AMD’s next-generation Turion Ultra Processor – The Griffin

AMD’s next-generation of Turion Ultra’s will include a new processor called the ‘Griffin’ (Pea . tear . Griffin ?) the Griffin will have two cores and is specifically designed for mobility, unlike existing Turion chips, Griffin was designed for laptops and so features extra, mobile-friendly circuitry for better power management. Such as the integrated graphics (DirectX 10 graphics built in) will work in conjunction with a discrete graphics card to help lower power consumption by allowing it to power down until it is needed, thus saving more power!

In short AMD have made a good, fast, mobile processor and it looks like AMD isn’t out of the race, yet (although Intel may be gearing up to release a new Centrino 2 chip). I wouldn’t mind seeing one of these babies in my next notebook, plus you got to love an underdog.

Official Press Release

THE AMD VS INTEL CHIP WAR

AMD'S NEW PROCESSOR LAUNCH CAPITALISES ON INTEL'S DELAY

AMD (Advanced Micro Devices) launches its next-generation mobile processor – the AMD Turion Ultra notebook platform. The new processor is the first real opportunity to capitalize on their controversial US$5.4 billion acquisition of graphics company ATI in July 2006. A successful launch of the new AMD platform is seen by some as a turning point for AMD to take advantage of ATI's graphics expertise and Intel's failure to deliver its new laptop system. Intel were forced to postpone their release due to experiencing problems with their integrated graphics chip set - and a chip delay means that laptop manufacturers that have been planning on using it either will have to wait, or go with another platform.

By AMD's own admission, it's been a challenging time for the company as it attempts to go head to head with Intel and increase its market share which grew to 18% in 2007. Despite the current financial climate, the mobile computer market has become a key battlefield for chip makers. AMD sees mobile success as critical to its future growth; in 2007, AMD notebook sales grew by 53% compared to Intel's growth of 33%. Overall laptop sales grew 37% worldwide from 2006 to 2007, particularly in emerging markets such as Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East and Africa, which has experienced 67% and 45% growth in sales respectively.

But it is the home entertainment market that could be key for AMD and also signal the death of the home desktop PC, as laptop power and graphics become increasingly sophisticated. Personal laptops now outsell home desktops, with 83% of people in Europe stating they use their notebooks for entertainment alone, such as HD gaming, HD DVD, streaming live TV and accessing the internet. AMD have tapped into this entertainment-driven market with specific features that enable the user to experience high quality graphics without draining the battery life of the notebook – enabling a mobility not previously seen before.