First, the links: FTC Challenges Intel's Dominance of Worldwide Microprocessor Markets Jen-Hsun Huang (from nVidia) on U.S. Federal Trade Commission Action Quotes: "...using threats and rewards aimed at the world’s largest computer manufacturers, including Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and IBM, to coerce them not to buy rival computer CPU chips." "...prevent computer makers from marketing any machines with non-Intel computer chips." "In addition, allegedly, Intel secretly redesigned key software, known as a compiler, in a way that deliberately stunted the performance of competitors’ CPU chips." "...which aims to preserve its CPU monopoly by smothering potential competition from GPU chips such as those made by Nvidia..." Very interesting. Some things sound a lot like what Microsoft was doing back when the civil actions were raised against them.

I can hear Doctor Evil laughing in the background.

Good to hear. Dell sucks.

Um... this matter does not appear urgent.

Under the recently implemented rule expediting the Part 3 administrative hearing process, this matter is tentatively scheduled to be heard before an Administrative Law Judge on September 15, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

Quote: Original post by LessBread
Um... this matter does not appear urgent.

Under the recently implemented rule expediting the Part 3 administrative hearing process, this matter is tentatively scheduled to be heard before an Administrative Law Judge on September 15, 2010, at 10:00 a.m.

But it has been expidited. :-)

Since it is an administrative complaint (rather than a civil court case) it will be relatively fast. There will be 9 months before the start of the hearings and 20 months before the final decision from the judge. It has the same binding effect as a federal circuit court ruling, but MUCH faster.


If either Dell or nVidia had strong direct evidence they likely would have sent out the attack lawyers earlier because it would be easier to collect damages or a settlement.

If the FTC had strong evidence they wouldn't have waited so many years. The documents say this has been a very long investiagion (4+ years) including repeated discussions with intel's executives.


Combined it all leads me to believe that there is no "smoking gun" of anticompetitive behavior, and that any damages will be relatively low, in the few millions of dollars. (Relatively low for companies with tens of billions of dollars in annual income.)

I don't anticipate much from this. The complaints aren't about raising prices, they are about slowing market growth. There has been talk and research for few years on CPU/GPU converging into a single massively-parallel processor. Give it a while and this outcome will probably vanish as noise.