AMD History 

2011

• AMD launches the AMD Fusion Family of APUs – which consist of both a CPU and powerful GPU on a single die – marking perhaps the greatest advancement in processing since the introduction of the x86 architecture more than 40 years ago. As of the second quarter, AMD shipped more than 12 million APUs.
• AMD APUs receive more than 300 design wins from leading PC manufacturers including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba.
• AMD showcases the world’s fastest CPU at AMD Fusion Zone. This record-setting display of processor speed (which resides in the AMD FX CPU) signals important performance gains for the new AMD “Bulldozer” multi-core architecture. The Guinness World Record-breaking AMD FX CPU clearly demonstrates performance gains for the new AMD ‘Bulldozer’ multi-core architecture, which will provide x86 computing power future APUs.
• AMD launches the world’s first APU for embedded systems with the Embedded G-Series platform, boasting a record number of embedded partners at launch, including Fujitsu, Kontron, Quixant and Congatec.
• AMD names Rory Read its new president and CEO. With more than 28 years experience, he is a proven leader with a respected track record of driving profitable growth and transformation.
• AMD introduces its next-generation mobile graphics technology, the AMD Radeon™ HD 6000M series, just prior to Apple’s refresh of the Macbook Pro line, adding AMD Radeon™ HD 6490M and HD 6750M graphics to 15 and 17-inch model offerings.
• AMD unveils new professional graphics solutions with enhanced digital display capabilities in the form of the AMD FirePro™ 2270 and ATI FirePro™ V5800 DVI graphics cards, designed for professionals in the medical, financial, design and engineering fields who need to run multiple, graphic-intensive, applications simultaneously.
• AMD expands the AMD Opteron 6100 series family, with five new processor models with new or updated designs from Acer, Cray, Dell, HP, SGI and others, offering more choice to customers while delivering the core count, memory capacity and value they demand.
• AMD extends its superiority in the graphics market with launches of the AMD Radeon™ HD 6800 and HD 6900 series graphics cards.
• AMD launches the fastest discrete graphics card in the world, the AMD Radeon™ HD 6990.
• AMD Fusion APUs receive the 2011 Best Choice of Computex Taipei Award.
• AMD demonstrated “Trinity” the company’s mainstream notebook APU for 2012 that consumes less than half the power of today’s lowest power 35 watt “Llano” APU.
• AMD unveils its new HD tablet platform, AMD’s 9-series chipsets, and Fusion APU Roadmap & Vision Technology at Computex.
• AMD holds the first annual Fusion Developer Summit. More than 700 developers and PC industry executives attend the inaugural event to view the roadmap for its Fusion System Architecture (FSA) and the specific design features planned for future AMD products.
• AMD makes waves at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), re-launching its FX brand for enthusiast PC and HD entertainment aficionados and announcing the inclusion of AMD graphics in the Nintendo Wii-U. The Wii-U is the third consecutive Nintendo console that features AMD Graphics.
• AMD adds more gaming partners than ever before in the second year of the Gaming Evolved program, enabling AMD Eyefinity and AMD HD3D in titles like Eidos-Montreal’s ‘Deus Ex: Human Revolution”, Bioware’s “Dragon Age II”, Creative Assembly’s “SHOGUN 2: Total War“ and Codemasters’ “DiRT 3”.

2010

• AMD announces the AMD Opteron™ 4000 Series platform, the first true server platform designed from the beginning to meet the needs of cloud, hyperscale and SMB data centers.
• AMD introduces the AMD FireStream™ 9350 and 9370 GPU compute accelerators, delivering up to 2.64 TFLOPS of compute power for commercial, scientific and academic research markets.
• AMD delivers the first public demonstration of an AMD Fusion processor at Computex 2010.
• AMD launches the AMD Fusion Fund, a program that will invest in companies working on software solutions enabled by the upcoming AMD Fusion™ family of Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) products, demonstrating AMD’s commitment to the Fusion software ecosystem.
• AMD rolls out a complete refresh of its desktop and notebook platforms based on VISION Technology for consumer and commercial customers with improved performance and battery life, and announces OEM support of high quality and high quantity.
• AMD introduces its fastest and most tunable desktop processor ever as well as its first six-core processor, the AMD Phenom™ II X6 1090T Black Edition, featuring new Turbo CORE technology for more demanding games and productivity software.
• AMD introduces the AMD Opteron™ 6000 Series platform, featuring the world’s first 8- and 12-core x86 processor for the high-volume 2P and value 4P server market, designed to deliver workload-specific performance, power efficiency, and overall value.
• AMD announces that the Ontario government will award AMD Canada with a five-year grant of $56.4 million CAD ($52.8M USD) to fund R&D activities in the development of the upcoming AMD Fusion family of processors and related software infrastructure.
• AMD expands its successful VISION technology into the commercial client market with VISION Pro Technology and introduces the first commercial laptops based on VISION Pro Technology from AMD with the Lenovo ThinkPad X100e and the ThinkPad Edge Series laptops.

