AMD Delivers Next-Gen Notebook Platform
Last year we brought you some information regarding AMD's Griffin and Puma mobile processor and platform in this short article. It has taken a bit of time to bring them to market, but AMD is now ready with the newly designed processors and chipsets. The Griffin CPU is now known as the Turion X2 Ultra and notebooks based on the platform should be arriving soon. The technical specifications are available in our earlier post, and the official press release is below...
AMD Delivers the Ultimate HD Visual Performance on the Go with Next-Generation Notebook Platform
— Balanced notebook platform achieves superior 3D performance and HD-image quality with greater energy efficiency —
COMPUTEX, TAIPEI, Taiwan - June 4, 2008 - AMD (NYSE: AMD) today announced the availability of its next-generation notebook platform, delivering the ultimate HD visual performance and greater energy efficiency on the go. The platform features new AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processors with ATI Radeon HD 3000 Series Graphics for superior 3D performance and HD image quality, with industry-leading wireless for greater throughput and range. AMD customers overwhelmingly embrace the new platform, as evidenced by more than double the number of design wins compared to the last major AMD Turion processor introduction. These new notebook designs come from leading OEMs including Acer, Fujitsu, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, MSI, NEC and Toshiba.
This next-generation AMD notebook platform also serves as the foundation for new AMD Business Class, AMD GAME! and AMD LIVE! notebook solutions. "AMD is uniquely positioned to deliver balanced platform solutions that tightly couple computing and graphics capabilities for a visually rich user experience,” said Dirk Meyer, president and COO, AMD. “With the introduction of our next-generation AMD notebook platform, AMD represents a host of interrelated AMD innovations that combine to deliver the ultimate in both HD visual performance and business productivity on the go.”
Capitalizing on a Historic Market Shift
Consumers are now using their notebooks for more than just productivity, but also entertainment, such as enjoying and manipulating photos, watching videos and listening to music. Likewise, businesses are adopting Microsoft Windows Vista as well as applications that are more graphically intensive. Therefore, a notebook with robust graphics and video capabilities is essential to unlock the best possible experience.
;)
;)
“With the advent of Microsoft Windows Vista, its new graphics and multimedia features, as well as the applications that will be tailored to this operating system, discrete graphics have become a much more important part of the purchase decision,” said Bob O’Donnell, Program Vice President, IDC. “With the transition from desktops to notebooks, consumers and business professionals are not only seeking the portability and connectivity provided by notebook PCs, they are also unwilling to compromise on the features and performance needed to drive the latest generation operating systems and applications. This next generation of notebooks must deliver the graphics and video capabilities to address this requirement.”
Superior Technologies Working Together
As a part of the new platform, AMD today also announced a new notebook processor and chipset, which together deliver the ultimate in HD visual performance on the go. The AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile processor includes top enhancements including AMD Independent Dynamic Core Technology, a new mobile-optimized memory controller, and power-optimized HyperTransport 3.0. The new mobile AMD 7-series chipset, AMD M780G and AMD SB700, features integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 Graphics and delivers support for Microsoft DirectX 10. The integrated graphics also offer ATI Avivo HD Technology for better smooth 1080p HD playback and up to five times the HD capabilities.
Complementing the video capabilities to deliver a rich visual experience, the platform also offers the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3000 series discrete graphics, including the previously announced ATI Mobility Radeon 3400 and 3600 Series, and the new ATI Mobility Radeon 3800 Series, also introduced today. The 3800 Series delivers the highest levels of graphics performance in the ATI Mobility Radeon HD family, with support for PCI Express 2.0, the only notebook with DirectX 10.1, integrated digital output support for HDMI, DVI and Display Port, and multi-monitor functionality with native support for up to 4 monitors for mainstream notebooks. When using notebooks with both integrated and discrete graphics, users can also benefit from ATI CrossFireX Technology, a feature of ATI Hybrid Graphics Technology, which boosts graphics performance up to 70 percent by running the integrated and discrete graphics together.
“Windows Vista enhances the overall performance and productivity of the personal computer, offers rich visual experiences and makes the digital lifestyle easier, safer, more entertaining and better connected than ever before,” said Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president of the OEM division at Microsoft. “The AMD next-generation notebook platform provides optimized technologies that will provide an even richer visual experience for customers running Windows Vista and other graphically demanding applications.”
;)
;)
Cutting-edge Wireless Connectivity, Enhanced Power Efficiency
The next-generation AMD notebook platform also incorporates the latest in wireless connectivity technologies like 802.11 draft n and 3G from leading Better by Design partners including Atheros, Broadcom, and Ralink. These technologies provide superior range, faster data transfer and allow users to stay connected on the go.
“AMD and Broadcom are partners in the Better by Design program and share a common goal of helping our mutual customers create innovative, high-performance notebooks that deliver exceptional user experiences,” said Thomas Lagatta, senior vice president, Global Sales, Broadcom Corporation.
“The combination of our industry-leading Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and network interface controller solutions and the next-generation AMD Turion X2 Ultra Mobile Processor platform provides notebook users with a variety of ways to stay connected to the people and information that matter to them."
The next-generation AMD notebook platform also incorporates innovative power management technologies, including AMD Enhanced PowerNow! Technology and ATI PowerXpress Technology to maximize the efficient use of power for longer battery life. AMD Enhanced PowerNow! Technology provides independent and dynamic control of core performance, and the ability to shut off areas of core logic when not in use to preserve power. ATI PowerXpress Technology, in turn, provides the high performance of discrete graphics when plugged into a power source and dynamically switches to integrated graphics when unplugged, enabling up to 90 minutes of extra battery life.
;)
;)
Security and Manageability for SMBs
Business users increasingly are recognizing the need to support today’s graphics-rich applications and operating systems in a more mobile business world. Small- and medium-sized businesses also recognize the ability of notebook PCs to increase productivity, and require improved security to prevent data loss. With designs that enable industry-standard security and manageability such as Trusted Platform Module and Enhanced Virus Protection*, small- and medium-sized businesses will find the next-generation AMD notebook platform helps meet their needs.
AMD Next-Generation Notebook Platform Availability
The AMD next-generation notebook platform is available to customers today. Systems based on the next-generation AMD notebook platform and the AMD Turion X2 Ultra Dual-Core Mobile Processor and ATI Radeon HD graphics, will be available from OEM customers beginning this quarter.
