I think LSI strategically had just about did everything right over the last couple of years. Great direction from top management.
As for Rambus, I am not sure how much it would add. The only applications I can immediately think of are games and servers and workstations, like the SGI NT workstations. Using in games are out at least for a couple of years, all game manufacturers are commited already. So that only leave servers and workstations, specifically part of the chip set that does the memory interfacing. Perhaps if SGI's catches fire because it's got the LSI ASICs, other manufacturers may follow. But don't look for that to last too lone, Intel is chasing workstation market and they will jump in. I believe the next Intel server chip set for the Xenon will do Rambus interface (the present one will only do EDOs).
LSI will ge going up against a lot of areas that Intel wants to be in. Guess when one gets big, there will be competition.
I think LSI will do fine at the high end. Continuing to add to the stuff they already have. Add something more like PLDs maybe. My hidden hope is that they can run their manufacturing mean and lean enough to attack the consumer mass market. That area is very price sensitive. But if they can do that, they can grow very fast, e.g. chips for PC DVD drives, lowest cost chips for DVDs and digital cameras, home networking, ADSL/cable modems etc. They will need that extra revenue base to push for the next $2.5B 12" fab. Otherwise TSMC and UMC will get ahead of them. Their big enough cash flows will allow them to push ahead in technologies.
patrick |
