Why AMD, IBM ... are allowed to manufacture X86 CPU?

[garfield]

I believe X86 CPU belongs to Intel. But why does Intel allow other manufacturers (e.g. AMD, IBM) to produce compatible CPU and then compete with them??

[bassman]

Hello Garfield,
The X86 designation is a standard setforth by a consortium of hardware and software manufacturers in order to base individual designs by. Similar to the V90 standard in todays dialup modems.
I don't believe this designation belongs to any one manufacturer, but rather a concept number of a performance standard.

Hope this helps http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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[hiredgoonz]

Certain technologies that were invented by Intel are licensed to other companies (specifically AMD)

MMX, SSE, SSE2...AMD pays Intel to incorporate these instruction sets into their chips...it not only makes Intel money, but likely keeps antitrust complaints to a minimum...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[iisbob]

and next to the excellant points that hiredgoonz pointed out; Intel has tried making propietory PC hardware components in the past and got burned { MCA }, and once again with RDRAM ( you'd think they'd learn http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif ).

In the modern PC industry you have to make your system components compatible across the board, or you're going to go out of business.

early in the century Intel relized that in order to compete with Apple they'd be better off offering other's access to their design's, hence came the term " Intel clones ", this proved to be completely successful ( just look at where Apple wound up today ), and once a good thing shows itself, you'd have to be a complete idiot to ignore it.

Not to say Intel don't have brain farts every once in awhile. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

{ie; RDRAM }





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iisbob

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[psabi]

garfield,

hiredgoonz is correct regaring licensing of MMX, SSE, etc. it's the beauty of making money off of competitors - the ultimate win-win situation...

however, intel does have patents regarding the x86 insturuction set. Just as there are open/jointly developed standards like USB, PCI, and ISA; x86 isn't necessarily one of them. x86 isn't a consortium as far as I know; it is used to differentiate processor architectures (such as Alpha, motorola (apple), etc> ).
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-257059.html

As goonz put it so well, by intel licensing to AMD, transmeta, etc. they can keep some of the antitrust backlash at bay...

[This message has been edited by psabi (edited 01-24-2002).]

[garfield]

Thanks, guys. I believe I get the points.