AMD CPU-GPU Processor

[rond36]

Oct, 25, 2006

Hot on the heels of finalizing its merger with graphics player ATI, chipmaker AMD today unveiled some new plans in connection with its newly acquired unit: a combined CPU-and-graphics processor initiative called "Fusion" (http://www.sysopt.com/news/article.php/3640221).

This sounds to me like a new deployment method for onboard graphics! Everyone knows onboard graphics has never been a satisfactory gaming platform. I'm sure Dell and HP will jump right on this, as another way to cut costs and quality and force an expensive CPU upgrade for better graphics.

All I can say is the CPU and GPU had better be very fast, and the GPU better have its own dedicated memory that is as fast or faster than GDDR4 on a dedicated graphics card.

[PrntRhd]

The company also added that Fusion-based systems will continue to support enthusiast-oriented PCI Express-based graphics cards, physics accelerators, and similar add-ons.
Looks like two years development until this idea will come to production, also the quoted statement says volumes toward gaming applications.

[rond36]

The company also added that Fusion-based systems will continue to support enthusiast-oriented PCI Express-based graphics cards, physics accelerators, and similar add-ons.

That doesn't mean the slot for the card has to be on the motherboard. I have seen many motherboards with onboard graphics that support AGP graphics and don't have an AGP slot.

I can see boards coming out with just 4 PCI-E X4 slots

[jlreich]

I think this is the move towards everything being on one chip. I wouldn't necessarily look at it as "onboard video" as we know it right now. This will be quite different I think.

[saphalline]

Intriguing possibilities, but I don't see it becoming amazingly great as a mid-range gaming platform anytime soon. Too many chip-level implications to jump on the performance bandwagon.

No, I see this as more of a platform move for AMD to win back the low end market. Servers and cheap desktops are a no-brainer for this kind of thing. Cheap laptops would also benefit, but 2 years is a long time for Intel/NVidia to come out with their own product (in which case I don't see Intel giving up the mobile crown anytime soon). Maybe in 4 or 5 years we'll see some decent gaming numbers, but not in 2.

[jlreich]

Intriguing possibilities, but I don't see it becoming amazingly great as a mid-range gaming platform anytime soon. Too many chip-level implications to jump on the performance bandwagon.
Yeah I wouldn't think we will see video cards disappearing anytime soon. I'm just saying I think this is the first step towards total chip integration. And why not with quad cores just around the corner, and even more cores in the not so distant future. We are still yet to fully utilize 64bit computing. And a chaos chip is in the works.

I know it will be awhile until it becomes a real performer and there will be no need for a separate video card. At least five years, maybe ten...