AMD promises to revolutionise the way computer are

Is AMD Fusion really worth all the excitement?

To start with, let me remind you of what computers (both laptops and desktops) are today. A typical setup includes the Central Processing Unit (CPU) connected to Northbridge, which controls the Random Access Memory (RAM) and graphics component (GPU) via the PCI-Express port. Northbridge is then connected in-series to Southbridge, which is a Platform Controller Hub (which handles things like USB ports, audio card or power management). This typical and rather complicated setup is represented on Figure 1a.

Just like most things in this world, the approach to computers is becoming minimalistic- primary to reduce the costs and popularise computers all over the world, including developing countries. The first step, taken by most manufacturers, was an introduction of Integrated Graphics Processors (IGPs), and even though it didn’t simplify the setup that much (it was nothing more than liming a very simplified graphics card to the motherboard), it reduced costs of basic platform quite significantly. Nowadays these integrated graphic chips, like Intel GMA 4500MHD for example, provide enough power to perform most mainstream tasks, like watching HD movies, full internet browsing and even some light gaming. Nevertheless, Intel has decided to move a step forward by developing a Southbridge that’s integrated with the CPU, like in the upcoming Arrandale mobile processor series. In the Sandy Bridge platform (scheduled for 2011) however, Intel is also planning to merge their IGP (GMA-series) with the actual CPU. For some time we thought of it as a big innovation, but this has changed a lot since Advanced Micro Devices finally confirmed its new Fusion solution and put it on its roadmap!

The ‘fusion’ idea of AMD is not new at all as they have planned it back in 2006 when they paid a fortune for ATI Technologies. After all, it looks like it was very well thought investment, as AMD seems to have a huge advantage over Intel now, at least hypothetical. ATI, under the regime of AMD, has overall strengthened its position on the market and at the moment is a leader when it comes to innovation – world’s fastest (single) graphics chip, but also the one with the most modern features, is a desktop ATI Radeon 5870 DirectX 11 card (by the way, we are waiting for notebook 5xxx Mobility series very eagerly). Advance in graphics – that is something Intel will never (I am quite confident about that as Nvidia is simply too big to be just ‘bought’) have. After all, AMD Fusion will integrate all the functions of CPU, GPU and both ‘bridges’ functionality into one silicon die (Figure 1b). AMD promises that this solution will not only help reduce costs of systems, but also significantly improve overall performance as well as battery life, which is very important from the point of view of laptops. With all these goodies, we should not be surprised when AMD’s statements regarding ultimate gaming performance (Figure 2) in all form factors from high-end enthusiasts’ desktops to thin and light finally become true. Looking at the recently leaked roadmap (Figure 3.) for AMD laptop platforms, we can see that the first Fusion platform called ‘Sabine’ and based on ‘Liano’ APU (Accelerated Processing Unit – a new, fancy name that AMD has given to their fused design) will be the first piece of silicon manufactured (by AMD) in 32nm process and will reach our hands as soon as early 2011, which is an achievement very similar to Intel’s considering that Intel doesn’t plan releasing any 32nm quad-core models and it is still unclear whether they plan releasing any high performance models in 2010.

Looking at the plans of AMD for the nearer future, I believe that 2010 will be a breakthrough when it comes to their approach to laptops. Even though I don’t believe their CPUs will be very competitive when compared to Intel offerings, I think that such an expansive behaviour and attacking all form factors is a great warm up.

In general, looking at how hard AMD tries to innovate the laptop market (also look at ATI XGP solution) and how careless Intel is becoming (no high-end CPUs in 2010, anti competitive practises, delaying USB 3.0 chipsets), I strongly believe that the state of Intel being a leader of semi-conductor industry will not last very long.