CPU/Mobo AMD Fusion APU's finally revealed

[Dark Star]

After years of acquisition of the graphics giant ATI, AMD planned the Fusion processors way back but due to limited resources and lack of better manufacturing process, the Fusion program just couldn't see the light. But with advancement in both resources and better manufacturing process (32nm for Bulldozer/Liano and 40nm for Bobcat) AMD fas finally revealed the first public display of both of the upcoming Fusion series of processors aimed at different audience.

Liano aimed at mainstream and mid-high end PCs will feature 4 core CPU with a quality graphics subsystem, delivering stupendous all around performance. However like Bobcat and Bulldozer, Liano is manufactured from the old K8 architecture. Though AMD engineers reported that the core area has been re engineered, with added functionality likes Turbo Core, Power Gating and many advanced features that will debut with the upcoming series of processors.

At Global Foundaries GTC conference AMD displayed the wafer for the upcoming mainstream Liano APU's. Except for Bobcat every other processors are manufactured in Global Foundries.

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The next in the line is the AMD response to Intel Atom/CULV and other low power processors. The Ontario which is one half of the Bobcat architechture will feature 2 x86 core with integrated graphics, the CPU will be focused to be on the ever growing Netbook, Tablets and other portable market. With mere 9W TDP (Both CPU+GPU) AMD Ontario should perform better than Intel Atom thanks to the Out of the order execution that it comes with which is missing from the ATOM series of processors.

Die Shot Comparision of Ontario and Atom​

On the other hand AMD will release Bobcat based Zacate CPU featuring 18W TDP, aimed at the Intel CULV's , Zacate is also a Dual core design with Integrated graphics. However at this point of time its difficult to tell the difference, the only that we can speculate is the difference in the graphics processing power and clock speed.

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AMD has demoed the Bobcat based system at IFA. The reports from several websites proves that Ontario was working well, the early sample (A0 stepping) were able to run full HD video with ease, while able to do multitasking and various other general task with ease.

Some excerpt from various sources : -

The first "fusion" APU also known as "Ontario" höchstselbst could provide us, however, and were immediately a few details to runnable 9-watt model price, which occupies just one-third to quarter of the current size of a Phenom II notebook processor..

Coumputer base.de : AMDs

Unfortunately, we can’t share any pictures, but we can assure you that Ontario test platform is alive and kicking. Aside successfully working with Windows 7 OS, it did manage to accomplish several other things, but more on that later on. As it was stated on test motherboard, the silicon used was A0, with integrated UVD (most probably version 3.0). During the test, very small and basic cooling solution was used, but it still managed to keep APU cooled at around normal body temperature even under heaviest loads.

Ontario is next generation AMD platform aimed to take place in HD netbooks and ultra thin laptops, so we naturally wanted to check how good HD video playback is. Well known and slightly irritating Big Buck Bunny video was used, 1080p resolution, and both playback and fast forwarding were very, very smooth. Next we tried Microsoft‘s N-Body Particle systems test, which showed dramatic performance difference when using GPU instead CPU for calculation, as well as full DirectX 11 compatibility. Among other things we tried, Office 2010 worked very fluidly, and we even witnessed 3Dmark06 in action. As this not being final product, with driver and possibly architecture improvements still to come, we can’t give you any numbers there, but the fact it was working and didn’t take forever to finish things, is good enough for us. There was AVP benchmark shortcut, but we couldn’t run it at the moment, hopefully we will have more luck tomorrow.

Inside Hardware : InsideHW - IFA 2010: Ontario, Next AMD Netbook Platform - First Impressions

The test system is the Zacate-APU. This includes two BobcatCPU cores, a graphics unit, as well as a traditional memory controller and other I / O modules to communicate with the rest of the system. The TDP of ZacateAPU puts AMD at 18 watts, which used aluminum radiator (about 4x4x2 cm plus fan) was, however, several minutes exposure to 3D applications and full HD playback even after warm. We estimate the temperature to 25-30 ° C.

Among others, we have GPU acceleration of Internet Explorer 9 admire what the standard settings of the Flying Images tests ran with about 60 FPS. Even a FullHD film could easily decode the APU, smooth play. The game "City of Heroes" was shown but also in liquid, but in much reduced settings, which were a reasonably well near the minimum. must be noted, however, that it is Zacate only a small APU is, what about an Intel Atom is to compete and this should succeed AMD.

In conversation with John Taylor , we learned more details and could also ZacateAPU including BGA package design in the hands hold in. The package measures about 1.5 x 1.5 cm edge length, the die of the APU itself is slightly smaller than the one RV810 GPU (63 mm ²), see picture above. Zacate points, as already mentioned, a TDP of 18 watts on , the "little" brother, Ontario with nine watts exactly half.

Hardware-Infos : IFA - Spezifikationen und Bilder von AMDs Fusion - News - Hardware-Infos

Source for Liano Images : SemiAccurate :: More Llano wafer pictures

 

[HailStonE]

Lets see at what price point they release them...

I am looking forward to Bobcat as an ultra low power HTPC connected to a WiFi Router 24x7... If they can price it right then bye bye ATOM...