AMD whips its graphics partners into shape

AMD HAD A KNEES-UP in Prague for its AIBs (Add-in Board partners) last week and the graphic conference had the effect of getting attendees' confidence back up.

Certainly, the channel has been shaken up by AMD's acquisition of ATI but, after all, it looks like that 2007 might be a good year for AMD's graphic business.

We heard the word "professional" too many times in recent conversations with the AIB boys. This is how the partners describe the new AMD way of doing business. This may yet simply be a bunch of promises, but whoever has been doling them out has been very successful at it. The audience bought it - the AIBs trust the new AMD.

Plans for 2007 are promising so it should be a good year, is what the partners are telling us.

All AIBs agree that they need the whole range of DirectX 10 hardware quickly but they are benefitting big time from the lack of DirectX 10 games. Of course after the delayed R600 arrives, an R610 and R630 - mainstream and entry-level parts - will be on the way. µ