History of AMD

Over the course of AMD's three decades in business, silicon and software have become the steel and plastic of the worldwide digital economy. Technology companies have become global pacesetters, making technical advances at a prodigious rate — always driving the industry to deliver more and more, faster and faster.
However, “technology for technology's sake” is not the way we do business at AMD. Our history is marked by a commitment to innovation that's truly useful for customers — putting the real needs of people ahead of technical one-upmanship. AMD founder Jerry Sanders has always maintained that “customers should come first, at every stage of a company's activities.” Our current CEO, Hector de Jesus Ruiz, continues to carry the torch, saying, “Customer-centric innovation is the pre-eminent value at AMD. It is our reason for being and our strategy for success.”
We believe our company history bears that out.



View by Decade: 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960



2000







2007
AMD demonstrates Accelerated Computing platform that breaks teraflop performance barrier
AMD introduces ATI Radeon™ HD 2000 series graphics processors to deliver The Ultimate Visual Experience™ graphics for desktop and mobile platforms
2006AMD 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
2004AMD 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
2002AMD 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
2000AMD 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


1990






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
1993AMD 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

1980




1989
ATI assists in establishment of VESA standard for graphics industry
1988Work 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
1985AMD 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

1970









1979
AMD debuts on the New York Stock Exchange
1979
Production begins in new AMD Austin manufacturing facility
1972
AMD goes public
1970
AMD introduces its first proprietary device: the Am2501 logic counter

1960










1969
AMD incorporates with $100,000; establishes headquarters in Sunnyvale, California

Source: amd.com