Intel To Launch GPU+CPU SOC Of Its Own, AMD Demos 18W Fusion Core

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AMD looks to soon capitalize on its success as the new sales king of the GPU market, by launching in early 2011 its "Fusion" products, which puts a GPU and CPU together on a single die. At the IFA 2010 trade show in Germany this week, AMD showed off an 18W TDP Fusion system-on-a-chip (SOC) solution. The chip combines dual Bobcat cores with AMD graphics, in what AMD calls an Accelerated Processing Unit (APU). The product is codenamed "Zacate" and looks like it could make a splash on the notebook scene thanks to its ability to decode 1080p video and play modern video games (all on a lean power budget).

Look out AMD, you aren't the only incoming SoC solution anymore


AMD looks to soon capitalize on its success as the new sales king of the GPU market, by launching in early 2011 its "Fusion" products, which puts a GPU and CPU together on a single die.

At the IFA 2010 trade show in Germany this week, AMD showed off an 18W TDP Fusion system-on-a-chip (SOC) solution. The chip combines dual Bobcat cores with AMD graphics, in what AMD calls an Accelerated Processing Unit (APU).

The product is codenamed "Zacate" and looks like it could make a splash on the notebook scene thanks to its ability to decode 1080p video and play modern video games (all on a lean power budget). Such a processor would be particularly desirable to ultra-portable designs.

Unfortunately for AMD it isn't the only one cooking up an APU. Bloomberg is reporting that Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini will show off his own company's take on a GPU+CPU SOC at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco next week.

The announcement creates in an interestingly competitive scenario -- AMD arguably has more GPU experience and the better graphics hardware technology. But Intel has had superior CPU processing per dollar for some time now.

John Taylor, a spokesman for the Sunnyvale, California-based AMD is quick to note his company's graphics edge, stating, "There are decades of research and design that goes into our discrete graphics. Intel has yet to deliver a product that has discrete-level performance. Right now, it’s just claims."

Of course those are bold words coming from a company that has experienced plenty of delays of its own in the past.

Intel is reportedly confident that it can outcompete AMD in terms of price. But its integrated graphics processors thus far have been far from stellar performers, to say the least. So who will pull off the APU upset? The CPU champion, or the GPU grandmaster? The financial stakes are high and the market is wide open; customers can eagerly await a hard fought battle and the release of some exciting new options in 2011.

Source: dailytech.com

AMD Unveils Fusion Zacate Processor

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IT'S MORE POWER to AMD's Fusion range as the company has announced today at IFA 2010 the Zacate 18W Accelerated Processor Unit (APU). Zacate is rated at twice the power draw of AMD's previously announced APU Ontario, which consumes 9W. The higher power consumption is due to the higher frequency Zacate will run at, but AMD declined to reveal that. What AMD did tell The INQUIRER in a one-on-one briefing at IFA 2010 is that Zacate will be in Vision branded nettop and low-power desktop systems in the latter half of 2011, with chips shipping to manufacturers in the first half of the year. Zacate will also tip up eventually in 11-inch notebooks and above.

Exclusive Coming in desktops in late 2011

IT'S MORE POWER to AMD's Fusion range as the company has announced today at IFA 2010 the Zacate 18W Accelerated Processor Unit (APU).

Zacate is rated at twice the power draw of AMD's previously announced APU Ontario, which consumes 9W.

The higher power consumption is due to the higher frequency Zacate will run at, but AMD declined to reveal that. What AMD did tell The INQUIRER in a one-on-one briefing at IFA 2010 is that Zacate will be in Vision branded nettop and low-power desktop systems in the latter half of 2011, with chips shipping to manufacturers in the first half of the year. Zacate will also tip up eventually in 11-inch notebooks and above.

Like Ontario, Zacate is a 40nm product. It has two Bobcat cores but will come on the Brazos chipset platform. The third Fusion chip, codenamed Llano, is expected in the first half of 2011, has four Bulldozer cores and is targeted at high end notebooks. AMD also confirmed that Orochi is a Vision product that will be aimed at the server market. It will have a Bulldozer core.

As Ontario has now been announced as a 9W processor this power consumption means its use will be limted to notebooks smaller than 11-inches. AMD also says Ontario will be available for "unique small for factors," which the company is somewhat coy about but could mean tablets. µ

Source: theinquirer.net

Die-Shot: Next-Gen 8-Core AMD Orochi Bulldozer

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In August AMD gave us a brief preview of what's to come from its next-generation technology known as Bulldozer. Now we get to see one of the first early die-shots from an eight-core "Orochi" processor that's based on Bulldozer technology and built on the 32nm process. Unlike Llano, this chip won't be a part of the Fusion initiative to integrate the GPU inside the die.

This is the eight-core version of Bulldozer.

In August AMD gave us a brief preview of what's to come from its next-generation technology known as Bulldozer.

Now we get to see one of the first early die-shots from an eight-core "Orochi" processor that's based on Bulldozer technology and built on the 32nm process.

Unlike Llano, this chip won't be a part of the Fusion initiative to integrate the GPU inside the die. But also unlike Llano, Bulldozer is based on next-generation AMD technology, while Llano shares its ties with Phenom CPUs.

Either way, we're expecting big things from AMD in 2011.

Source: tomshardware.com