ms.lane

They needed the IP.

You can’t just build a 3D accelerator. It’s billions of dollars in licensing basic building blocks.

Easiest way to get in is to buy your way in.

Not possible for every device, plenty of TP-Link xDSL modem/routers out there.

Intel realized it back then too, but things didn’t pan out the way they wanted.

nVidia and AMD were going to merge while ATi was circling the drain. Then Jensen and Hector Ruiz got into their shitfight about who was going to be CEO of the marged AMD/nVidia (it should have been Jensen, Hector Ruiz is an idiot) which eventually terminated the merger.

AMD, desperately needing a GPU side for their ‘future is fusion’ plans, bought the ailing ATi at a massive premium.

Intel was waiting for ATi to circle the drain a little more before swooping in and buying them cheap, AMD beat them to it.

You think Intel is going to have 500-850mm^2 dies?

That’s what they need to compete in the GPU space.

For being employees of sanctioned companies…