AMD Fusion

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AMD Fusion

Codename(s)	Fusion Desna Ontario Zacate Llano Hondo (cancelled) Wichita (cancelled) Krishna (cancelled) Trinity Weatherford Richland IGP Wrestler WinterPark BeaverCreek ATI/Radeon Driver related BTC[1] [2][3][4][5] Palm[1][6] [7][3][4][5][8] Sumo[1][2][7][6][3][4][5] Sumo2[1][3][4][5]
Created in year	2009
Entry-level cards	HD 6250 HD 6310 series
Mid-range cards	HD 6370D HD 6410D series(Desktop) HD 6380G HD 6480G series(Mobile)
High-end cards	HD 6530D HD 6550D series(Desktop) HD 6520G HD 6620G series(Mobile)
Direct3D support	Direct3D 11
OpenCL support	1.1
OpenGL support	4.0
Predecessor	Radeon HD 5xxx Series

AMD Fusion is the marketing name for a series of APUs by AMD, aimed at providing good performance with low power consumption, and integrating a CPU and a GPU based on a mobile stand-alone GPU. There are two different types of the Fusion chip currently available, one with its CPU logic based on the Bobcat core and the other its CPU logic based on the Bulldozer -the successor to the 10h (K10) core. In both cases the GPU logic is HD6xxx, which itself is based on the mobile variant of the Radeon HD 5xxx Series. Fusion was announced in 2006 and has been in development since then. The final design is the product of the merger between AMD and ATI, combining general processor execution as well as 3D geometry processing and other functions of modern GPUs (like GPGPU computation) into a single die.^[9] This technology was shown to the general public in January 2011 at CES. Second-generation "Trinity" parts are expected in June 2012.^[10][11]

Roadmap

The 2011 platform integrates CPU, GPU, Northbridge, PCIe, DDR3 memory controler, and UVD on the same integrated circuit.^[12][13] The CPU and GPU are coupled together using a memory controller that arbitrates between coherent and non-coherent memory request. ^[14] The physical memory is partitioned: up to 512MB + virtual for GPU, remainder + virtual for the CPU. ^[14] The 2012 platform will allow the GPU to access the CPU memory without going through a device driver. ^[12] The 2013 platform will use a unified memory controller for both CPU and GPU. ^[12] The 2014 platform will add hardware context switching for the GPU. ^[12]

2011 platforms

2012 platforms

According to AMD, the new A10 is aimed more toward performance-class computers rather than the A8's mainstream focus, due to AMD's goal to deliver the best (new) APU every year. As portrayed in this APU roadmap document. The best 2012 offering from AMD; the A10 falls under the Trinity codename and aims to gain about 20%-30% increased CPU performance and 30%-50% GPU performance due to the jump from Radeon HD 5000-based graphics to AMD's new Radeon HD 7000-based GPU as explained in This article.

The 2012 Trinity A-series APU lineup (65W) will consist of the A10-5700, A8-5500, A6-5400 and A4-5300 series. The 100W higher-performing lineup will include the A10-5800 and A8-5600. As reported by CPU World, Lenzfire and TechPowerUp.

2013 platforms

According to presentations revealed by technology website DonanımHaber,^[17] the successor to Hondo is codenamed Samara.

Processing power

Netbook with AMD Fusion C-50 - Acer Aspire One 522 running Ubuntu.

The available memory bandwidth of single-controller DDR3-1066, which both the CPU and the GPU have to share, is comparable to the available memory bandwidth of stand-alone graphics cards:

• Bandwidth of single-controller DDR3-1066 interconnect bus
• Comparison of AMD graphics processing units
• Comparison of Nvidia graphics processing units
• Comparison of Intel graphics processing units

Current platforms

AMD Fusion Logo

Brazos (Ultra-portable)

AMD Ultrathin Platform was introduced on January 5, 2011, as the fourth AMD mobile platform targeting the ultra-portable notebook market. It features the 40 nm AMD Ontario (a 9-watt APU for netbooks and small form factor desktops and devices) and Zacate (an 18-watt TDP APU for ultrathin, mainstream, and value notebooks as well as desktops and all-in-ones) APUs. Both low-power APU versions feature two Bobcat x86 cores and fully supports DirectX11, DirectCompute (Microsoft programming interface for GPU computing) and OpenCL (cross-platform programming interface standard for multi-core x86 and accelerated GPU computing). Both also include UVD dedicated hardware acceleration for HD video including 1080p resolutions.^{[22][23][24][25]} This platform consists of:

• ¹ Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit
• ² TDP specified for AMD reference designs, includes CPU power consumption. Actual TDP of retail products may vary.