2009

• AMD and Intel announce a settlement of all antitrust and IP disputes, with Intel paying AMD $1.25 billion and agreeing to abide by a set of business practice provisions.
• AMD introduces ATI Radeon™ HD 5970, the fastest graphics card in the world to date, designed to support the most demanding PC games at ultra-high resolutions and ensure superior performance in the latest DirectX 11 games.
• AMD launches the Fusion Partner Program to consolidate AMD’s existing partner programs into one globally consistent yet regionally flexible program and to provide partners with customized incentives and resources that align with their business objectives to help them accelerate solutions development and sales.
• AMD simplifies the PC buying experience for consumers with the introduction of VISION Technology from AMD, which communicates what user experience the PC will deliver instead of focusing on the technical specs of hardware components.
• AMD unveils ATI Eyefinity multi-display technology, a revolutionary feature in the ATI Radeon™ family of graphics processors that gives PCs the ability to seamlessly connect up to six ultra high definition displays for a stunning new perspective on their PC experience.
• AMD introduces the Six-Core AMD Opteron™ processor with AMD Chipset platform, the first server platform that enables advanced performance, the benefits of unified processor and chipset technology, and furthers AMD’s commitment to energy efficiency.
• AMD joins GLOBALFOUNDRIES to break ground on a state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing facility in upstate New York, fulfilling AMD's multi-year vision to bring a leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing facility to the United States.
• AMD completes the shipment of its 500 millionth x86 processor since the company’s founding in 1969.
• GLOBALFOUNDRIES, a new leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing company, is formed by a joint venture between AMD and the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC).
• AMD introduces the ultrathin notebook platform codenamed "Yukon," enabling exceedingly thin and light OEM designs with rich entertainment capabilities at an affordable price. The platform is based on the new AMD Athlon™ Neo processor, ATI Radeon™ X1250 integrated graphics and optional ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 discrete graphics and enables true HD entertainment in a new category of stylish notebook PCs.
• AMD introduces the AMD platform technology codenamed "Dragon" for desktop PCs, which provides the power to do it all by combining AMD's highest-performing CPU, the AMD Phenom™ II X4 processor, with award winning ATI Radeon™ HD 4800 Series graphics and AMD 7-Series chipsets.
• AMD introduces its most energy efficient AMD Opteron™ processor to date: the Quad-Core AMD Opteron EE processor. The new technology not only delivers more choices for IT customers who require an extremely energy efficient solution, but also targets the unique needs of cloud computing platforms.
• AMD ships the 50 millionth ATI 'Hollywood' graphics processor for the Wii game console from Nintendo, making 'Hollywood' the most successful AMD technology-based game console chip to date in terms of unit sales.
• AMD's Lone Star campus in Austin, TX achieves a gold certification under the U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Based on current certified projects, this is the largest gold certified LEED® commercial building in Texas.

2008

• TACC, based on AMD Opteron processor-based Sun servers, becomes world's largest computer devoted to general research.
• AMD LIVE!™ Explorer launches, enabling immersive HD entertainment for the home PC.
• Launch of AMD Changing the Game, a non-profit program intended to improve kids' technical and life skills by teaching them to develop digital games with social content.
• AMD demonstrates the Cinema 2.0 Experience, punching holes in the 'sensory barrier' separating cinema and games.
• Dirk Meyer succeeds Hector Ruiz as CEO of AMD.

2007

• AMD introduces ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 series graphics processors to deliver The Ultimate Visual Experience™ graphics for desktop and mobile platforms.

2006

• AMD demonstrates Accelerated Computing platform that breaks teraflop performance barrier.
• AMD acquires ATI to create a new, innovative processing powerhouse.
• CrossFire™ multi-GPU gaming platform debuts.
• AMD LIVE!™ media center PCs debut
  Dell Inc. announces it will offer AMD processor-based systems.
• AMD begins revenue shipments of processors from Fab 36.
• AMD's Shanghai Research and Development Center (SRDC) launches to focus on the development of AMD's next-generation mobile platforms.
• AMD demonstrates the industry's first native quad-core x86 server processor.
• AMD is a founding member of The Green Grid, an open, global organization designed to decrease IT facility energy usage patterns.

2005

• AMD introduces AMD Turion™ 64 mobile technology for notebook PCs and AMD Athlon™ 64 X 2 dual-core processor for desktop.
• AMD introduces the world's highest performing processors for 1-8P x86 servers and workstations.
• AMD files landmark antitrust litigation against Intel for illegally abusing its monopoly to exclude and limit competition.
• Spansion™ goes public.
• AMD announces grand opening of Fab 36 in Dresden, Germany.
• ATI GPU is featured in Microsoft Xbox 360, revolutionizing high-definition gaming.

