AMD Fusion Processors Unveiled

AMD (NYSE:AMD) has unveiled a new class of accelerated processor that brings in supercomputer-like performance to every day computing tasks, including superior Internet, video and gaming experiences. AMD's launch at the CES comes a day after Intel showcased its Sandy Bridge second generation of Core processors.

AMD said its Fusion family of Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) combines high-performance serial computing and parallel graphics processing cores onto a single chip. The new processor incorporates multi-core CPU technology, a powerful DirectX11-capable discrete-level graphics and parallel processing engine, a dedicated high-definition video acceleration block, and a high-speed bus.

These APUs feature the new x86 CPU core codenamed “Bobcat”, the company's first new x86 core since 2003, AMD said.

We believe that AMD Fusion processors are, quite simply, the greatest advancement in processing since the introduction of the x86 architecture more than forty years ago, said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager, AMD Products Group.

In one major step, we enable users to experience HD everywhere as well as personal supercomputing capabilities in notebooks that can deliver all-day battery life, said Bergman.

AMD said desktops, notebooks and HD netbooks based on AMD Fusion APU are now available. Tablets and embedded designs based on AMD Fusion APUs are expected be available later in the first quarter of 2011.

We think the work AMD has done with Fusion to combine x86 CPU architecture and discrete-level graphics performance creates opportunities for Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 9 to deliver real-world customer benefits including accelerated browsing, HD video and 3D gaming, said Tami Reller, corporate vice president of Windows marketing, Microsoft.