Ep. 43 | Mark Papermaster: The EE and Exec Behind Apple, IBM, Cisco, and AMD's Success

Ep. 43 | Mark Papermaster: The EE and Exec Behind Apple, IBM, Cisco, and AMD's Success

Author: All About Circuits April 12, 2022 Duration: 51:19

The decades of perspective Mark Papermaster offers in this episode of Moore's Lobby is something to pay attention to: from reminiscing on the early days of microprocessors to bringing the iPhone and iPod into the pockets of millions as humanity's first "mini computers." Papermaster provides a throwback to the epic AIM Alliance (AppleIBM, and Motorola), a deep dive on AMD's APU (accelerate processing unit), the breakdown of the buzz around designing "chiplets," and how AMD learned to "punch above their weight" to take on competitors on who are 10X their size. 

Are you one of those EEs who gets "religious about one approach versus another"? Papermaster may influence your philosophy as Host Daniel Bogdanoff aims to uncover why Mark won't stop "preaching modularity" as it is "a critical facet of scale and goes back to the history of engineering innovation." Other topics include the importance of specialists and multidisciplinary engineering teams working together to solve the toughest problems and the fun behind AMD's high-performance processors. 

You won't want to miss Papermaster's unfiltered stories on: 

-The risk of redesigning AMD's Zen architecture

-Hear why many attorneys tell Papermaster "he is famous" for a landmark legal case (IBM vs Papermaster (Apple)), followed by lots of laughter because "engineers do not care"

-What it's like to be recruited by Steve Jobs

-Get his take on what makes a great chip designer

-How his current chapter as AMD's CTO and EVP of Technology and Engineering are "the most exciting years of his life"

-How AMD's acquisition of ATI Graphics and Xilinx has set them apart in the market 

-And, make sure to listen until the end of the episode as Papermaster shares his opinion on the most crucial skill engineers need to have in their portfolio today


In the world of electronics, the real story is often found in the people who design, innovate, and push the boundaries of what's possible. Moore's Lobby: Where engineers talk all about circuits is a monthly podcast that goes beyond datasheets and schematics to explore the human element driving technological progress. Host Daniel Bogdanoff sits down with a diverse range of guests-from hands-on engineers and visionary technologists to the executives steering major organizations-for conversations that are as much about personal journey as technical achievement. Each episode delves into the practical engineering and the broader industry trends shaping our future, but always through the lens of the individual's experience. You'll hear firsthand accounts of breakthrough moments, the challenges of bringing complex ideas to life, and the philosophies that guide leaders in this demanding field. This podcast from All About Circuits connects a global community of professionals who share a deep curiosity for how things work and who makes them work. It’s a space for nuanced discussion that aims to inform, inspire, and provide genuine insight into the circuit-driven world we inhabit. The dialogue here is for those who appreciate the substance behind the innovation, offering a blend of technical depth and narrative that you can naturally integrate into your own perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Moore's Lobby: Where engineers talk all about circuits
Podcast Episodes
Sensors Insights: Bridging Hardware Collection and Software Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:31
The "old school" way was simple: a sensor sees a part, tells the controller, and the actuator moves. It was pure hardware logic, and it worked. But in today's smart factories, that's only half the story. Modern sensors a…
Powering EVs: Microgrids & DC Charging Solutions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:25
In this episode of the Moore's Lobby podcast, we sit down with Antonio Di Vaira, Senior VP for Power Product of Schneider Electric to discuss the massive shifts happening in the world of energy distribution. The conversa…
Generative AI for Dirty Jobs—The Next Industrial Revolution? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:05
Christopher Savoie, the founder and CEO of Zapata Computing, has had a fascinating career journey. After beginning as a young programmer working with early computers, he switched gears to immunology and biophysics in Jap…
GaN Powers Up in AI, Robotics, and Our Lives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:41
In this fascinating interview, Alex Lidow discusses his early exposure to semiconductors through his father and grandfather, who founded International Rectifier. Initially pursuing aeronautical engineering at Caltech, he…