AMD launches quad core x86 SoC, targets high growth markets

Kamal Khouri, director of embedded products with AMD Embedded Solutions, said: "The next computing revolution will see computing engines fading into the background. This will require a lot of intelligence to be within devices, as well as connectivity. It's a huge opportunity for AMD, but it requires new ways to solve problems and new architectures." AMD is looking for the SoC approach to allow it to target higher growth markets and hopes to be generating 20% of its revenues from these markets by the end of 2013. The device SoC on AMD's existing embedded offerings. Khouri said: "Our current offering is the G-Series apu, along with an I/O controller hub, both made on a 40nm process. The apu is a dual core x86 device based on AMD's Bobcat technology, while graphics are supported by Radeon 6000 technology. "The G series SoC is a 28nm device and it's not just integration, it's also an upgrade. The four cpu cores are based on Jaguar technology and the graphics are handled by a Radeon 8000 gpu. We've created the world's first x86 quad core SoC." According to Khouri, the SoC boosts cpu performance by 113% and graphics performance by 20%. "And we are offering a single figure TDP," he claimed. The part is said to have a TDP of 9W when clocked at 1GHz. "This will allow customers to focus on BoM reduction and fanless designs," he continued. Amongst the lead partners for the G-Series SoC is board developer congatec. Martin Danzer, director of product management, said: "The Embedded G-Series SoC processors will be particularly suitable for graphically demanding embedded computing applications." Other features of the device, which will be suitable for use across the industrial temperature range, include ECC and remote management facilities. "ECC makes the G-Series SoC suitable for mission critical applications," Khouri claimed. The SoC will also be available in a dual core format.