AMD designs and produces
microprocessors and low-power processor solutions for the computer,
communications, and consumer electronics industries. It was
founded in Sunnyvale, California in 1969.Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)
AMD designs and produces
microprocessors and low-power processor solutions for the computer,
communications, and consumer electronics industries. It was
founded in Sunnyvale, California in 1969.
Last year, AMD reported sales of $5.85 billion, a 17 percent increase
from the previous year. Industry analysts largely attribute the
company's growth to the success of its chip technology, which uses less
power and allows computers to process data more quickly than its
competition.¹
About 90% of AMD's assets are located abroad. The largest portion
is in Germany, but it has also opened plants in Malaysia, Singapore,
China, Japan and Thailand. Currently there is only one plant in
the U.S.--a wafer fabrication facility in Austin, Texas, where AMD
opened its first operations outside Silicon Valley in 1978.² AMD has
since played Texas off foreign countries when deciding where to locate
newer plants. In 2001, Austin offered a $95 million package but
AMD chose a Singapore site instead.
¹ Matt Richtel, "Advanced Micro Earnings Beat Estimates," The New York Times, January 19, 2006.
² Advanced Micro Devices 10-K Annual Report, 2005.