If NVidia licensed 8086 architecture from Intel like AMD does, then Intel and AMD would be in serious trouble.
Wouldn't happen. Intel doesn't do business that way.
AMD only has an x86 licence because IBM stipulated that a second source for 8088 processors was required for the IBM PC, both to ensure supply and quality. Intel were strong armed into accepting AMD as a second source supplier.
VIA only has an x86 licence because they bought Cyrix (minus MediaGX) from National Semiconductor who included their x86 license, who were originally obtained the x86 licence through a cross-license of IP with Intel .
Before NVidia gets any bigger Intel should buy it
But they likely wont. Intel are wedded to x86 - even their math co-processor (Xeon Phi) leverages it.
Intel could consider a buy out for Nvidia's in-place markets and IP (which is still found in Intel products and will likely be subject of a continued cross-licence agreement), but Nvidia seem to have been guarding against that eventuality by instituting
a rigorous stock buy back program. Buying a cash-rich Nvidia won't be cheap, and it would be a certainty that Jen Hsun would demand a high profile position in the new hierarchy- two obstacles Intel would probably balk at.
Intel has tripled the on chip graphics of the 4th gen i3/5/7 chips and for most applications eliminates the need for a GPU from AMD or NVidia, which is a major threat to them. Can't see discrete graphics existing in 2016.
A few points to consider:
Intel has zero presence in workstation graphics
Intel is still a minor player in GPU math co-processors, and even with a process lead over Nvidia,
can't get anywhere near them in efficiency.
Intel's iGP is gaining steady ground on discrete graphics, but they are still a long way from destroying the discrete market. Think an Intel HD graphics is ready for 4K gaming? multi-monitor gaming? post process menu options in games (HBAO/HDAO/SSAO, depth of field etc.)? tessellation ? driver stability and user options? and of course, how many people associate Intel with PC gaming ?
As iGP's increase in performance, Nvidia and AMD will keep pushing gaming hardware requirements to safeguard their own future products.
Ah ok. Why did it take so long to implement if it is that simple (in concept)? Was the manufacturing tech not there yet? Was it too expensive?
Yes and yes.
Stacking silicon means finding a way to either effectively heatsink the whole stack ( volume increases versus surface area), or reducing input power. Smaller process nodes means more effective transistor tech which is required as heat increases with transistor state switching speed. A brief overview >>
here<<. I would also note that
HBM isn't slated for Nvidia only.
Stacked DRAM (or any stacked silicon) requires connections between layers. TSV's (
Through
Silicon
Via -Via standing for Vertical Interconnect Access), and they are only really feasible on small process nodes, as their mass has a direct relationship with input power demand (and waste heat output).
I bet we will have >4GB GPUs by default within the next few years because of 4K.
With double density memory IC's now hitting the market, 4GB will be the new 2GB...although I suspect that 4K won't drive the change but marketing.
More is better, right? Advertising says this is so, so it must be right.