"Ontario" (40 nm)

• All models support: SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4a, NX bit, AMD64, PowerNow!, AMD-V
• Memory support: DDR3 SDRAM, DDR3L SDRAM (Single-channel, up to 1066 MHz)
• Config GPU are Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit

"Zacate" (40 nm)

• All models support: SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4a, NX bit, AMD64, PowerNow!, AMD-V+RVI
• All models use the BGA-413 CPU socket
• All models support single-channel DDR3 SDRAM, DDR3L SDRAM
• Config GPU are Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit

"Desna" (40 nm)

• All models support: SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4a, NX bit, AMD64, PowerNow!, AMD-V
• Memory support: DDR3 SDRAM, DDR3L SDRAM (Single-channel, up to 1066 MHz)
• Config GPU are Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit

Lynx (Desktop)

• All models support: MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4a, Enhanced 3DNow!, NX bit, AMD64, Cool'n'Quiet, AMD-V, Turbo Core (AMD equivalent of Intel Turbo Boost)
• Memory support: DDR3 SDRAM-1866 (up to PC3-15000)
• All models support DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.0 and OpenCL 1.1
• All models feature the UNB/MC Bus interface
• All models feature Angle independent anisotropic filtering, UVD3, & Eyefinity capabilities, supporting up to 3 outputs.
• None of the Lynx models feature double-precision GPU FP.

• ¹ Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit
• ² TDP specified for AMD reference designs, includes CPU power consumption. Actual TDP of retail products may vary.

"Llano" (32 nm)

An AMD A6-3650 APU

• All models feature upgraded Stars (Mobile Phenom II architecture) ^[28] CPU cores (Husky) with no L3 cache, and with Evergreen family graphics, specifically Redwood-class integrated graphics on die (WinterPark for the dual-core variants and BeaverCreek for the quad-core variants).
• All models are manufactured on GlobalFoundries' 32 nm SOI process.
• All Lynx desktop models support up to 4 DIMMs of DDR3-1866 memory and Sabine mobile models support up to 2 DIMMs of DDR3-1333 / DDR3-1600 dual-channel memory.
• All models feature UVD3 for hardware video decoding, including 120 Hz stereoscopic 3D support.^[29]
• All models have an integrated PCIe 2.0 controller.
• Select models support AMD's Turbo Core technology for faster CPU operation when the thermal specification permits.
• Select models support Hybrid Graphics technology to assist a discrete Radeon HD 6450, 6570, or 6670 discrete graphics card. This is similar to the Hybrid CrossFireX technology.

• ¹ Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit
• ² Per 1000 units

Sabine (Mobile)

• All models support: SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSE4a, Enhanced 3DNow!, NX bit, AMD64, PowerNow!, AMD-V
• All models support 1.35 V DDR3L-1333 memory, in addition to regular 1.5 V DDR3 memory specified.
• mobile platform
• All models support DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.0 and OpenCL 1.1
• All models feature the UNB/MC Bus interface
• All models do not feature double-precision FP
• All models feature Angle independent anisotropic filtering, UVD3, & Eyefinity capabilities, supporting up to 3 outputs.
• ¹ Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit
• ² TDP specified for AMD reference designs, includes CPU power consumption. Actual TDP of retail products may vary.

• ¹ Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit
• ² TDP specified for AMD reference designs, includes CPU power consumption. Actual TDP of retail products may vary.

"Llano" (32 nm)

• ¹ Unified Shaders (Vertex shader/Geometry shader/Pixel shader) : Texture mapping unit : Render Output unit
• Hidden APU info found in an AMD System Monitor (v1.0.0.2) config file,^[30] showing graphics segment model numbers with core/mem clocks; no other APU info available (model, cores, clocks, etc.). HD 6480M may be current model name for older G prefix from the file, thus the G clock info may be applicable.

Future platforms

• AMD's Financial Analyst Day 2010 revealed a new generation of Fusion APUs for 2012.^[31] Further details for the 2012 Fusion line was released in late-May 2011, by technology website DonanımHaber.^[32]

2012: Piledriver

• Piledriver is the codename for the new core design (Enhanced-Bulldozer based) that will replace the Husky (Stars based) cores in the A- and E2-series (Llano).
• Like Llano, Piledriver based APUs will be manufactured on the 32 nm SOI process.
• Piledriver will be the first commercial implementation of Cyclos Semiconductor's Resonant Clock Mesh technology. Resonant Clock Meshing implementation is expected to bring better efficiency and cooler temperatures to all AMD Piledriver chips.^[33]
• Comal is the mobile platform codename for the Piledriver based APU line. It is to replace the Sabine mobile platform.
• Virgo is the desktop platform codename for the Piledriver based APU line. It is to replace the Lynx desktop platform.
• The chipset series for both Sabine and Lynx will be carried over to Comal and Virgo respectively.
• The processor package for the mobile variant will be revised from FS1 uPGA package to FS1r2 uPGA package.
• The desktop variant will be equipped with Radeon 7000 GPU, 2nd generation Bulldozer core, DDR3-2133 memory controller.
• The processor socket format for the desktop variant will be revised from Socket FM1 to Socket FM2.

