Wednesday, August 1st 2012

Computer Architect Jim Keller Joins AMD as Chief of Processor Group

AMD announced today that Jim Keller, 53, has joined the company as corporate vice president and chief architect of AMD's microprocessor cores, reporting to chief technology officer and senior vice president of technology and engineering Mark Papermaster. In this role, Keller will lead AMD's microprocessor core design efforts aligned with AMD's ambidextrous strategy with a focus on developing both high-performance and low-power processor cores that will be the foundation of AMD's future products.

"Jim is one of the most widely respected and sought-after innovators in the industry and a very strong addition to our engineering team," said Papermaster. "He has contributed to processing innovations that have delivered tremendous compute advances for millions of people all over the world, and we expect that his innovative spirit, low-power design expertise, creativity and drive for success will help us shape our future and fuel our growth."

Keller was most recently a director in the platform architecture group at Apple focusing on mobile products, where he architected several generations of mobile processors, including the chip families found in millions of Apple iPads, iPhones, iPods and Apple TVs. Prior to Apple, Keller was vice president of design for P.A. Semi, a fabless semiconductor design firm specializing in low-power mobile processors that was acquired by Apple in 2008. While there, he led the team responsible for building a powerful networking System on a Chip (SoC) and its integrated PowerPC processor. Keller previously worked at SiByte and Broadcom as chief architect for a line of scalable, MIPS-based network processors that supported 1Gig networking interfaces, PCI and other control functions. Before Broadcom, he spent several years at AMD, playing an instrumental role on the design team responsible for the groundbreaking AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Opteron 64 processors, which featured the world's first native x86-64 bit architecture.

Keller co-authored the widely adopted HyperTransport specification, as well as the innovative x86-64 processor instruction set, which is used around the world today in hundreds of millions of desktop, notebook and server systems. Jim was a corporate consulting engineer at DEC, and architected two generations of Alpha processors during his tenure there. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University.
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37 Comments on Computer Architect Jim Keller Joins AMD as Chief of Processor Group

#1
jigar2speed
Apple takes one from AMD, so does AMD from Apple. :laugh:
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#2
m1dg3t
Nice AMD! Hopefully he can help get them back into the CPU game. Just watchout in the restrooms, he did graduate from Penn :o
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#3
TheMailMan78
Big Member
OMG people are leaving Apple! Apple is so screwed!


........Oh wait they are not leaving AMD? I was just trying to keep up the sheeple talk, sorry.
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#4
gopal
AMD eats apple!!
^^Latest News^^
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#5
Zubasa
Most important question is, at this point is there anything this guy can do to help AMD's position in the processor market?
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#6
gopal
ZubasaMost important question is, at this point is there anything this guy can do to help AMD?
no, i mean what this guy can do make tablets:laugh:
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#7
Slacker
ZubasaMost important question is, at this point is there anything this guy can do to help AMD's position in the processor market?
Yes, make the Steamroller architecture at least 30% faster or more than previously estimated. Since this guy used to work for AMD, he should be welcomed back and help innovate some more.
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#8
Static~Charge
He sounds like just the person that AMD needs to get their processor development back on track. :toast:
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#9
Ravenas
Keller is an A+++ acquisition for AMD.

This guy was responsible for the Athlon processors back in 2005-2006 when he formerly worked at AMD.
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#10
suraswami
Seems like AMD is getting back some of their real brains!
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#11
NC37
And...since he did the A4/A5 for Apple, he has good experience with RISC chips too. If the industry continues to head that way...heh heh...go AMD!
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#12
SIGSEGV
i hope he can brings amd back to the real bussiness :cool:
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#13
TheMailMan78
Big Member
AMD issue isn't the engineering. They make damn good CPU/APU/GPU's. Their problem has been management.....for YEARS its been management and marketing holding them back.
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#14
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
*intel looks at amd "dont do anny thing funny amd or ill pull your plug" stares*
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#15
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Morgoth*intel looks at amd "dont do anny thing funny amd or ill pull your plug" stares*
Intel pays AMD royalties so no plugs are gonna be pulled. Intel needs AMD to stay in the market. If not Intel risks being broke up by anti-trust laws and paying CRAZY royalties to anyone else who picks up the rights AMD holds.. Basicly Intel needs AMD more then AMD needs Intel.
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#16
Morgoth
Fueled by Sapphire
i tough if amd went bankrupt all amd patents would go invaled cus of there lisances with intel or something
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#17
Damn_Smooth
TheMailMan78AMD issue isn't the engineering. They make damn good CPU/APU/GPU's. Their problem has been management.....for YEARS its been management and marketing holding them back.
Funny, I don't see any AMD hardware in your system specs to the left there. Why isn't this damn goodness you speak of in your machine. Of course management is to blame for approving shitty architecture. I don't see what marketing is getting blame for though, they do their best to hype the sub par product they're dealt with.

Unless you want to exclude every part of the market except for laptops. Then I agree, they're doing great.
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#18
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Damn_SmoothFunny, I don't see any AMD hardware in your system specs to the left there. Why isn't this damn goodness you speak of in your machine. Of course management is to blame for approving shitty architecture. I don't see what marketing is getting blame for though, they do their best to hype the sub par product they're dealt with.

