AMD changes plans for its CPU/GPU Fusion chip

According to reports in the Chinese media, AMD has still further modernized the Swift Fusion processor it had planned for "Shrike", the next-generation notebook platform, though this probably won't significantly delay the platform's launch, planned for the second half of 2009.

The reports say that instead of combining an AM2 dual-core Phenom (Kuma, 65 nm) with an R710 graphic core, AMD will move straight to an AM3 dual-core Phenom from the 45-nm line, with R 50800 graphics. Nor, apparently, will this Fusion chip be manufactured in Dresden, as previously rumoured, but by TSMC in Taiwan and in the internode process to boot (between 45 and 32 nm), i.e. 40 nm.

AMD also included some estimated performance figures on a presentation slide that was leaked a couple of weeks ago: the CPU is to be 20 per cent faster and the GPU 35 per cent faster than the current Puma platform, while at the same time consuming less energy. Ultra-mobile devices using the Shrike platform under Windows Vista will, it is hoped, offer more than six hours running time.

The successor chip, produced in the 32 nm SOI process by TSMC, should then come out in the shape of the Falcon platform by early 2010, which is not a lot later than Intel's first planned 32-mm processors. The quad-core Bulldozer, which disappeared off the AMD roadmap for a while, will be making its comeback along with Falcon, as well as enjoying a new architecture. The Falcon was originally planned for 2009 and in 45 nm –it's now set for take off a year later, but using 32-nm technology.

(trk)