Analyst: Intel reversed engineered AMD64

[StormRider]

Isn't this already obvious when we found out that it was compatible with the AMD64? Of course it's reversed engineered if its instruction set is mostly identical to AMD64.



Intel reversed engineered AMD64

 

[LTC8K6]

I don't think they need to reverse engineer it. Didn't they cross license it?

 

[thorin]

Ya they licensed it from AMD ages upon ages ago.

Thorin

 

[n0cmonkey]

I thought they had some kind of all encompassing cross licensing agreement...

Unfortunately, Intel didn't end up with soem of the best features of AMD64.

 

[Eug]

The original Microprocessor Report article (abstract) is here.

 

[bluemax]

:Q

And this is why these members are "elite". Impressive CPU knowledge.....

But how does the licensing go? Didn't AMD need some kind of license long ago to make CPUs compatible with Intel back in the 80386 days?

 

[GTaudiophile]

It's funny to see how AMD totally bitch-slapped Intel on this one...just think if there was no AMD where we'd be!

 

[EXman]

we be in MMX still

 

[menads]

I really doubt Intel has any need to revere-engineer anything in AMD CPUs to use x86-64
Both companies has a cross licensing that they can use each other extension of the x86 plus you can not develop chip in just an year.
Yes, may be initial Intel 64 extension has been completely different from AMD64 and they had to rewrite some of the microcode after MSFT decided to go with AMD64 but it no way Intel didn't planned this for long ago (just a as a backup plan with no intention of activating it).
I am also sure that if it wasn't for the Opteron success Intel would have never enabled such extensions in Nocona (which are technically still not enabled since there is no Nocona on the market right now anyway).

 

[ViRGE]

Let's chalk up another "+1, Duh" for the analysts. Of course Intel used the AMD64 instruction set, how else do you explain them being compatible. Reverse engineering likely isn't the right term, either, as AMD freely published the AMD64 specs; reverse engineering usually implies Intel figured it out by taking apart an A64(ala Compaq taking apart the first IBM PC).

 

[Connoisseur]

well apparently what happened is that AMD settled with Intel a long time ago when they began making the first x86 compatible chips (K6 i'm guessing), the result of which is the cross-licensing agreement. I believe the general gist of the agreement is that AMD can keep making x86 compatible chips and use the special instructions created by intel (MMX, SSE etc.) in return for paying royalty to intel. Furthermore, I believe Intel can effectively modify/reverse engineer present and future AMD chips to their liking and incorporate any and all of AMD chip technology into their own products. Esentially, the agreement is skewed heavily in Intel's favor. Thus, not only can the upcoming Nocona chips be x86-64 compatible with AMD, they can be exact duplicates of the AMD instructions and it's completely legal.

although it sounds like a crappy deal, one must also realize that it is this very agreement that allowed AMD to produce their K6-2, K6-3, Athlon, Athlon XP, and Athlon 64 chips without fear of reprisal from intel. Basically, AMD reaped the rewards and now it's time to pay the piper.
....damn Intel

 

[jhu]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur
well apparently what happened is that AMD settled with Intel a long time ago when they began making the first x86 compatible chips (K6 i'm guessing), the result of which is the cross-licensing agreement. I believe the general gist of the agreement is that AMD can keep making x86 compatible chips and use the special instructions created by intel (MMX, SSE etc.) in return for paying royalty to intel. Furthermore, I believe Intel can effectively modify/reverse engineer present and future AMD chips to their liking and incorporate any and all of AMD chip technology into their own products. Esentially, the agreement is skewed heavily in Intel's favor. Thus, not only can the upcoming Nocona chips be x86-64 compatible with AMD, they can be exact duplicates of the AMD instructions and it's completely legal.

although it sounds like a crappy deal, one must also realize that it is this very agreement that allowed AMD to produce their K6-2, K6-3, Athlon, Athlon XP, and Athlon 64 chips without fear of reprisal from intel. Basically, AMD reaped the rewards and now it's time to pay the piper.
....damn Intel

actually i think it was back when amd was making their am486