2004

• AMD demonstrates world's first x86 dual-core processor.
• AMD announces the 50x15 Initiative with the goal of accelerating affordable Internet access and basic computing to 50 percent of the world's population by 2015.
• Advanced Micro Devices (China) Co., Ltd. is established, headquartered in Beijing.
• ATI is listed in the NASDAQ 100.
• ATI introduces first 110nm GPUs (ATI Radeon™ X800 XL).

2003

• AMD and IBM sign joint manufacturing technology development agreement to develop future generation manufacturing technologies.
• AMD Opteron™ processor and AMD Athlon™ 64 processor debut.
• With Fujitsu, AMD forms FASL, LLC, and a new company: Spansion™.
• AMD forms strategic alliance with Sun Microsystems and acquires National Semiconductor's x86 business.
• ATI introduces ATI Radeon™ 9600 XT: world's first high volume 0.13um low-k chips.

2002

• AMD acquires Alchemy Semiconductor for low-power, embedded processor technology.
• AMD Cool'n'Quiet™ technology debuts with Athlon™ XP family: helps lower power consumption, enables quieter-running system, and delivers performance on-demand to maximize users' computing experience.
• ATI launches ATI Radeon™ 9700 Pro: world's first DirectX 9 graphics processor.

2001

• AMD Athlon™ MP processor debuts: the company's first multiprocessing platform.
• AMD HyperTransport™ technology is adopted by Agilent, Apple Computer, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, IBM, nVidia, Sun, and Texas Instruments.

2000

• AMD is first to break the historic 1GHz (one billion clock cycles per second) with the AMD Athlon™ processor.
• AMD introduces AMD PowerNow!™ technology with Mobile AMD-K6®-2+ processors.
• ATI Radeon™ graphics technology debuts: leading product for high-end gaming and 3D workstations.
• ATI acquires ArtX, Inc., a graphics chipset company.

1999

• AMD Athlon™ processor becomes first seventh-generation processor for Microsoft® Windows® computing.
• Vantis, AMD's programmable logic business, sold to Lattice Semiconductor.

1998

• ATI is first company to introduce a complete set-top box design.
• ATI ships its ten millionth AGP chip.

1997

• AMD introduces the AMD-K6® microprocessor: helps drive PC prices below $1,000 for the first time, making PCs affordable to average consumers.
• ATI is first graphics company to provide hardware support for DVD acceleration and display.
• ATI is first graphics company to release products supporting Accelerated Graphics Port, the new industry standard.

1996

• AMD acquires NexGen, a microprocessor company.
• ATI releases industry's first 3D graphics chip, first combination graphics and TV tuner card, and first chip to display computer graphics on a television.
• ATI enters the notebook market with the industry's first notebook 3D graphics accelerator.
• ATI establishes ATI Ireland.

1995

• AMD introduces AMD-K5® microprocessor: first independently-designed, socket-compatible x86 microprocessor.
• ATI is first graphics company to ship Mac-compatible graphics boards.

1994

• AMD and Compaq Computer Corp. form long-term alliance to power Compaq computers with Am486 microprocessors.
• ATI introduces Mach64™: first ATI graphics boards to accelerate motion video.

1993

• AMD Am486® microprocessor family debuts.
• AMD establishes joint venture with Fujitsu to produce Flash memory products.
• ATI goes public; stocks are listed on NASDAQ and Toronto Stock Exchange.

1992

• ATI introduces Mach32™: first ATI integrated graphics controller and accelerator in one chip.
• ATI releases VESA Local Bus (VLB) products, followed by peripheral component interconnect (PCI_) products.
• ATI establishes ATI GmbH in Munich, Germany.

1991

• AMD's Am386® microprocessor family debuts.
• ATI introduces Mach8™ chip and board products: first ATI products to process graphics independently of the CPU.

1989

• ATI assists in establishment of VESA standard for graphics industry.

1988

• Work begins on AMD Submicron Development Center.

1987

• AMD acquires Monolithic Memories, Inc. and enters programmable logic business.
• ATI debuts EGA Wonder™ and VGA Wonder™.

1986

• ATI secures major contract with Commodore Business Machines to supply 7000 chips per week.

1985

• AMD is listed in Fortune 500 for the first time.
• ATI incorporates.
• ATI develops its first graphics controller and first graphics board product.

1984

• AMD is listed in "The 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.

1982

• At IBM's request, AMD signs an agreement to serve as a second source to Intel for IBM PC microprocessors.

1979

• AMD debuts on the New York Stock Exchange.
• Production begins in new AMD Austin manufacturing facility.

1972

• AMD goes public.

1970

• AMD introduces its first proprietary device: the Am2501 logic counter.

1969

• AMD incorporates with $100,000; establishes headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.