First off, in case you don't already know, AMD is one of the largest processor manufacturers in the world. You hear a lot about Intel chips but I've found that AMD is usually first out of the gate with new features and the chips just seem to do better. Sure they run a little hotter but so what?

And ATI is a graphics chip manufacturer. Chances are your computer has an ATI (or ATI clone) video card in it, or a 3D accelerator chip or something else ATI. That's how big they are.

In reality I'm kinda surprised that it was AMD doing the buying and not ATI but that's beside the point. In the end, one of the best processors in the world will be married to one of the best graphics platforms in the world.

But what does this mean for gamers?

Well, for one, I can imagine that if the future console doesn't have an AMD processor then it won't have an ATI graphics system. That means that some consoles will die due to inferior graphics systems.

Sure other companies will try to compensate but there is no one else who can do graphics as good as ATI.

On the other hand, with these two technologies working together more closely imagine the possibilities. An AMD powered console with an ATI chipset that work together to improve the gaming experience.

No longer would they be fighting for resources but instead they'd be sharing console resources to make a more efficient gaming console that is faster, improves game play and has kick-ass graphics!

Think about it - many computer games have superior graphics than console games simply because they have superior processing and graphics rendering power. At the same time they are running a million other applications in the background.

Now take that same platform - strip out the programs you don't need and dedicate all your resources to game play. What would you have?

You'd have the most superior console in the world - that's what!