Apple may be affected by AMD"s decision to buy graphics chipmaker ATI Technologies. Since the deal was revealed, Intel has confirmed it won"t renew ATI"s chipset bus licence, according to The Inquirer.
That is not good news for Apple. Given its move to Intel processors, the company must now consider ceasing its string of long-term deals for Mac graphics chips with ATI.
ATI presently supplies the graphics controllers for the MacBook Pro and iMac.
The purchase of the company by an Intel competitor may apply pressure on Apple to move its Mac range to graphics systems from other suppliers, such as Intel"s own 950 graphics system (as used in MacBooks and Mac minis), or to widen its relationship with nVidia.