I googled "viral marketing AMD" and the first site that pops is this (after the ads of course)
http://www.ngohq.com/home.php?page=articles&go=read&arc_id=112
This was spread quicker than forest fire towards most technical forums at that year(days within that month). How did it ended up having no proof of AMD's viral marketing nowadays?
This is where TechReport actually confronted them on the viral marketing. Just incase people don't follow it from the link at the end of the article @ NGOHQ. If you are going to read NGOHQ's spin then you should read this as well. It's a bit more defining of the situation.
http://techreport.com/discussions.x/10847
I think it's funny that NGOHQ acted viral themselves and never actually inquired to AMD or Design Reactor if they were spamming on their site. I just find it interesting to see these junior Sherlock Holmes tactics. Rather than doing what Tech Report did and confront them.
A few months ago there were a few suspicions towards a graphic chips manufacturer regarding a possible use of viral marketing by using shills to provide positive feedback to its products on many forums. Recently, we received evidence that may link AMD, a processor manufacturer, to a possible use of viral marketing/shills on hardware site's forums by a third party company.
This is the start of NGOHQ's article. They are referencing what nVidia got caught doing. They are obviously trying to link the two events, as Seero has also done, rather than treat them as they are, two completely separate and unique occurrences.
Here is the meaty part of Design Reactor's response.
*snip*
AMD has not commissioned us in any way to do any kind of viral marketing or promotion of this site in any venues other than traditional paid media vehicles.
It does make sense that Design Reactor or their employees would want to promote a site they had created
Now, let's assume the worse. Let's assume they are lying through their teeth. Let's assume that AMD paid Design Reactor to spam these sites. What was actually perpetrated on the sites and community?
Well, the sites had their "no spamming" rules broken.
The community got told about an AMD site.
There was a lack of transparency.
Not at all the same thing that the nVidia Focus Group did. No one was hurt/banned, no anger and arguments, no ill feelings amongst bystanders. While they both are wrong and can be classified as viral marketing, that's where the similarities end.