Justifying the need for silicon integration, which AMD dubs Accelerated Processing Unit, Bergman said: “This explosion in multimedia requires new applications and new ways to manage and manipulate data. Low resolution video needs to be up-scaled for larger screens, HD video must be shrunk for smart phones, and home movies need to be stabilized and cleaned up for more enjoyable viewing. When AMD formally launches the AMD Fusion family of APUs, scheduled for the first half of in 2011, we expect the PC experience to evolve dramatically.”
AMD is said to be sampling key customers right now, but it gave a peek into low-power APU performance by running a 30-second section of Aliens vs. Predator in DX11 mode.
Fusion APUs will arrive in the form of the 32nm "Llano" part for desktops and a 40nm "Ontario" for notebooks. If this very early-silicon sample is indicative of APU performance, AMD appears to be on the right track. Your thoughts?
