History of AMD

History of AMD. AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) is an American technology company that manufactures processors, graphics processors, and other computer components. Founded in 1969, AMD is known for its innovations and competitive products.

Founding of AMD

The company was founded by Jerry Sanders, who previously worked at Fairchild Semiconductor. In 1969, he gathered a team of seven engineers and established Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in Santa Clara, California. Initially, the company specialized in manufacturing logic circuits used in electronic devices.

Key Milestones in AMD’s History

• 1980 – AMD released its first 16-bit Intel-compatible microprocessor, the AMD Am9080. However, it did not gain significant traction in the market.
• 1991 – AMD introduced the AMD 386DX-40, a 386-compatible processor, which became popular due to its competitive performance and lower price than Intel’s offerings.
• 2003 – AMD launched its first 64-bit processor, AMD Opteron, designed for servers and workstations. It was the first commercially available 64-bit x86 processor and outperformed Intel’s alternatives.
• 2006 – AMD acquired ATI Technologies, a leading graphics processor manufacturer. This move allowed AMD to compete with both Intel and Nvidia.
• 2011 – The company released its first 8-core processor, AMD FX, designed for gaming and high-performance computing.
• 2017 – AMD launched the Ryzen processor lineup, reshaping the CPU market with high performance at a lower cost than Intel’s processors.
• 2019 – AMD introduced its first 7nm processors, offering superior performance and increasing competition with Intel.

Evolution of AMD – Major Events and Releases

Early Years and Competition with Intel

• May 1, 1969 – AMD was founded by Jerry Sanders and colleagues from Fairchild Semiconductor, aiming to focus on semiconductor production.
• 1970 – First product release: AMD introduced its first microchip, the AM9300, a 4-bit shift register.
• 1975 – Intel 8080 clone: AMD released the AM9080, a clone of the Intel 8080, marking the beginning of the AMD-Intel rivalry.
• 1982 – License agreement with Intel: AMD signed an agreement with Intel to manufacture x86 processors.
• 1986 – Legal battle with Intel: Intel terminated the license agreement, leading to a lengthy lawsuit. AMD ultimately gained the right to produce x86-based processors.
• 1991 – Launch of AM386: AMD introduced the AM386, an Intel 80386-compatible processor, establishing itself as a key competitor in the CPU market.
• 1996 – Acquisition of NexGen: AMD purchased NexGen, gaining access to new technologies that contributed to the development of the K6 processor series.
• 1999 – Athlon processor release: The Athlon CPU became the first x86 processor to exceed 1 GHz clock speed, giving AMD a competitive edge.

Breakthroughs in the 2000s

• 2003 – AMD introduced Opteron and Athlon 64, the first 64-bit x86 processors for servers and desktops.
• 2006 – Acquisition of ATI Technologies, allowing AMD to expand into the GPU market.
• 2011 – Introduction of Fusion APUs (Accelerated Processing Units), combining CPU and GPU on a single chip.

Ryzen Era and Market Leadership

• 2017 – AMD reentered the high-performance CPU market with the Ryzen series, based on the Zen architecture, challenging Intel’s dominance.
• 2019 – AMD launched 7nm Zen 2-based Ryzen 3000 processors, significantly improving performance and efficiency.
• 2020 – The Ryzen 5000 series, powered by Zen 3 architecture, outperformed Intel in multiple performance metrics.
• 2022 – Acquisition of Xilinx, a leader in FPGA technology, expanding AMD’s portfolio beyond CPUs and GPUs.

Conclusion

History of AMD journey from a small semiconductor company to a major player in the CPU and GPU industry highlights its ability to innovate and compete with tech giants like Intel and Nvidia. With continuous advancements in processor and graphics technology, AMD remains a driving force in the computing industry.