Gadget Metro

Advanced Micro Devices Inc. is not just launching its newest product, it may also be pinning its whole business on the line with it. AMD’s Barcelona, officially known as the Quad-Core Opteron could very well serve as its backbone for years to come.

It is common nowadays: a company hoping for that one hit product to boost their business. For AMD, it is the Quad-Core Opteron that it hopes would lift them from the doldrums. Over the past year, shares in AMD have actually fallen by almost 50 percent, compared to a rise of 30 percent for those of Intel. As AMD’s stock rose 2.6 percent on early this week to close at $12.94 on the New York Stock Exchange. AMD has been counting on Barcelona to revive its fortunes against rival Intel and help it regain share in the $40 billion-a-year market for the x86 processors that power most personal computers.

Early reports indicate that the product is indeed a hit. It better be. Otherwise, a company’s future is on the line.

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AMD, Barcelona, Quad-Core Opteron, Intel

[image from: cio-today.com]