Depending on whom you ask, rumors are ripe that EVGA investigated the possibility of leaving Nvidia for the red pastures of Radeon land. While good business dictates that you always investigate your options, it seems that a strange series of events followed this possibility.

Different variations of the story continue to play out. The most popular one at the moment that seems to have the most steam is that EVGA spoke to AMD about the possibility of going red, and AMD told them something like ‘thanks, but no thanks.’

According to what we have been able to piece together, AMD said that they need to protect their partners; they only needed eight AIB partners and they felt they needed to stick with the AIBs that have hung in there with them.

EVGA forums have been abuzz with admins and mods trying to shut down talk of a possible switch. Still, EVGA did suggest that they did have a meeting with AMD about the possibility, but they decided to stay were they were, as this was the best decision for their business.

We think, however, that EVGA was trying to perhaps put themselves in a better position come Larrabee time; and were perhaps trying to avoid being involved in long term exclusive contract. Maybe they thought that for the short term they might be able to get a better deal from AMD.

Depending on who you ask it was either EVGA that chose to stay where they were, or AMD that rejected the possibility of adding EVGA. Does it really matter? Well, if EVGA is one of the possible AIBs that has already committed to Larrabee, then it might matter; but we think in the short term it is just idle talk that has gotten everyone excited for nothing.