AMD-Based Apple Notebook Is In The Works

Taiwan passive component makers are witnessing an aggressive increase in orders for high-capacitance multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), with most of the MLCCs having a capacitance of 22µF, and being for use in an AMD-based Apple notebook, sources at the makers noted. For this new notebook, about 70 22µF MLCCs will be required, with Japan-based Murata Manufacturing, Taiyo Yuden and TDK being the three major suppliers, the sources added.

AMD Taiwan declined to comment on the report.

Passive component makers are generally optimistic about the growth catalyst that the new AMD-base Mac notebooks could bring. Already, demand for Intel-based dual-core Apple notebook models that require about 80 22µ MLCCs has caused supply to tighten for the high-capacitance MLCCs, with notebook makers having to adjust their MLCC mixture, the makers noted.

Speculation that AMD and Apple will team up has been fueled by statements made by AMD CEO Hector Ruiz in September, when he noted that the two companies will eventually do business with each other. The merger between AMD and ATI also helped make the speculation more convincing, as ATI delivers graphics solutions that are specialized for Apple G5 PCs.

However, some motherboard makers are doubtful about any AMD and Apple partnership, with the makers noting the performance advantage Intel currently enjoys over AMD, especially for the Core 2 Duo processor compared with AMD's present CPU lineup. AMD is also considered to have insufficient capacity, the makers added.

Sources at Taiwan server makers, though, indicated that Apple may apply AMD's x86 socket CPUs to its servers. In light of the fact AMD's market share in the server segment is likely to reach 20%, a partnership between the two companies seems reasonable. The DigiTimes

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