What's your argument? That he was let go because his silicon came back and it was disappointing? Wouldn't that be more reason to keep him to correct the issues? If on the other hand, you're arguing he left because the performance was disappointing, then wouldn't it be all the more reason for him to stay to fix the issues since he is the lead on the design and the design is his legacy?
A prolific CPU designer wouldn't just up and leave before the introduction of his prized CPU design. He likely left because he was fired, AMD couldn't afford him or he was disgusted with AMD (most likely) and decided to bail. Been saying it for a long time now, AMD is in the grave but people are too afraid to call the time of death. Maybe by late next year AMD won't exist and someone more competent will have snatched up it's engineers and IP.
Not to be blunt, but who says Keller is anything like his old days today?
He is 53 now, not 42 or 43.
He is about the ARM K12. Not that a single person changes much, if anything.
I would be very anoyed, if I was one of the 500-1000 other AMD engineers working on the project. Just to hear Jim Keller that is a manager now is the god that sole handed creates the CPU(s) and dictate any success or not.
And rememebr Keller left AMD in 1999. Long before their K8 success.
Keller is not somebody who is there because he "needs the money." He seems to be somebody who genuinely enjoys what he does.
His departure signals that he no longer enjoyed his work at AMD.
I expect to see him pop up at Intel, Qualcomm, or Apple.
He probably retired
Also, it is just one person:
Also, that is what he does. This is his cowboy style. History seems to be repeating itself:
When the Chief Architect of your CPU division suddenly leaves. Then something is wrong. Either management wise or result wise (Assuming its not some extreme personal issue). Had it been planned in any way, then it would be announced long time a head and a replacement ready.
Can you tell me what was wrong at Apple when he suddenly left them 3 years ago?
Did he suddenly leave without a replacement at Apple? And when he left it was for a new job. What is it this time?
Did he suddenly leave without a replacement at Apple?
But the Job isnt done. Zen is far from production ready. It may for the matter still not even work outside simulations.
Or they got it back working great. This is the thing here, we don't know so all we can do is make a best guess on what we do know.
We know that Keller is one of the greatest chip architects of his generation and has never failed. We know that he tends to design great chips then move on.
I don't see any good reason to assume he forgot how to design chips all of a sudden.
You forget the R&D budget. Keller can be the best in the world for the sake of argument. But he is still only 1 person and need 1000, if not 1000s others to complete the design.
It's been done before. Merom and Brazos springs to my mind.If you think the first chip was a perfect homerun. Then I got something to sell you.
Do you really think that he stayed to design a chip knowing that the R&D budget wasn't good enough to do what he wanted? Why leave after it's done in that case?
It's been done before.
He is leaving now isnt he. Try just to compare AMDs 2012 R&D budget with today.
Merom and Brazos to name two.Example?
Do you really think that he stayed to design a chip knowing that the R&D budget wasn't good enough to do what he wanted? Why leave after it's done in that case?
AMD R&D budget isn't the same of when Keller was hired
You can't say anything for sure. Much of the talk is about a cash injection coming soon, why cut down on vital R&D?and given the sore state of AMD balance sheet, I'd say that the only thing we can expect for sure is that this R&D budget will be subject to further cuts.
AMDs budget drop from 2012 to now is easily explained without assuming or needed huge cuts to Zen CPU R&D.
Merom and Brazos to name two.
"Jim’s departure is not expected to impact our public product or technology roadmaps, and we remain on track for “Zen” sampling in 2016 with first full year of revenue in 2017."
Right, R&D doesnt matter. Whats the next excuse?
Please document AMD's reduced Zen R&D.Please document it.
That hints at what? That Zen won't be in the shops before 2nd January 2016? I think we all knew that already.Also AMD gives a hint.
You can't say anything for sure. Much of the talk is about a cash injection coming soon, why cut down on vital R&D?
That hints at what? That Zen won't be in the shops before 2nd January 2016? I think we all knew that already.
You do know rumours and reality may not be the same thing? Else AMD wouldnt even need a cash injection because it would already be sold 10 times over.