Advanced Micro Devices was once again unsure when exactly it is capable of releasing its highly-anticipated code-named Fusion processor during its meeting with financial analysts on Thursday. Based on the current indications made by the world’s second largest x86 chipmaker, the products, which combine general purpose as well as graphics cores, will be delayed to the second half of 2009.
The concept chip that combines general purpose as well as graphics computing capabilities, which is usually named Fusion, is now called Accelerated Processing Unit (APU), according to a presentation of Mario Rivas, executive vice president of computing solutions group at AMD.
“I am happy to announce the birth of a new category, the Accelerated Processing Units. The ‘new AMD’ now has access to excellent IP on CPUs, excellent IP on graphics processing units and second to none chipsets. The integration of all these parts and our uniqueness – customer centric innovation – create the APU,” said Mr. Rivas.
The first APU, that is “on track to market in 2H 2009” is code-named Swift and features two or three general purpose x86 cores based on AMD’s new-generation micro-architecture (the same that is used in Phenom processors), graphics core based on “existing high-end discrete” design (possibly, ATI Radeon HD 3800), DDR3 memory controller as well as PCI Express bus controller. The chip will be made using 45nm process technology.
“The first APU platform is code-named Swift. It gives you the choice of technologies for high-confidence volume production ramp. We want to re-use as much [IP] as possible to accelerate our quality [qualification] and time to market. So, we have an AMD Stars CPU core, the graphics core that is based on the present high-end discrete GPU core and leverages the North Bridge that is presently found in Griffin, the CPU of the Puma platform. It will be our second 45nm generation product, so the maturity of the [production technology] will be proven. It is done on the current SOI design rules, which is the process that we know how to build on very well,” Mr. Rivas explained.
Initially the company indicated that Fusion processors “are expected in late 2008/early 2009”, and the company anticipated to use them within all of the chipmaker’s “priority computing categories”, including laptops, desktops, workstations and servers, as well as in “consumer electronics and solutions tailored for the unique needs of emerging markets”. A little later the company said that the first-generation of Fusion chips will be aimed at laptops and that production will start in early 2009. This time AMD claims that the actual chips will reach the market only in the second half of 2009, which may mean that the product will only be launched commercially in Q4 2009. Still, the company said that it is minimizing all the risks hopes to really deliver the product on time.
“By optimizing the choice of IP blocks we have less risks and faster time to market in the second half of 2009,” claimed , executive vice president of computing solutions group at AMD.
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