Time for a quick economics lesson. Even if AMD went out of business, prices would not "skyrocket" for Intel processors.
Enter our friend Supply and Demand. If Intel cranked up the prices, then there would be a large surplus of Intel processors, and many consumers would be rationed out of the market by the high price. It doesn't make economic sense for Intel to drive prices up. Suppose that Intel does crank up prices. How will that affect the consumers? Probably a longer lifespan for their computers, so they don't have to buy the expensive processors as often. This lowers demand, which forces prices down, as well as quantity. Ultimately Intel loses if they drive prices up.
Also consider this - Intel may not want AMD to go out of business. Sure, they'd gain loads of market share, but then it would be very easy to accuse Intel of being a monopoly, and then ****** goes to hell for them.
All this talk of "what ifs" needs to stop. In the long run, nothing will change in the business world for Intel and AMD.
Enter our friend Supply and Demand. If Intel cranked up the prices, then there would be a large surplus of Intel processors, and many consumers would be rationed out of the market by the high price. It doesn't make economic sense for Intel to drive prices up. Suppose that Intel does crank up prices. How will that affect the consumers? Probably a longer lifespan for their computers, so they don't have to buy the expensive processors as often. This lowers demand, which forces prices down, as well as quantity. Ultimately Intel loses if they drive prices up.
Also consider this - Intel may not want AMD to go out of business. Sure, they'd gain loads of market share, but then it would be very easy to accuse Intel of being a monopoly, and then ****** goes to hell for them.
All this talk of "what ifs" needs to stop. In the long run, nothing will change in the business world for Intel and AMD.