Monday, August 10th 2009
AMD Adds New Levels of Processing Performance to Embedded BGA Client Platform
AMD today announced immediate availability of two new dual-core, 18W TDP processors for the highly-scalable ASB1 BGA embedded client platform. The AMD Turion Neo X2 processor Model L625 and the AMD Athlon Neo X2 processor Model L325 deliver PC-caliber performance in a very low power envelope and with an embedded-friendly ball grid array (BGA) package.
This embedded client solution is ideal for traditional embedded applications such as single board computing and thin client systems, as well as markets for self-service kiosks, point of sale machines and digital signage. The ball grid array (BGA) package helps alleviate potential reliability issues for systems that are deployed in rugged environments and has a low z-height that is designed to enable thin, compact enclosures.
The addition of these new dual-core processors to the ASB1 BGA platform can help increase the performance of existing single-core designs. When combined with either the AMD 780E or M690E chipset, embedded system designers can take advantage of a complete x86-based solution that can help streamline development, minimize time to market and offers leading-edge graphics capability, which is increasingly important in many embedded markets. All of AMD's embedded products are offered with industry-standard 5-year component longevity.
Systems based on the new dual-core processors are expected at launch from industry-leading embedded system providers IBASE and IEI, among others.
AMD Perspective
"We are committed to helping simplify the development cycle for our embedded customers with a platform that readily addresses the shifting needs of their markets," said Buddy Broeker, director, Embedded Computing Solutions Division, AMD. "Systems such as digital signage, point of sale, and thin clients require PC-class performance and a rich graphics experience. Our ASB1 BGA platform is a ready-to-go, one-stop solution for these markets and at the same time offers the flexibility of multiple CPU and chipset choices."
Industry Comments
"The rapid adoption of x86 processors in embedded designs, which is a trend that AMD helped spur in the high-end space, has largely been driven by the need to simplify designs and get them on the market more quickly," said Eric Heikkila, director, Embedded Hardware and Systems analyst, VDC Research Group. "From the hardware perspective, AMD's comprehensive platform approach offers mainstream performance, very low power consumption, and takes a lot of the guesswork out of the development process."
"With the AMD Athlon Neo X2 processor, AMD is offering us a new CPU option that improves on the punch of the single core predecessor with a mere 3 watts increase in processor power consumption," said Dwight Looi, product manager, IBASE Technology. "There is no 18 watt processor on the market that offers our customers precisely the same combination of power efficiency, performance and value, making it a natural choice for our embedded applications."
Source:
AMD
This embedded client solution is ideal for traditional embedded applications such as single board computing and thin client systems, as well as markets for self-service kiosks, point of sale machines and digital signage. The ball grid array (BGA) package helps alleviate potential reliability issues for systems that are deployed in rugged environments and has a low z-height that is designed to enable thin, compact enclosures.
Systems based on the new dual-core processors are expected at launch from industry-leading embedded system providers IBASE and IEI, among others.
AMD Perspective
"We are committed to helping simplify the development cycle for our embedded customers with a platform that readily addresses the shifting needs of their markets," said Buddy Broeker, director, Embedded Computing Solutions Division, AMD. "Systems such as digital signage, point of sale, and thin clients require PC-class performance and a rich graphics experience. Our ASB1 BGA platform is a ready-to-go, one-stop solution for these markets and at the same time offers the flexibility of multiple CPU and chipset choices."
Industry Comments
"The rapid adoption of x86 processors in embedded designs, which is a trend that AMD helped spur in the high-end space, has largely been driven by the need to simplify designs and get them on the market more quickly," said Eric Heikkila, director, Embedded Hardware and Systems analyst, VDC Research Group. "From the hardware perspective, AMD's comprehensive platform approach offers mainstream performance, very low power consumption, and takes a lot of the guesswork out of the development process."
"With the AMD Athlon Neo X2 processor, AMD is offering us a new CPU option that improves on the punch of the single core predecessor with a mere 3 watts increase in processor power consumption," said Dwight Looi, product manager, IBASE Technology. "There is no 18 watt processor on the market that offers our customers precisely the same combination of power efficiency, performance and value, making it a natural choice for our embedded applications."
15 Comments on AMD Adds New Levels of Processing Performance to Embedded BGA Client Platform
May be if this is released as regular desktop parts I will buy a few for my servers at home :rockout:
It will most likely not be pushed into a Netbook, at least not at first or by AMD directly. But hell, once a company buys them, they can pretty much put them in whatever they want.
Be we should stop this OT nonsense in a news thread now. lol.
At any rate, I want to know the overall power draw for the entire platform. Is this indeed capable of being crammed into a netbook, and still have very good battery life?
Long story short, I think AMD has found a good spot in the market where they can do well without interference from Intel. If only they would push the multimedia/performance marketing a bit more, I think they'd have a much larger following in the notebook arena. Despite being paired with admittedly fast, efficient processors, people don't realize quite how crippling Intel graphics are until long after they purchase a notebook equipped with them.
I'd like to point out that the release also mentions the 780E chipset, which I guess makes the Congo platform complete, huh? Not a spectacular launch, but from what I've seen the the products I've handled thusfar, it's a good product with good potential.
On the Intel side, take a look at the Acer Timeline. It's a very similar product, albeit larger and with longer battery life. It's a bit bland, obviously more oriented for portable workspace productivity than multimedia, but a good platform nonetheless. AMD needs to flex their muscle here. HP makes some very good, larger notebooks with the 700-series mobile chipsets built into them. Cut out the optical drive, slim it down, throw in a Turion X2, and I'd buy two.