AMD Acquires Chipmaker Xilinx for $35 Billion, Expands Processor Game

AMD’s $35 billion purchase of Xilinx creates a massive $130 billion chipmaking conglomerate, fighting Intel for market share in data centers.

AMD’s $35 billion purchase of Xilinx creates a massive $130 billion chipmaking conglomerate, fighting Intel for market share in data centers.

AMD has announced a formal agreement between the company and Xilinx, a processor manufacturer. This marks the latest step towards becoming “the industry’s high-performance computing leader,” at least according to AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su.

The two companies would then focus on producing CPUs, GPUs, SoCs, software, and assorted products across multiple tech heavy industries, such as defense. Xilinx President and CEO Victor Peng says “joining together with AMD will help accelerate growth in our datacenter business and enable us to pursue a broader customer base across more markets.”

This combined company would leave Dr. Su as the CEO of AMD, which would still be the name of the company, with Peng becoming the president of a Xilinx business subsidiary. The $135 billion future company would be a massive force in the processor market, but regulatory approval hasn’t been received yet, as well as shareholder approval.

The deal is expected to be closed by the end of next year, not taking into account any possible regulatory issues.

Consolidating the chip market, one company at a time

This massive acquisition, if approved, is the newest part in the consolidation of the chip market, following NVIDIA’s (current) attempted takeover of Arm Holdings. NVIDIA’s deal with Arm would put it in indirect control of the software and hardware of billions of devices.

Xilinx focuses on FPGAs, or field programmable gate arrays, which are a unique type of processor. The part that makes this processor type unique is the field programmable part of FPGA, meaning that the chip can be reprogrammed to do different tasks. This is completely different from standard chipsets, with one design and function.

The interchangeability of FPGAs make it useful in markets such as network equipment, 5G equipment, and AI work. These useful properties make up part of the reasoning behind AMD’s acquisition of Xilinx.

Analyst firm Jefferies says that this acquisition, if it goes through, could turn the two companies into “a leading supplier of computer platforms in the next high-growth segment of computing: at the edge of the network in base stations.”

The segment that Jefferies is referring to is edge computing, a recently introduced but rapidly growing new market. Edge computing allows information and data to be computed and sent to consumers at quicker speeds, through shorter differences.

Edge computing, an insanely fast growing market, requires constantly adapting, low-latency, specific solutions, which are major Xilinx and AMD strengths.

This is likely one major aspect of the acquisition, due to the possible money-making opportunities of edge computing.

Following Intel’s footsteps

Intel had acquired Xilinx competitor Altera in 2015, for $16.7 billion. Altera also focused heavily on FPGAs, which immediately pushed Intel into the forefront of that market.

That acquisition was the latest in a fight with AMD, that’s been going on for decades. AMD’s purchase of Xilinx is the newest punch back from AMD, against the former heavyweight chip-champion.

While once being a tiny portion of the chip market, crushed by Intel’s overwhelming market share, AMD has quickly taken advantage of Intel’s mistakes. Releasing high-performance and data center chips, ignoring production, as well as advancing chip structures, AMD has rapidly caught up to Intel.

This purchase allows AMD to not only catch up with Intel’s 5 year advantage in the high-growth FPGA/edge computing market, but possibly exceed it, due to Xilinx’s strengths.

Either way, this is AMD’s newest attempt to overtake Intel’s market share lost to mistakes and issues.

AMD’s $35 billion purchase of Xilinx creates a massive $130 billion chipmaking conglomerate, fighting Intel for market share in data centers.

AMD has announced a formal agreement between the company and Xilinx, a processor manufacturer. This marks the latest step towards becoming “the industry’s high-performance computing leader,” at least according to AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su.

The two companies would then focus on producing CPUs, GPUs, SoCs, software, and assorted products across multiple tech heavy industries, such as defense. Xilinx President and CEO Victor Peng says “joining together with AMD will help accelerate growth in our datacenter business and enable us to pursue a broader customer base across more markets.”

This combined company would leave Dr. Su as the CEO of AMD, which would still be the name of the company, with Peng becoming the president of a Xilinx business subsidiary. The $135 billion future company would be a massive force in the processor market, but regulatory approval hasn’t been received yet, as well as shareholder approval.

The deal is expected to be closed by the end of next year, not taking into account any possible regulatory issues.

