AMD claims that its Fusion APU (accelerated processing unit) is the
greatest revolution to the x86 architecture in years. Combining a
discrete-level graphics engine as one of the processing cores, the new
platform not only promises a superior video experience, but also
increased battery life with lower running temperatures.
If you are an AMD fan, the Fusion platform offers enough performance increase to justify a quick upgrade. However, with the recently-launched Sandy Bridge chipset by its rival Intel, will AMD be able to gain a foothold in the competitive mobile computing market? We give a quick rundown on Sunnyvale's latest baby
and let you decide.
Intel's Sandy Bridge platform also puts its graphics processor (GPU) on the CPU package. How is Fusion different?
Intel Sandy Bridge puts the GPU on the same CPU package as the processing cores, but does not share the fast L2 cache memory. AMD Fusion's APU, however, has a graphics engine which can access the L2 cache, which is suppose to make data and video processing more efficient. Below is a simplified diagram of the difference between the two technologies.
AMD Fusion.
Intel Sandy Bridge.
The end result is that AMD's Fusion platform not only claims to offer superior integrated graphics performance compared to its competitor, but also promises an impressive battery life of over 10 hours.
Why are the first Fusion machines so small? What about midsized laptops and desktop replacements?
According to the Sunnyvale company, the first wave of E and C series Fusion APUs target the ultrathin and minilaptop markets, which are the fastest growing segments at this time. The upcoming A series (Llano) APUs will offering mainstream performance for larger notebooks, though this class of chips will only be available from mid-2011.
APU series
|
Model
|
TDP
|
Cores
|
Speed
|
| E-series (codename Zacate) | E-350 | 18W | 2 | 1.6GHz |
| E-240 | 18W | 1 | 1.5GHz | |
| C-series (codename Ontario) | C-50 | 9W | 2 | 1GHz |
| C-30 | 9W | 1 | 1.2GHz |
How many Fusion machines are there?
There will be 35 units from different vendors in the initial wave. At this time, we've only seen the Sony Vaio YB and HP Pavilion dm1z laptops hitting retail stores, though we can expect the full lineup to arrive by March. Below is a list of Fusion-based notebooks which were showcased at the event, though the specifications and prices have yet to be announced.
So can we compare between AMD Fusion and Intel Sandy Bridge?
AMD did a nice flanking attack by not launching its mainstream and high-end Fusion chips, as it would have competed directly with Intel's Sandy Bridge platform which started off by offering the top-of-the-line quad-core Core i7 platform. Instead, the company is focused on gaining market share in the ultrathin and minilaptop segments with its energy-efficient APUs before ultra-low-voltage Sandy Bridge chips hit the market later this year.
So if you are looking at small but powerful laptops below 12 inches, AMD Fusion may be a strong competitor among the Core i3 and i5 ultra-low-voltage machines currently in the market. But when it comes to pure power and performance, Intel's Sandy Bridge quad-core machines are currently without peer.
How do I tell if a laptop has a Fusion APU?
This is where we feel that AMD dropped the ball when it comes to marketing its new platform. Unlike Intel Sandy Bridge, there are no new stickers or even modifications made to its Vision logo to differentiate its Fusion machines from the previous-generation laptops.
According to the company, this move is in line with its strategy of making it easier for consumers to choose a machine, as its Vision Basic, Vision and Vision Ultimate categories target specific demographics and does away with the need to study the specification sheet. Ironically, with the latest platform, consumers are, again, required to look at the configuration details to determine if they are getting the latest Fusion APU.
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