AMD
AMD is a Leading Global Provider of Innovative Microprocessor Solutions.
It is a major manufacturer of semiconductor devices including x86-compatible CPUs, embedded processors, flash memories, programmable logic devices and networking chips. Located at Sunnyvale, CA, USA, AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) was founded by Jerry Sanders and seven friends in 1969.The first product introduced by AMD was a 4-bit shift register. In 1970s it entered the memory business & the microprocessor market.
Rise of AMD 1969-2000:
In 1975, AMD launched their first memory product — a RAM (random-access memory) chip known as the Am9102. The same year, a reverse-engineered version of the 8080A standard processor was developed. It provided a competitive alternative to the market and brought AMD into the microprocessor market.
A very popular bit-slice processor series — from the Am2900 family was also introduced in 1975. This design allowed customers to take advantage of wider data paths, reduce heat, and use bipolar chip technology to increase speed.
As an important part of industry growth, AMD was providing high-quality x86 processor alternatives . In 1986, AMD launched the industry’s first one-million-bit EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory) — enhancing capacity and flexibility for one of the most critical PC components and enabling additional opportunities for customers to differentiate their products.
1991, AMD shipped more than one million units of the Am386 processor. In 1993, AMD launched the first members of the next-generation Am486® processor family, which went on to power Compaq computers and thousands of others. In the 1990s, Flash memory took over from EEPROM ( electrically erasable programmable read-only memory ) as the dominant non-volatile memory solution. (Non-volatile memory retains its contents even if power is turned off.). AMD was ranked #1 or #2 worldwide in every market served, including the Microsoft® Windows®-compatible PC business.
In 1998, AMD released the AMD-K6-2 processor, featuring 3DNow!™ technology. Invented by AMD, 3DNow! technology was the first x86 innovation to significantly enhance 3D graphics, multimedia, and other floating-point-intensive applications for Windows®-compatible PCs.. The AMD-K6-2 processor offered a tremendous competitive difference to customers developing leading-edge hardware and software, and helped lay the groundwork for the future of processor design. Introduced in 1999, the AMD Athlon™ processor empowered AMD customers with a compelling new alternative, the first-ever solution to use chipsets and motherboards optimized specifically for our processor.
In June, 2000 AMD introduced the first versions of Mobile AMD-K6®-2+ family of processors featuring the pioneering AMD PowerNow!™ technology. This AMD innovation allowed customers to deliver cooler, quieter running notebook systems with extended system battery life — and gain an impressive competitive advantage. In October, 2000 AMD announced the AMD-760™ chipset, the first commercially available PC platform to support Double Data Rate (DDR) memory technology. Compared with the then-standard Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), DDR memory increased peak data throughput to the processor by up to 100% at comparable costs.
In June, 2000 we introduced highly advanced Flash memory products — the 32-megabit Am29BDS323 and the 64-megabit Am29BDS643 — which enabled the customers to create next-generation cellular-phone applications featuring Internet connectivity, PDA functionality, video streaming, and even MP3 capability. In August, 2000 AMD introduced another new Flash memory product, the 1.8-volt, 32-megabit Am29DS323. This high-performance, low power-consuming device allows AMD customers to differentiate their portable system and cellular phone products with high-demand features such as global positioning and electronic organizers.
