AMD Radeon Technologies Group formed to re-define the industry

[HEXUS]

Vertically integrated graphics unit will be headed up by newly promoted Raja Koduri.

Read more.

[crossy]

AMD CEO Dr Su said "With the creation of the Radeon Technologies Group we are putting in place a more agile, vertically-integrated graphics organization focused on solidifying our position as the graphics industry leader..."

AMD has lost quite a bit of ground over recent quarters. The most recent market share data we saw suggested Nvidia has captured 82 per cent of the discrete desktop GPU market.

Hmm, those two statements seem to contradict each other - although I fully realise that AMD have a very strong presence in games console hardware.

I'm now waiting for the speculation that RTG will be spun off...

[cptwhite_uk]

Breaking up the profitable parts of the company so the rot can be left to fail?

[kalniel]

Hmm, those two statements seem to contradict each other

Check the wording - the second statement is talking about discrete desktop graphics, a very minor part of the market. Laptop/tablet/embedded graphics etc. are much larger.

[Corky34]

Seems rather strong wording to be saying AMD is splitting off its graphics technologies, or breaking up, isn't this little more than a restructuring of the organisation and putting a rather talented guy in charge of the new section.

[shaithis]

Check the wording - the second statement is talking about discrete desktop graphics, a very minor part of the market. Laptop/tablet/embedded graphics etc. are much larger.

I think it's more that the first comment is an AMD PR quote and the second is a comment by the journalist.......

[CustardInc]

I seem to remember them denying that this would happen just a few months ago?

Yep, found it. http://hexus.net/business/news/corpo...cially-denied/

I suppose it's not too surprising that they'd deny it

[Kanoe]

I'm not sure this is good news. I was beginning to get the feeling that things were moving towards the APU of having a combined CPU and GPU with things like HSA and HBM integrated together and the potential that this would bring in many market segments.

Before the APU with HSA and HBM even hit the market they have decided to make the GFX a separate unit which makes me concerned for the future of AMD CPUs with integrated GPU as surely instead of all working towards a common goal the CPU and GPU businesses will now be doing their own thing.

Plus the above was the whole reason AMD bought Ati in the first place. Are they now saying that this was basically a mistake and maybe they should have just licensed some GPU tech for APU's from Ati?

[Corky34]

I seem to remember them denying that this would happen just a few months ago?

Unless I'm being stupid it's not a break-up or spin-off though.

[sykobee]

Rumours suggest that AMD is aiming to become a private company, like Dell, at some point in the near future.

Quite clearly they needed to do something about the graphics underperformance (in terms of sales) in the discrete arena. There is a lack of focus, a failure to put their good points forward, and they've let the competition ride roughshod over them and in terms of market perception. Pulling the graphics together into a proper focussed business unit might help them sort these problems out.

[shaithis]

Rumours suggest that AMD is aiming to become a private company, like Dell, at some point in the near future.

Perhaps they are running their share prices into the ground before buying them all back?

I would hate to think they are sat on enough money to buy all their shares back, when they haven't given the desktop CPU market a decent go in years.

[scaryjim]

I'm not sure this is good news. I was beginning to get the feeling that things were moving towards the APU of having a combined CPU and GPU with things like HSA and HBM integrated together and the potential that this would bring in many market segments.

Before the APU with HSA and HBM even hit the market they have decided to make the GFX a separate unit which makes me concerned for the future of AMD CPUs with integrated GPU as surely instead of all working towards a common goal the CPU and GPU businesses will now be doing their own thing.

Plus the above was the whole reason AMD bought Ati in the first place. Are they now saying that this was basically a mistake and maybe they should have just licensed some GPU tech for APU's from Ati?

I dont' see this as separating the graphics section to do their own thing - they're still part of AMD and they'll still be pulling towards the company's overarching strategy. It'll just give the Graphics unit a bit more autonomy over how to achieve those goals. There's good research that a largely autonomous unit within a company is more likely to produce creative and innovative solutions then one that's burdened by excessive oversight and management. As long as they continue the ethos of the graphical processing being modular so it can be dropped into APUs, there's not reason to think this is going to damage that strategy going forward.

[PuremasterZ]

Maybe that's why they wanted me to complete that survey

[qasdfdsaq]

So they spend ten years trying to integrate ATI and now they're un-integrating them again?

[lon3wolf2002]

It will be interesting to see how this develops, maybe they can put their GCards back in the race on the PC market, fingers crossed.

[DanceswithUnix]

So they spend ten years trying to integrate ATI and now they're un-integrating them again?

Sounds like HSA is basically done, so forcing the CPU & GPU teams to work very closely may no longer be relevant.

However, I expect any good aspects of that will naturally stay, like any shared tools and general communication between teams.