AMD Launches Fusion Accelerated Processing Units

Advanced Micro Devices or AMD (News - Alert), a provider of hardware and software solutions that enable advanced computing, has introduced a new range of accelerated processors that offer enhanced computing capabilities to the users. Known as the AMD Fusion Family of Accelerated Processing Units or APUs, integrate a number of components such as multi-core CPU or x86 technology, a DirectX 11-capable discrete-level graphics and parallel processing engine and a dedicated high-definition video acceleration block within a single die design. The solution also comprises of a high-speed bus that speeds data across the differing types of processor cores.

A number of newer desktop, notebook and HD netbooks based upon the AMD Fusion APUs have been made available at lower costs to the users, while tablets and embedded designs based on these components will arrive later this quarter. The APUs are helpful in achieving various product features such as smoother HD video playback, breakthroughs in computational horsepower to handle the most demanding applications, DirectX 11-capable graphics and longer battery life.

Well known manufacturers such as Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, MSI (News - Alert), Samsung, Sony and Toshiba will soon announce plans to deliver AMD Fusion APU-based systems, AMD hopes.

“We believe that AMD Fusion processors are, quite simply, the greatest advancement in processing since the introduction of the x86 architecture more than 40 years ago,” said 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.”

As more and more video content is being made available in the high definition or ‘HD’ format nowadays, a number of ways are being explored for enabling the consumers to enjoy this content right through their computers. AMD has included its VISION Engine, a set of enhanced capabilities into the AMD Fusion APU-powered PCs. The VISION Engine is an integration of DirectX 11-capable graphics, massive parallel processing to speed application performance and the UVD3 video acceleration block found in the new AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series GPUs.

In November 2010, AMD installed three ChargePoint electric vehicle or ‘EV’ charging stations at its Austin “Lone Star” campus for employees. The stations were manufactured by Coulomb Technologies, a provider of electric vehicle charging systems and application services.