1. No one wants to buy a "defective" product, which is what Tri-cores would be instantly identifiable as, because AMD will not fab any perfect 3-core dies to sell alongside them. Selling them as DC parts avoids this problem, because AMD will sell "non-defective" DC parts, too.
Really? Are you sure? Ever been to Marshalls?
What if AMD sold "defective" tri-core parts for the same price as "perfect" dual-core parts, offering a 50% performance benefit as an incentive to overcome their "distaste?" I bet they'd get popular with the overclocker crowd REAL quick.
2. Not enough segmentation. If AMD were to sell QC, 3-core, *and* DC parts, things get too crowded. So they'll stick to QC and DC.
Yawn... Make them Limited Edition. Mark them as duals but put a special code on them for the enthusiasts. Upgrade your "4x4" to a "Six Pack." Gosh, whatever would marketing do with a unique branding opportunity that includes a free 50% performance improvement? I wouldn't hide it, I'd embrace it.
And as an investor, I'd be happier knowing that AMD is squeezing every last drop out of their capacity, and not leaving performance and opportunity on the table.
AMD will still salvage QC parts, but they'll sell them as DC, not fantasy "Tri-cores".
I hope this helps.
Sure. I just hope AMD marketing has a little more imagination than you allow yourself.
fpg |
