New Chip on the Block

AMD is creating ripples in the mobile PC market with the introduction of its
new processor codenamedPuma. Commercially the processor is called Turion X2
Ultra and its launch comes after a long gestation from AMD after its Turion
64x2, which was a 64-bit dual core processor. The new processor, Puma, promises
a host of dedicated notebook performance features that combines the needs of
business and entertainment demands of the users.

Reflecting on the new processor Dirk Meyer, president and COO, AMD says, AMD
is uniquely positioned to deliver balanced platform solutions that tightly
couple computing and graphics capabilities for a visually rich user experience.
The next-generation AMD notebook platform contains a host of interrelated
innovations that together deliver enhanced business productivity and the
ultimate in HD visual performance on the go.

Puma comes at a time when Intel is also readying its Montevina notebook
platform and Puma is getting some good feedback from the analysts. Bob
ODonnell, program vice president, IDC says, With the advent of Microsoft
Windows Vista, its new graphics and multimedia features, as well as the
applications that will be tailored to this operating system, discrete graphics
have become a much more important part of the purchase decision. With the
transition from desktops to laptops, consumers and business professionals are
not only seeking the portability and connectivity provided by notebook PCs, they
are also unwilling to compromise on the features and performance needed to drive
latest generation operating systems and applications. Thus, it is imperative
that the next generation of notebooks must deliver the graphics and video
capabilities to address this requirement. And the performance eco-system Puma is
offerings would be its USP as per analysts.

The significance of the new processor is that it is the first processor
designed by AMD purely for mobile computing. Previous versions of Turion had
come from desktop/server-based backgrounds, and hence, power savings, heat, and
battery life had been some their issues. But with the PC market orienting toward
notebooks, AMD is rather compelled to come up with a processor that promises
more effective power management. In Puma, AMD has reworked on the power supply
architecture and extended the split power plane design that enables processors
to run on variable speeds as per users applications and the processing power
needed for that. Further, AMD has also tweaked its memory to the mobile
environment.

Puma also has a major fillip with leading PC vendors like Acer, Asus,
Fujitsu, HP, MSI, NEC, and Toshiba that will be launching Puma-based notebooks.
The new processor apart from offering key elements like extended battery life,
and graphical capabilities offers better wireless capabilities as well. For
instance, Puma supports the 802.11 draft n standard that provides wider
wireless range. But according to analysts, the one area that calls for closer
scrutiny in Puma is its graphics performance. In the new chip AMD has used the
hybrid graphics technology. What it means is that notebooks (most of them)
shipped today come with integrated graphics-transistors welded on the chip-set.
But by using hybrid technology Puma will have both integrated and discrete
graphics that bring desktop graphical performance on a notebook environment.

Clearly there are significant innovations AMD has undergone in its new
processor and it is still uncertain how it will stack with the upcoming Intel
offerings. Nevertheless, Puma is a major update to AMDs Turion range and going
by the initial feelers it looks like AMD has finally arrived with a mobile
processor that might lure the mass market.

Shrikanth G

shrikanthg@cybermedia.co.in