AMD rolls out second gen R-Series APUs

Aimed primarily at embedded applications such as gaming and digital signage, the device combines multi-core x86 CPU architectures and multipurpose programmable GPUs in a single chip that supports up to four independent displays. The APU builds on the success of the first generation R-series by making use of AMD's Steamroller CPU architecture, powering up to four x86 CPU cores with maximum boosted clock speeds ranging from 2.2 to 3.6GHz. It also features the company's Radeon HD 9000-series GPU architecture, with frequencies ranging from 533 to 686MHz and support for Microsoft DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.2 and OpenCL. "AMD's second generation embedded R-series APU is the first embedded processor to support Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) features," said Kevin Tanguay, director of Embedded Gaming Products at AMD. "This allows applications to seamlessly make use of the CPU and GPU through Heterogeneous Queuing and access the same memory through Heterogeneous Unified Memory Architecture." Available in 17 and 35W power envelopes, the APUs come with DDR3-2133 and ECC memory support, along with support for PCI Express Gen 2 and Gen 3. "The increase in memory bandwidth and support for higher bandwidth to peripherals means the R-series APU not only can access more data, but can also support a second GPU through AMD Radeon Dual Graphics technology," Tanquay continued. "A second GPU can turbocharge graphics performance or provide output for even more displays. The APUs support up to four independent displays, driven through standards including HDMI, DisplayPort 1.2, UVD 4.2 and VCE 2.0. Other target applications include medical imaging and communications and networking infrastructure.