"Trinity", "Weatherford" and "Richland" (all 32 nm)

Piledriver based APUs will be divided into three main versions for specific price-points and markets ^[34]:

• Trinity covers the performance segment of the APU line. It will replace the Llano based A8-series.
• Weatherford covers the upper-mainstream segment. Replacing the Llano based A6-series.
• Richland covers the lower-mainstream segment. It is to replace the Llano based A4-series.

2012: Brazos-T

• For tablets, the power optimised Brazos T (Bobcat-based) will replace Brazos (AMD Z-01) platform.
• The tablet variant chipset is Hudson A55T FCH.
• Processors for Brazos-T are to be manufactured on the 40 nm process.^[36]
• The processor package will be revised from FT1 BGA package to FT2 BGA package. While for tablets, the processor package remains as FT1 BGA.

"Krishna" (28 nm), "Wichita" (28 nm), and "Hondo" (40 nm) (Cancelled) ^[37]

• For the Budget desktop and notebook markets (18 W TDP), Krishna was scheduled to replace the Zacate based E-series. It was expected to be available in 2 to 4-core variants.
• For the Low-power/netbook markets (9 W TDP), Wichita was scheduled to replace the Ontario based C-series. It was expected to be available with 1 to 2 core versions.
• For the Tablet market (<4.5 W TDP), Hondo was scheduled replace the Desna based Z-series.^[38] It was also expected to be available with 1 to 2 core versions. AMD had scheduled Hondo to begin sampling in December 2011, and start production in Q2, 2012.^[17] Hondo is a low power re-architectured variant of Desna. It would have been still manufactured under the 40nm process by TSMC.^[39]

2013: Steamroller

• Steamroller is the codename for the new core design (Next-Generation Bulldozer based) that will replace the Piledriver cores in the A-series line.^[40][41]
• Indus is the mobile platform codename for the Steamroller based APU line. It is to replace the Comal mobile platform.
• The chipset for Indus will be codenamed Bolton.
• The processor package for the mobile variant will be revised from FS1r2 uPGA package to FS2 uPGA package.

Kaveri

Steamroller based APUs will be divided into versions for specific price-points and markets:

• Kaveri APU covers the A8-, A6-, A4-, and E2-series of the 3rd generation Fusion APUs.

2013: Kerala and Samara

• Kerala is the codename for the Jaguar cores based platform. It is to replace the Enhanced-Bobcat cores based Deccan platform.
• The chipset for this platform is codenamed Yangtze.
• Samara is the codename for the Jaguar cores based tablet platform. It is to replace Brazos-T platform.
• The chipset for this tablet platform is codenamed Salton.
• The processor package will be remain as FT2 BGA package.

"Kabini" and "Samara"

• For the Budget desktop and notebook markets (18 W TDP), Kabini will replace the Krishna based E-series.
• For the Low-power/netbook markets (9 W TDP), Kabini will also replace the Wichita based C-series.
• For the Tablet market, Samara (codename also used for platform), will replace the Hondo based Z-series.

Competition

The direct competitor of the Intel Atom processor line is the AMD Fusion C- and E-series. The C-series (C-30: single core, C-50: dual cores) has a TDP (9 W) similar to the Atom, the higher clocked E-series (E-240: single core, E-350: dual core) comes with a TDP of 18 Watts which corresponds more to an Atom including a dedicated GPU (e.g. ION2, ATI 5430). The processors include a single or dual core 64-bit CPU with out-of-order execution, DDR3 memory controller and an 80-core Radeon GPU. The performance for games is significantly better for the E-series - up to 326.5% better, although neither of the platforms are well suited for gaming.^[42]

AMD Hybrid CrossfireX (Dual Graphics)

Hybrid CrossFireX (Dual Graphics)^{[43][44][45][46][47]}

For mobile version: http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/dual-graphics/pages/dual-graphics.aspx#2

See also

• List of AMD Fusion microprocessors
• List of AMD mobile microprocessors
• AMD mobile platform
• AMD Bulldozer
• Unified Video Decoder
• Radeon

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: AMD Fusion

AMD

• AMD Fusion Family official website
• AMD Notebook CPU/APU Roadmap 2011-2012
• AMD Desktop CPU/APU Roadmap 2011-2012

Media

• AMD Announces "Fusion" CPU/GPU Program, DailyTech.com
• AMD's vision for next few years, DigiTimes.com
• AMD's Purchase of ATI Closes, and Fusion Begins, TechReport.com
• AMD Fusion in Laptops - News and Info, Laptoping.com

Benchmarks

• AMD Fusion E-350 and C-50 vs Intel Atom, X-bit labs
• AMD Fusion A8, A6 and A4 vs Intel Core i3 and Pentium, X-bit labs