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AMD compatibility no problem for Intel chip

conferences February 13, 2004 HP brings new chips to servers February 9, 2004 Intel shifts 64 bit emphasis January 29, 2004 HP to adopt AMD’s Opteron in servers January 26, 2004

Intel will michael kors handbags probably face questions about its Michael Kors handbags anticipated plans to create chips that Michael Kors handbags cheap function like the Opteron processor from Advanced cheap michael kors Micro Devices, but it is fairly Replica Michael Kors Handbags likely that the company won’t face a lawsuit from AMD.

Because of the details of a lengthy 1995 legal settlement between Intel and AMD, Intel can in all probability create and sell chips that are completely compatible with AMD’s Opteron and Athlon 64 chips, which can run both 32 and 64 bit software, according to the companies and legal experts. Intel won’t even have to pay AMD royalties if it incorporates ideas from any AMD patents into its chips.

« My understanding, based on the licensing agreement, is that Intel has access to AMD’s patents so patent protection should not be a problem, » said Richard Belgard, a noted patent consultant.

Intel may have to rename some of the instructions, or Michael Kors handbags commands, embedded in any chip that is similar to Opteron, but « the code can be 100 percent compatible, » Belgard added.

Though Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy declined to comment on whether or not Intel is working on a 32/64 bit chip, he concurred with Belgard.

« There are no legal barriers » that would prevent Intel from coming out with a chip that is similar and compatible with Opteron, he said. « There are no pitfalls either way. »

An AMD representative stated: « I believe that is the case, » but added that it would all depend on the circumstances.

The settlement terms could have a significant impact on how the market for 32/64 bit chips like Opteron develops. Opteron and Athlon 64 can run both 32 bit software, found on most desktop today, and 64 bit software, reserved typically for computers running databases and complex applications. Thus, these chips can be used in a wide variety of computers. Intel’s Xeon cheap michael kors and Pentium chips only run 32 bit software.

For one thing, software developers will not have to write two different versions of their applications one for AMD’s chip and one for a hypothetical Intel chip to satisfy the market.

Microsoft will also have to write one version of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 for computers with 32/64 bit chips. Microsoft, in fact, only plans to come out cheap michael kors with one core version of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 for the respective markets each OS addresses, according to sources. Windows XP for 32/64 bit systems is slated for the second half of the year.

For AMD, the existence of a 32/64 bit Intel chip would deprive the company of a competitive advantage. But, by the same token, the company wouldn’t have to worry about courting developers to write Michael Kors handbags cheap software for the 15 percent of the market that AMD commands. AMD also has more experience in this market, the AMD representative pointed out.

Invite Michael Kanellos into your in box Senior department editor Michael Kanellos scrutinizes the hardware industry in a weekly column that ranges from chips to servers and other critical business systems. Enterprise Hardware every Wednesday.

Intel’s ability to produce such chips without incurring legal liability comes up because of an announcement Intel is expected to make next week at its Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. The company is expected to demonstrate a Pentium class chip that can run 32 bit software, which is used on Windows desktops today, and 64 bit software, which is used on high end Michael Kors outlet servers to run databases and other complex applications. The code name for the enabling technology is Clackamas

IBM and Sun Microsystems have released computers using the chip, and Hewlett Packard is already using Athlon 64 chips in desktops and will likely announce later this month that it will use Opteron in servers.

The 1995 settlement terms capped a contentious and lengthy series of legal battles between AMD and Intel. Intel developed the world’s first microprocessor in 1971. It relied on the so called x86 architecture, which has since served as the blueprint for the vast majority of microprocessors that Intel and AMD have made.

IBM adopted x86 chips for its first computers in 1982. As part of the IBM deal, Intel licens