before. __________________ Project IndustriaTek Metalhead Modders Unite!

9th Apr 2008, 10:01	#5
Xtrafresh Blame it on the Boogie Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Nijmegen, Holland Posts: 1,909	i hope the guy responsible for that TLB bug is among those 10%... AMD seems in a tight spot. I think this is a perfect opportunity to drag Sun Tzu into this: choose your enemies as carefully as you choose your friends. AMD picked the wrong people to mess with IMHO. nVidea only needs to run on half-steam to beat the ATI cards atm, and Intel's murderous Tick-Tock pace is something i wouldn't wanna be up against. I do root for the underdog though, i hope they start pulling some rabbits out of the hat soon. __________________ AXGS Blog: A fresh look at P55. Fresh Fusion: Unfinished \| FFF: Name change and text update 19-11

9th Apr 2008, 11:06	#6
Tomm I also ride trials :¬) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fallowfield, Manchester Posts: 2,233	I'm rooting for AMD if only because an Intel monopoly would suck. Competition is good for the consumer __________________ Carrot cake cheesecake Shuttle SN85G4V2 \| A64 3200+ / Apple PowerBook 12

9th Apr 2008, 12:31	#8
Tomm I also ride trials :¬) Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fallowfield, Manchester Posts: 2,233	Although AMD is doing pretty badly, Intel is still having to work to keep ahead. With no competitor at all, Intel could just wind down R&D totally. Three years ago, AMD were completely on top (for enthusiasts), it goes in swings and roundabouts. I'm not too worried for AMD just yet. __________________ Carrot cake cheesecake Shuttle SN85G4V2 \| A64 3200+ / Apple PowerBook 12

9th Apr 2008, 12:36	#9
Xir Supermodder Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Germany Posts: 529	AMD'S closed it's FAB30 and doesn't know what to do with the excess people, it's that simple. __________________ SN25P A64 3700+ (San Diego) 2 GB DDR400 OCZ Platinum EL 2-3-2-5 1T X1800XT 512mb Sapphire 200GB Samsung SP2004C

9th Apr 2008, 14:21	#10
pimlicosound Multimodder Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 114	Bonus points to anyone who knows the origin of the word "decimate" - its original popular usage (one for the ancient warfare buffs).

9th Apr 2008, 15:04	#11
salesman Multimodder Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 165	Intel is tempting me but I'm holding out for a couple months.

9th Apr 2008, 15:55	#12
E.E.L. Ambiense Acrylic Heretic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Malabar, FL Posts: 2,726	I still buy AMD solutions for cheap builds for people, although I wouldn't run one myself for a 'beefy" rig. My work system is AMD-based; both systems; but my main rig is Intel based. I agree they really need to step it up, but this is all after-the-fact. They know this. And I'm sure they're working on it. They ain't givin' up the farm yet. __________________ Latest Builds: "Movie Sign!" • CheckMate - MotM May '09 ~~Nominee~~ Loser! • BluBawx I • Lumière Noire - MotM Apr. '08 ~~Nominee~~ Loser! • Razzle Dazzle • CMC Field Server • "Building Better Worlds" - MotM Feb. '08 ~~Nominee~~ Loser! • Biohazard • MicroSuperFly

9th Apr 2008, 16:50	#14
TheoGeo What are these goddamn animals?! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reading Posts: 2,205	Actually, if they were to literally decimate as in the original meaning, then they would have far more to worry about than the core 2 duo. Killing 1 in 10 of its workforce wouldn't make them too popular with their share holders. dammit, now i can't stop imagining the CEO of AMD as an over the top bond villain. __________________ My Deviance -- My Music Athlon X2 4400+ -- 2GB Corsair XMS -- Geforce 7800GT -- Abit AN8-SLI -- 24" BenQ fp241w -- 74 gig raptor -- 1.6TB total storage -- 530w tagan psu Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

9th Apr 2008, 21:27	#15
johnmustrule Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 345	Mabey instead of blowing all thier money on ATI they could've spent it on buying out some of Intels engineers, now they have two second class companies trundeling along under two succesful behemouths. Please innovate. __________________ "Your belief, unfortunately, is no endorsement of truth"

9th Apr 2008, 21:47	#16
kenco_uk I feel your presents. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire, UK Posts: 6,297	I'd hardly call AMD second class! When the AthlonXP came out, it was well ahead of anything Intel could muster up. Intel were more or less caught napping. Intel's Core marchitecture pushed the envelope again. Whether AMD will prove their innovativeness again remains to be seen, but their server cpu's are certainly causing a stir, which in turn filters down to the desktop. __________________ MSI X58M - i7 920 4Ghz - 6GB Corsair - GTX260 648/2520 ::: Vote for bit-tech T - theevilelephant - "it sounded like bouncing around on a pogo stick, screaming in chinese while occasionally throwing a cat at a door."

9th Apr 2008, 22:37	#17
r4tch3t hmmmm.... Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New Zealand Posts: 2,882	Hopefully I will be getting a 9500 in soon. Building a gaming rig for a mate and then I can see what I am going to put in mine, seen a Q6600, now want to see a 9500. __________________ Fight my Brute The quantum limit of reality might be scaled up because we're all holograms. Obviously. Once more we see that sufficiently advanced physics is indistinguishable from getting really stoned. From here

10th Apr 2008, 00:29	#18
johnmustrule Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 345	I meant in tech time, which is like a generation, so for right now there flailing and I'm praying for some innovation but if penryn was all they could muster lets hope the got some ace's up there sleeves. I am an AMD guy but not exclusively, thank goodness there losing right now because I can afford a to upgrade to a penryn from my 4800! ATI on the other hand hasn't been on top in a long time but usually a close runner-up to Nvidida. __________________ "Your belief, unfortunately, is no endorsement of truth"