Consolidating the chip market, one company at a time

This massive acquisition, if approved, is the newest part in the consolidation of the chip market, following NVIDIA’s (current) attempted takeover of Arm Holdings. NVIDIA’s deal with Arm would put it in indirect control of the software and hardware of billions of devices.

Xilinx focuses on FPGAs, or field programmable gate arrays, which are a unique type of processor. The part that makes this processor type unique is the field programmable part of FPGA, meaning that the chip can be reprogrammed to do different tasks. This is completely different from standard chipsets, with one design and function.

The interchangeability of FPGAs make it useful in markets such as network equipment, 5G equipment, and AI work. These useful properties make up part of the reasoning behind AMD’s acquisition of Xilinx.

Analyst firm Jefferies says that this acquisition, if it goes through, could turn the two companies into “a leading supplier of computer platforms in the next high-growth segment of computing: at the edge of the network in base stations.”

The segment that Jefferies is referring to is edge computing, a recently introduced but rapidly growing new market. Edge computing allows information and data to be computed and sent to consumers at quicker speeds, through shorter differences.

Edge computing, an insanely fast growing market, requires constantly adapting, low-latency, specific solutions, which are major Xilinx and AMD strengths.

This is likely one major aspect of the acquisition, due to the possible money-making opportunities of edge computing.

Following Intel’s footsteps

Intel had acquired Xilinx competitor Altera in 2015, for $16.7 billion. Altera also focused heavily on FPGAs, which immediately pushed Intel into the forefront of that market.

That acquisition was the latest in a fight with AMD, that’s been going on for decades. AMD’s purchase of Xilinx is the newest punch back from AMD, against the former heavyweight chip-champion.

While once being a tiny portion of the chip market, crushed by Intel’s overwhelming market share, AMD has quickly taken advantage of Intel’s mistakes. Releasing high-performance and data center chips, ignoring production, as well as advancing chip structures, AMD has rapidly caught up to Intel.

This purchase allows AMD to not only catch up with Intel’s 5 year advantage in the high-growth FPGA/edge computing market, but possibly exceed it, due to Xilinx’s strengths.

Either way, this is AMD’s newest attempt to overtake Intel’s market share lost to mistakes and issues.

AMD Acquires Chipmaker Xilinx for $35 Billion, Expands Processor Game

AMD’s $35 billion purchase of Xilinx creates a massive $130 billion chipmaking conglomerate, fighting Intel for market share in data centers.

AMD’s $35 billion purchase of Xilinx creates a massive $130 billion chipmaking conglomerate, fighting Intel for market share in data centers.

AMD has announced a formal agreement between the company and Xilinx, a processor manufacturer. This marks the latest step towards becoming “the industry’s high-performance computing leader,” at least according to AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su.

The two companies would then focus on producing CPUs, GPUs, SoCs, software, and assorted products across multiple tech heavy industries, such as defense. Xilinx President and CEO Victor Peng says “joining together with AMD will help accelerate growth in our datacenter business and enable us to pursue a broader customer base across more markets.”

This combined company would leave Dr. Su as the CEO of AMD, which would still be the name of the company, with Peng becoming the president of a Xilinx business subsidiary. The $135 billion future company would be a massive force in the processor market, but regulatory approval hasn’t been received yet, as well as shareholder approval.

The deal is expected to be closed by the end of next year, not taking into account any possible regulatory issues.

Consolidating the chip market, one company at a time

This massive acquisition, if approved, is the newest part in the consolidation of the chip market, following NVIDIA’s (current) attempted takeover of Arm Holdings. NVIDIA’s deal with Arm would put it in indirect control of the software and hardware of billions of devices.

Xilinx focuses on FPGAs, or field programmable gate arrays, which are a unique type of processor. The part that makes this processor type unique is the field programmable part of FPGA, meaning that the chip can be reprogrammed to do different tasks. This is completely different from standard chipsets, with one design and function.

The interchangeability of FPGAs make it useful in markets such as network equipment, 5G equipment, and AI work. These useful properties make up part of the reasoning behind AMD’s acquisition of Xilinx.

Analyst firm Jefferies says that this acquisition, if it goes through, could turn the two companies into “a leading supplier of computer platforms in the next high-growth segment of computing: at the edge of the network in base stations.”

The segment that Jefferies is referring to is edge computing, a recently introduced but rapidly growing new market. Edge computing allows information and data to be computed and sent to consumers at quicker speeds, through shorter differences.

