AMD has finally merged with ATI.
http://www.ati.com/companyinfo/about/amd-ati.html
http://www.amd.com/us-en/0,,3715_14197_14198,00.html?redir=goBG01
http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/07/24/amd_acquires_ati/

We predicted trouble ahead for NVIDIA in our analysis of the AMD/ATI merger, but unsurprisingly, they're rather upbeat, if a little on the back foot, about the whole thing.

With Intel neglecting to renew ATI's bus license for core-logic solutions (hmmm, wonder why?) that leaves NVIDIA as the only disrete GPU and core logic manufacturer that'll produce products for both Intel and AMD systems. So, while ATI's GPUs will, of course still work on Intel systems, it doesn't look like we're going to see any new mainboard chipsets developed. GeForce and nForce I.E. will continue.

NVIDIA has also said that AMD still needs them. So, don't expect NVIDIA to stop producing technology to rival whatever the new AMD/ATI combo comes up with. Further, NVIDIA becomes 'Intel's best GPU partner', so they say.

All in all it's a tough one for NVIDIA. Their products, both GPU and core-logic, are very popular in conjunction with AMD CPUs, so they can't go abandoning their support for AMD. However, they will make this an opportunity to work closer with Intel, and the 'distracting, complex merger' will make them 'more competitive than ever' against ATI.

All in all, we get a feeling that right now their response is somewhat defensive, but we do wonder what opportunities NVIDIA may be presented with as AMD and ATI sort out the merger. Let's hope we're not left with a choice of AMD & ATI or Intel & NVIDIA...
http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6263

Its not quite official yet. They still need shareholder and regulatory approvals.

This is going to be bad news for Linux users. There are few Linux drivers for ATI products, and the ones that do exist are horrible.

Its not quite official yet. They still need shareholder and regulatory approvals.
None of which will threaten this merger.

All I have to say is that they better not shun nVidia. My homebuild systems have always been Amd/nVidia

All I have to say is that they better not shun nVidia. My homebuild systems have always been Amd/nVidia
The way I see it, AMD needed something to keep them in the game. Now that they'll have their own chipset manufacturer, they'll be able to hopefully stay competitive in the light of Intel's Core 2 microarchitecture. I'm sure AMD would have just as quickly gone with Nvidia, but AMD simply does not have the capital to buy a company as large as Nvidia. Intel has been sleeping for years and now that they're woken up AMD has to do something major to stay in the game.

it would suck if they just shunned nVidia, I like nVidia better, but they did need something stable to work with

Well, there goes AMD, we're now going to see their processors with ATI all over them.

Wait, was it a merge, or a buy-off?

Wait, was it a merge, or a buy-off?
It was actually a buy out, but AMD wants to pretend it's more of a partnership.(A partnership that just cost AMD 5.4 billion)

Reading this thread makes me want to go outside.

Don't, Prolonged exposure to fresh air can reduce your Internet Badass Quotient by up to 30 percent.

Funny, I don't feel less badass.

Pfft, you will soon.

It was actually a buy out, but AMD wants to pretend it's more of a partnership.(A partnership that just cost AMD 5.4 billion)
Which means they got owned....literally.

So does AMD just make processors? I can see the connection...

Yeah, AMD just makes processors while ATI makes video cards.

so basically they're teaming up to make their technology only compatable with each other's stuff, unfortunately

That's what I was thinking.

that's bad for Blackice, he's gotta be pissed if that's what's really happening to it