AMD is finally starting to show off its new chips based on the new low power Bobcat core. The folks at Hard OCP got a chance to check out a test system with a new Zacate chip which uses 18W or less of power. The platform also covers the upcoming Ontario chips which are destined for netbooks and other low thin and light laptops. Ontario chips will top out at just 9W of power.
Oh yeah, and that's 9W for a dual core chip with integrated Radeon HD 6250 graphics. The new chips will be some of the first "Fusion" chips from AMD, which combine the graphics and processor onto a single piece chip. They'll support DDR3 memory, 3D and HD graphics, and DirectX 11.
In other words, it looks like AMD is ready to stop playing catchup with Intel's Atom platform, and start competing head to head in the power consumption department.
At the same time, it looks like AMD expects the new architecture to offer significantly better CPU and graphics performance than the current Nile chips that are showing up in laptops like the Acer Aspire One 521 and Dell Inspiron M101z. Those laptops are already noticeably faster than typical Intel Atom powered netbooks.
The test rig Hard OCP tried out was able to handle 720p HD video, and was actually able to play Crysis at 720p resolution with the graphics settings set to their lowest. But that was with a Zacate chip, not an Ontario chip.
AMD starts showing off next-generation low power chips is a post from: Liliputing
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