AMD Launches Fusion Family of Accelerated Processing Units

By DE Editors

AMD has launched a new class of accelerated processor that combines multiple compute capabilities. The AMD Fusion Family of Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) incorporate — in a single die design — multicore CPU (x86) technology, a DirectX 11-capable discrete-level graphics and parallel processing engine, a dedicated high-definition video acceleration block, and a high-speed bus.

New generations of desktop, notebook and HD netbooks are now available based on AMD Fusion APUs. Tablets and embedded designs based on AMD Fusion APUs are expected be available later in the first quarter of 2011.

"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," says 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. It's a new category, a new approach, and opens up exciting new experiences for consumers."

The company's VISION Engine, a set of capabilities in all AMD Fusion APU-powered PCs, combines:

• DirectX 11-capable graphics
• Parallel processing
• The UVD3 video acceleration block found in the new AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series GPUs
• Graphics driver capabilities updated on a monthly basis to continuously improve visual performance

Much of a computing experience is linked to software and, until now, software developers have been held back by the independent nature in which CPUs and GPUs process information. AMD sys its Fusion APUs remove this obstacle and allow developers to take full advantage of the parallel processing power of a GPU — more than 500 GFLOPs for the upcoming A-Series "Llano" APU  — thus bringing supercomputer-like performance. More applications can run simultaneously and they can do so faster than previous designs in the same class, according to the company.

Additionally, AMD Fusion technology enables 10 hours or more of battery life, according to the company.

For more information, visit the AMD Fusion website.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.