Unless you want to exclude every part of the market except for laptops. Then I agree, they're doing great.
1. The reason I don't have any AMD stuff is because what I had was slower then what I have now. Everything you see in my rig was GIVEN to me. Not 6 months ago I had a 1090T and a 5850 in a Crosshair V board.

2. I own stock in AMD. Have for a few years now. They are still very profitable. People need to watch margins not total income.

3. Laptops, mobile are the future.
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#19
Damn_Smooth
TheMailMan781. The reason I don't have any AMD stuff is because what I had was slower then what I have now. Everything you see in my rig was GIVEN to me. Not 6 months ago I had a 1090T and a 5850 in a Crosshair V board.

2. I own stock in AMD. Have for a few years now. They are still very profitable. People need to watch margins not total income.

3. Laptops, mobile are the future.
1. I remember that well. Doesn't change the fact that what you have in your machine now outperforms anything AMD has to offer even to this day. CPU side anyway, although your GPU is no slouch.

2. That explains why you're so intent to defend them.

3. They've been the future since their invention. I think we have awhile.
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#20
pantherx12
gopalno, i mean what this guy can do make tablets:laugh:
Aye and tablets and smartphones are becoming more popular.

Seems a good move to me!

And this guy was behind Athlon ? Seems like a win to me!
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#21
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Damn_Smooth1. I remember that well. Doesn't change the fact that what you have in your machine now outperforms anything AMD has to offer even to this day. CPU side anyway, although your GPU is no slouch.

2. That explains why you're so intent to defend them.

3. They've been the future since their invention. I think we have awhile.
1. I would have gone Bulldozer if I had the cash. But I was broke. Someone offered a 2600k. So I took it. Bulldozer or 2600k its all the same for what I do......and what 99% of the people on this planet do.

2. I see numbers. I get holder letters. I see a much bigger picture then what most benchmark kiddies see. Most my stock has been sold off now but I still own some. I don't defend anyone. Just state the facts.

3. Windows 8 should tell you everything. AMD and Intel perfecting the APU and low power draw. Surface and the mobile market exploding. The future is here.
Posted on Reply
#22
Damn_Smooth
TheMailMan781. I would have gone Bulldozer if I had the cash. But I was broke. Someone offered a 2600k. So I took it. Bulldozer or 2600k its all the same for what I do......and what 99% of the people on this planet do.

2. I see numbers. I get holder letters. I see a much bigger picture then what most benchmark kiddies see. Most my stock has been sold off now but I still own some. I don't defend anyone. Just state the facts.

3. Windows 8 should tell you everything. AMD and Intel perfecting the APU and low power draw. Surface and the mobile market exploding. The future is here.
1. You game. It's not even close to the same unless you're running multi monitor. Your 2600K spanks the shit out of Bulldozer at resolutions that 99% of gamers play at.

2. I would have sold when they had their recent rally too. It won't ever get much higher than that.

3. You're predicting that Windows 8 will be a success. I'm predicting the next Vista.

Now, I'm not saying that AMD is dying, or going anywhere. They're just going to be a permanent generic alternative to Intel. When Nvidia turns their intended mid range into their high end because AMD's high end was too weak, I think it's safe to say that they'll be a nice generic alternative to Nvidia also. I do know that as soon as I finally upgrade, I won't be using generic parts to do it.
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#23
pantherx12
Damn_Smooth1. You game. It's not even close to the same unless you're running multi monitor. Your 2600K spanks the shit out of Bulldozer at resolutions that 99% of gamers play at.
.
He also uses image editing/creation programs, and that's how he makes his money so that would be a priority of gaming I think.

And for those programs performance is similar : ]
Posted on Reply
#24
Damn_Smooth
pantherx12He also uses image editing/creation programs, and that's how he makes his money so that would be a priority of gaming I think.

And for those programs performance is similar : ]
So? Does that nullify the fact that he's getting a better gaming experience somehow? If he only used his computer for those 2 things, his chip would still provide him a better experience.
Posted on Reply
#25
TheMailMan78
Big Member
Damn_Smooth1. You game. It's not even close to the same unless you're running multi monitor. Your 2600K spanks the shit out of Bulldozer at resolutions that 99% of gamers play at.

2. I would have sold when they had their recent rally too. It won't ever get much higher than that.

3. You're predicting that Windows 8 will be a success. I'm predicting the next Vista.

Now, I'm not saying that AMD is dying, or going anywhere. They're just going to be a permanent generic alternative to Intel. When Nvidia turns their intended mid range into their high end because AMD's high end was too weak, I think it's safe to say that they'll be a nice generic alternative to Nvidia also. I do know that as soon as I finally upgrade, I won't be using generic parts to do it.
1. I play BF3 mostly on a single monitor. Reayth has a Bulldozer and the same exact GPU and saw zero FPS difference. Its not that big of a deal. I'm part of the 1% as you are. Most people play Farmville and contract viruses from Facebook. You don't need a Ivy Bridge for that.

2. Meh I lost my ass no matter how you cut it. :laugh: That's the tech market as a whole. High risk.

3. I predict its a teething OS. Window 9 or whatever they call it will be like Windows 8. Touchscreen and walled garden with cloud is the future. Sorry but that's the truth.
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