Edge computing, an insanely fast growing market, requires constantly adapting, low-latency, specific solutions, which are major Xilinx and AMD strengths.

This is likely one major aspect of the acquisition, due to the possible money-making opportunities of edge computing.

Following Intel’s footsteps

Intel had acquired Xilinx competitor Altera in 2015, for $16.7 billion. Altera also focused heavily on FPGAs, which immediately pushed Intel into the forefront of that market.

That acquisition was the latest in a fight with AMD, that’s been going on for decades. AMD’s purchase of Xilinx is the newest punch back from AMD, against the former heavyweight chip-champion.

While once being a tiny portion of the chip market, crushed by Intel’s overwhelming market share, AMD has quickly taken advantage of Intel’s mistakes. Releasing high-performance and data center chips, ignoring production, as well as advancing chip structures, AMD has rapidly caught up to Intel.

This purchase allows AMD to not only catch up with Intel’s 5 year advantage in the high-growth FPGA/edge computing market, but possibly exceed it, due to Xilinx’s strengths.

Either way, this is AMD’s newest attempt to overtake Intel’s market share lost to mistakes and issues.

AMD’s $35 billion purchase of Xilinx creates a massive $130 billion chipmaking conglomerate, fighting Intel for market share in data centers.

AMD has announced a formal agreement between the company and Xilinx, a processor manufacturer. This marks the latest step towards becoming “the industry’s high-performance computing leader,” at least according to AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su.

The two companies would then focus on producing CPUs, GPUs, SoCs, software, and assorted products across multiple tech heavy industries, such as defense. Xilinx President and CEO Victor Peng says “joining together with AMD will help accelerate growth in our datacenter business and enable us to pursue a broader customer base across more markets.”

This combined company would leave Dr. Su as the CEO of AMD, which would still be the name of the company, with Peng becoming the president of a Xilinx business subsidiary. The $135 billion future company would be a massive force in the processor market, but regulatory approval hasn’t been received yet, as well as shareholder approval.

The deal is expected to be closed by the end of next year, not taking into account any possible regulatory issues.

Consolidating the chip market, one company at a time

This massive acquisition, if approved, is the newest part in the consolidation of the chip market, following NVIDIA’s (current) attempted takeover of Arm Holdings. NVIDIA’s deal with Arm would put it in indirect control of the software and hardware of billions of devices.

Xilinx focuses on FPGAs, or field programmable gate arrays, which are a unique type of processor. The part that makes this processor type unique is the field programmable part of FPGA, meaning that the chip can be reprogrammed to do different tasks. This is completely different from standard chipsets, with one design and function.

The interchangeability of FPGAs make it useful in markets such as network equipment, 5G equipment, and AI work. These useful properties make up part of the reasoning behind AMD’s acquisition of Xilinx.

Analyst firm Jefferies says that this acquisition, if it goes through, could turn the two companies into “a leading supplier of computer platforms in the next high-growth segment of computing: at the edge of the network in base stations.”

The segment that Jefferies is referring to is edge computing, a recently introduced but rapidly growing new market. Edge computing allows information and data to be computed and sent to consumers at quicker speeds, through shorter differences.

Edge computing, an insanely fast growing market, requires constantly adapting, low-latency, specific solutions, which are major Xilinx and AMD strengths.

This is likely one major aspect of the acquisition, due to the possible money-making opportunities of edge computing.

Following Intel’s footsteps

Intel had acquired Xilinx competitor Altera in 2015, for $16.7 billion. Altera also focused heavily on FPGAs, which immediately pushed Intel into the forefront of that market.

That acquisition was the latest in a fight with AMD, that’s been going on for decades. AMD’s purchase of Xilinx is the newest punch back from AMD, against the former heavyweight chip-champion.

While once being a tiny portion of the chip market, crushed by Intel’s overwhelming market share, AMD has quickly taken advantage of Intel’s mistakes. Releasing high-performance and data center chips, ignoring production, as well as advancing chip structures, AMD has rapidly caught up to Intel.

This purchase allows AMD to not only catch up with Intel’s 5 year advantage in the high-growth FPGA/edge computing market, but possibly exceed it, due to Xilinx’s strengths.

Either way, this is AMD’s newest attempt to overtake Intel’s market share lost to mistakes and issues.