AMD hires analyst to boost business sales

Advanced Micro Devices has hired former Gartner analyst Kevin Knox to serve as an evangelist to corporate computer makers and information technology managers. AMD has been trying for years, without great success, to get its chips inside of PCs sold to large businesses. The corporate climate, however, is warming up for AMD. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based chipmaker has shown it can manufacture chips in volume and match or beat rival Intel on certain performance benchmarks. NEC has decided to incorporate the company's Athlon and Duron chips in business PCs in select European markets.