California Northern District To AMD: Work That Core!

Court gives green light to class action over computer processor structure

Core v. Module

In the end, as it so often does, the case comes down to semantics.

A consumer class action launched in 2015 alleges that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) misrepresented the number of core processors in its line of "Bulldozer" CPUs.

First, a quick and dirty definition: A core processor is an independent processing unit within a computer's CPU. Each core processor can independently execute user commands; the expectation is that several independent processors splitting commands between them will execute all of them faster than a single processor would.

The case, filed in California's Northern District, alleges that AMD plays fast and loose with its definition of "core." AMD, the original suit claims, "built the Bulldozer processors by stripping away components from two cores and combining what was left to make a single 'module.' But by removing certain components of two cores to make one module, they no longer work independently."

We can't claim to understand the interactions between two former cores that are smashed together into a new module, but let's just say the plaintiffs allege that these cores share enough internal plumbing that they are not as effective as truly independent cores.

The plaintiffs allege violations of California's Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law as well as fraud in the inducement, breach of express warranty and negligent misrepresentation - the slate that survived after two amended...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT