AMD Unveils Low-power Fusion APUs

After over four years of hoopla, AMD has finally announced the low-power Fusion Accelerated Processing Unit chips. These Fusion APUs incorporate multi-core x86 CPU, DirectX 11 capable graphics with parallel processing engine, dedicated HD video acceleration block and high-speed bus for speedier data processing across the cores. Intel had just announced the Sandy Bridge CPUs and to complement them in the CPU game, AMD rolled out the new low-power platform Brazos based Fusion APUs for notebooks and desktops. The low-power Fusion APU loaded Tablets and embedded devices would be made available in the first quarter of this year.

AMD's Fusion project was announced way back in 2006. A Fusion APU comprises of x86 CPU crammed with GPU and dedicated Unified Video Decoder 3.0 HD video acceleration block for better video output. This UVD 3.0 is the same video acceleration block from the Radeon HD 6800 series graphics. This APU also has parallel processing engine that speeds up the application performance compared to an average CPU.

This means that the Fusion APUs would be capable of smooth 1080p HD video playback, upscaling of standard definition video to high-definition visually, conversion of 2D to stereoscopic 3D, load graphics-intensive web pages quicker and enjoy 3D gaming in HD resolutions. Of course, you'll get to enjoy the all recent DirectX 11 games.

Low-power Fusion APUs:

- E-series codenamed Zacate: dual-core 1.6GHz E-350 with 18W TDP rating and single-core 1.5GHz E-240 with 18W TDP rating; these APUs are designed mostly for notebooks, All-in-one desktops and nettops

- C-series codenamed Ontario: dual-core 1GHz C-50 with 9W TDP rating and single core 1.2GHz C-30 with 9W TDP rating; these APUs are meant for HD netbooks and emerging form factors

- A-Series codenamed Llano: quad-core x86 CPU crammed with DirectX 11 capable GPU and is meant for mainstream notebooks and desktops.

AMD noted that these new low-power Fusion APUs promises about 10 hours of battery life that even Intel Pineview processors offer.

Leading manufacturers that include Acer, Asustek Computer, Dell, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Lenovo, Micro-Star International (MSI), Samsung Electronics, Sony and Toshiba will roll out Fusion APU based products in this year. Out of these many would showcase AMD Fusion based notebooks and desktops at CES 2011.