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The semi-dormant spat between Intel and AMD over Intel's business practices heated up with a broad subpoena hitting Intel's offices, courtesy of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

AMD has contended in its lawsuits against Intel in the US and abroad that the company engaged in anticompetitive practices. These efforts kept AMD from finding more market share for its semiconductors in the world's computers, CEO Hector Ruiz alleged.

Intel considers the competition a market issue, with AMD trying to get market share by litigation where they cannot get it by going head to head with the world's dominant chip maker.

That dispute could be influenced by a new investigation announced by Attorney General Cuomo's office today. His office tagged Intel with a wide-ranging subpoena for details about its pricing and business practices.

Cuomo wants to find out if Intel penalized computer manufacturers for purchasing competing products. He also wants to know if Intel paid customers to maintain exclusive relationships with them, and if Intel illegally cut off competitors like AMD from distribution channels.

All of those are claims AMD has made against Intel in its lawsuits. One dynamite quote about Intel's practices came from former Compaq head Michael Capellas, who said Intel "had a gun to his head," forcing him to stop buying AMD products.