Advanced Micro Devices

Advanced Micro Devices

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) is an American multinational semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California. It develops computer processors and related technologies for business and consumer markets. While initially known for its microprocessors, AMD has expanded its product portfolio to include graphics processing units (GPUs), chipsets, and other semiconductor products.

History

AMD was founded on May 1, 1969, by Jerry Sanders and seven others from Fairchild Semiconductor. The company initially focused on producing logic chips. In 1975, AMD introduced its first microprocessor, the Am9080, a clone of the Intel 8080.

In the 1980s, AMD began producing x86 microprocessors under a licensing agreement with Intel. This led to a series of legal battles over intellectual property rights, which were eventually settled in 1995.

In 2006, AMD acquired ATI Technologies, a major player in the graphics card industry, which allowed AMD to expand into the GPU market.

Products

Microprocessors

AMD is well-known for its line of x86 microprocessors, which are used in personal computers, servers, and embedded systems. The company's flagship processor line is the Ryzen series, which competes directly with Intel's Core series.

Graphics Processing Units

AMD's Radeon line of GPUs is a major competitor to NVIDIA's GeForce series. These GPUs are used in gaming, professional graphics, and data center applications.

Chipsets

AMD produces chipsets for its own processors, which provide essential connectivity and functionality for motherboards.

Technology and Innovation

AMD has been at the forefront of several technological innovations in the semiconductor industry. The company was the first to introduce a 64-bit x86 processor, the AMD64 architecture, which has become the standard for modern computing.

AMD has also been a leader in developing multi-core processor technology, which allows for improved performance and efficiency in computing tasks.

Market Position

AMD is one of the leading companies in the semiconductor industry, competing primarily with Intel in the CPU market and NVIDIA in the GPU market. The company's products are used in a wide range of applications, from consumer electronics to high-performance computing.

Also see

• Intel
• NVIDIA
• Semiconductor
• Microprocessor
• Graphics processing unit