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Atomic MPC > News > Build > CPUs, Motherboards & RAM > FTC has a word with Nvidia about Intel

FTC has a word with Nvidia about Intel

Former friend turns in evidence.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been chatting with Nvidia as part of its probe into Intel's business practices.

The Green Goblin has been moaning like a banshee over Chipzilla's business practices ever since the two companies fell out last year.

The FTC is interested to know what Intel has been up to in the graphics chip market and after hearing about Nvidia's whingeing has been wondering if the Green Goblin has something to complain about.

The Nvidia related probe was reported by BusinessWeek and surprisingly Nvidia has been quite forthcoming about helping the FTC with its inquiries.

Intel has about half of the graphics chip market and Nvidia supplies a fair chunk of standalone graphics chips at around 25 per cent of the market. Intel commands such a lead over the Green Goblin because it supplies "integrated" graphics built into the chipsets that accompany all of its processors.

But despite the efforts of Nvidia and ATI to take market share away from Intel, Chipzilla has seen its market share actually increase, mostly at the expense of Nvidia.

Nvidia claims that Intel's "bundling" tactics are causing it undue harm. AMD just got a $1.25 billion settlement from Intel for much the same behaviour, and similar practices are also spelled out in a complaint filed by New York's attorney general last month.

Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang complained that Intel's tactics have been the most aggressive the company has ever seen by a competitor. Nvidia's Ion chipset that is used in laptops has been shafted by such Intel tactics, Huang claimed.

Want to check out the first Australian review of Final Fantasy XIII? We got in this month's Atomic!

Plus HD projectors, Napoleon: Total War, Intel's new six-core processor, PC upgrading guide, and a whole lot more.

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10 Comments

Thoughts on this article? Add a comment below.

Mademan Dec 7, 2009 10:06 AM	I would have thought it was fairly simple? Intel sells processors people know about/want, with graphics cards they either don't care about or don't need anyway, nvidia sells graphics cards people want with processors no one knows about, and AMD sells graphics cards people want with processors no one wants. It's hardly anti-competitative if your competition doesn't step up to the plate in the first place.
sirtrancealot Dec 7, 2009 10:17 AM	i gotta say, as a desktop support person, one thing i'd love to see is the end of this monopoly on graphics.. integrated graphics are NASTY! and the sooner they're replaced with Propper graphics cards the better.. not like any of the low end Nvidia cards are expensive, at $25-30 for a 9400GS, why would anyone want a shitty intel graphics card. and yes i agree it is bad form on Intel's part pushing shithouse systems out to people that expect alot better! DELL, HP, and the rest are just as much to blame IMO
A Hitman Dec 7, 2009 12:59 PM	"AMD sells graphics cards people want with processors no one wants." I think there is greater demand for AMD processors than there has been for a long time. Not everyone needs as much power as intel offers.
sirtrancealot Dec 7, 2009 1:24 PM	$28 Sempron LE-1650, $30 Geforce 8400GS, $80 mobo, $20 1Gb DDR2, Case HDD's and DVD drive = One very cheap ass media box! that beats the pants off any Business desktop i've ever used! and hey it's 1/2 the price
riya1234 Dec 7, 2009 5:33 PM	We are an online florist always at your service. Service with top quality, lesser costs, high reliability and heart. Don't believe us. Simply experience it or even compare us. We know you will be with us and how we do it is simple! Some qualified directors, dedicated staff, top class & professional worldwide florist network of 1000's of florists penetrating countries states, cities & even small towns and of course a sound, smooth, fair & easy to use website based on high technology platform. Please visit: www.giftbasketsthailand.com
Ezekill Dec 7, 2009 5:59 PM	But if Intel were to.!.. Oo ... flowers...flowers...must..buy..flowers...
Trekker Dec 7, 2009 9:33 PM	i must buy these things called flowers.. What are they. Intel make them?
Elfarch Dec 8, 2009 1:34 AM	A dedicated florist in you box makes all the difference. :{)
flexx Dec 11, 2009 8:11 AM	They give hayfever, be of with you
karlm Dec 11, 2009 12:38 PM	Nah, that's something that is still covered by NDAs ... it's a new CPU architecture called 'flower' where you have one central distribution core (stamen) with many 'worker' cores (petals) doing tasks assigned by the CDC ...

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Atomic Magazine

Issue: 111 | April, 2010

Atomic is a magazine aimed squarely at computer enthusiasts, gamers, and serious PC upgraders.

Every month we bring you the latest reviews of new technology and PC components, in depth features on everything from overclocking to console hacking, and gaming previews and interviews.

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