10 Myths About Chinese CPUs: The Untold Story of AMD's Joint Venture in China 🇨🇳🔌
Introduction
Hey, corporate professionals! Ever wondered about the CPUs that power your workstations and servers? You've probably heard of AMD and Intel, but did you know there's a third player in the game? Let's debunk some myths and explore the untold story of AMD's joint venture in China that produced x86 compatible CPUs.
The Myth of the Two-Horse Race 🐎
AMD and Intel: The Only Options? 🤔
The common belief is that AMD and Intel are the only options for x86 CPUs. However, a few years ago, AMD formed a joint venture with a Chinese investment consortium called Thatic to produce CPUs specifically for the Chinese market.
The Chinese Demand 🇨🇳
Back in 2015, AMD was struggling financially and saw an opportunity in the Chinese market. The joint venture allowed AMD to tap into this demand without giving away all its secrets.
The Technology Transfer 🤝
Just a Copy-Paste Job? 🚫
Many might think that AMD simply handed over its CPU designs to the joint venture. In reality, AMD provided only portions of its intellectual property, allowing the venture to build processors based on existing AMD core designs.
Customization and Security 🔒
The Chinese CPUs were customized, particularly in areas like input/output controls and cryptographic engines, possibly to meet the Chinese government's security requirements.
The Performance Question 🎯
A Real Alternative to AMD and Intel? 🤷♂️
The Chinese CPUs are comparable to first-generation AMD Epic processors but don't offer any performance or feature advantages that would make them appealing to customers outside China.
The Entity List Roadblock 🚧
The joint venture is now on the US government's Entity List, restricting its ability to do business with US companies. This has essentially put a halt to the production of these CPUs.
Conclusion 🎯
The AMD joint venture in China is a fascinating chapter in the CPU market, but it's unlikely to disrupt the AMD-Intel duopoly anytime soon. The venture served a specific need but faced limitations in technology transfer and geopolitical challenges.