Microsoft could create Surface devices with an AMD processor after a break with Intel

Microsoft could create Surface devices with an AMD processor after a break with Intel

A new report suggests that Microsoft may consider switching from Intel to AMD to power its next line of Surface devices after apparently being disappointed with Intel products. This decision would be a blow to Intel, and a big win for rival AMD. For five years, all Microsoft Surface products have run on Intel processors, but as Brad Sams, a Petri.com expert on Microsoft, noted, Microsoft insiders described the company's relationship with Intel as "on fragile ground." . leading the company to look to "move away from a purely Intel range" for its next-generation Surface products. According to Sams, Microsoft is experimenting with the use of AMD and ARM chips, prototypes of which have already been manufactured. A Surface Laptop prototype apparently uses AMD Picasso 12 nm SoC (System-on-Chip). Meanwhile, a new Surface Pro prototype would use a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip. It seems that Microsoft is collaborating with Qualcomm to create its own ARM chip, called Excalibur, which works better in Windows 10. This seems to be the case with Apple, which would ditch Intel in favor of its own ARM processors. Rumors, and remember they're just rumors for now, make sense. Microsoft has built relationships with AMD and Qualcomm, the first chipmaker for the upcoming Xbox Scarlett console, the latter working with Microsoft on Windows Snapdragon devices, so it's not unthinkable that the company would look to work with them on the new Surface. devices.

Blur with Intel

We think the fact that Microsoft is apparently eyeing other processor makers after tangling with Intel could come after a series of bad news regarding Intel. According to Sams, the relationship between Microsoft and Intel has soured due to disappointing Intel products. As Sams says, "With Skylake, Microsoft got burned by the immaturity between Windows and chips, resulting in faulty hardware and a serious black eye on the brand's reputation for high quality." Skylake is the name of Intel's sixth-generation Core processors, and while they've generally performed well, they've also fallen victim to high-profile security vulnerabilities such as Meltdown and Specter. However, Microsoft will not completely stop using Intel from its devices, according to Sams. The power of the Intel brand is still strong enough to change the product, and it seems that there will be an Intel Surface Pro 7 processor, as well as new versions of the Surface Book and also.