AMD looks to mobile chips to raise fortunes

Chip giant unveils Turion 64 X2 next generation dual-core mobile processor

By Martin Lynch

11 May 2007

Be the first to comment

  • Digg
  • Tweet

AMD is hoping the introduction of its performance mobile processors will help turnaround its weak financial position and falling marketshare.

The chip maker has just released its latest Turion 64 X2 dual-core processors for notebooks, with support from technology partners nVidia and Broadcom. The chip arrives a week before Intel plans to roll out its dual-core Centrino products and has been designed to work with the graphics-intensive Windows Vista operating system.

Unlike the first mobile X2, which was built on the 90 nanometre (nm) production process, this is the first one to be produced on the 65nm process and boasts a 25 per cent improvement on battery life to around five hours.

Chris Cloran, vice-president of AMD’s mobile division, said: “Our next generation mobile processors, combined with superior graphics and wireless technologies demonstrate our commitment to an open platform strategy, which enables our OEM customers to design the ultimate mobile platforms. PC users today expect more from their computers and the Better by Design programme features the superior technologies and leading-edge performance buyers seek to meet the demands of their ever-expanding digital lifestyle.”

AMD’s Better By Design initiative is designed to allow newer processors and chipsets to be offered with a wider array of third-party technologies, which should appeal to PC manufacturers. For instance, the new processor can be fitted out with integrated graphics chipsets from rivals ATI and nVidia while OEM manufacturers will be able to pick wireless solutions from Atheros, Broadcom, Marvell Qualcomm and RealTek.

Dr. Edward Frank, vice president of research and development at Broadcom, said: “Broadcom’s strategy is to provide superior integrated wireless solutions that allow consumers to stay connected in more places and in more ways than ever before. We work with AMD to offer high-performance technologies that improve the PC experience by giving consumers more ways to share content wirelessly.”

The news comes as Intel has been celebrating stealing marketshare back from AMD and talking up its technology plans for the rest of the year.

Paul Otellini, Intel chief executive, said: “We introduced our fourth-generation Centrino last week, a platform code-named Santa Rosa.”

He also unveiled a tiny new processor for hand-held PCs and other mobile devices code-named Silverthorn.

AMD praises dual-core offerings

display:none
Loading
We won't publish your address
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms & Conditions

Your comment will be moderated before publication.

Will Apple's attitude to the channel change in 2012?

44%

20%

35%

1%

CRN Partner Connect 2012

CRN Partner Connect logo

CRN's premier networking event is back on 17 May at the Ricoh Arena

Date: Thu 17 May 2012

CRN Fight Night 2012

One of the fights from CRN Fight Night 2010

Channel fighters preparing to square up once more on 24 May

Date: Thu 24 May 2012

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Submit your email address and we'll send a link to a personal newsletter control panel

fragment image

The mobile enterprise: Secure the data, not the device

The proliferation of endpoint devices within the enterprise has highlighted the shortcomings of one of the traditional approaches to data security

fragment image

Measuring the ROI of Google Apps

This Forrester report compares the costs and benefits of legacy email and productivity software with Google Apps


Dave the dealer blog

Dave the dealer

Clocking off

Dave discovers that rozzers are seemingly living in the technology dark ages

View from the channel

Views from the Channel

Departing CEO has done Dixons a service

Mark Needham, founder of distributor Widget, argues that John Browett leaves for Apple with Dixons in better shape than when he arrived

To send to more than one email address, simply separate each address with a comma.