New Notebook CPUs from AMD

[Thund3rball]

AMD’s Roadmap Reveals New Turion, Athlon, Sempron Mobile CPUs

ComputerBase.de has revealed AMD’s notebook processor roadmap for 2008, which list four “Griffin“-based chips. “Griffin” is a codename for laptop CPUs which are a part of the upcoming “Puma” notebook platform. The roadmap shows AMD Turion 64 Ultra and AMD Turion 64 dual core models, with 2MB and 1MB of L2 cache respectively. The both processors support DDR2 800MHz memory and have clock speeds ranging from 2GHz to 2.4GHz. Their power consumption ranges between 32 Watts and 35 Watts.
There is also a single core Athon 64 chip with 1MB of L2 cache, DDR2 667MHz support, a speed starting from 1.9GHz, and a power consumption of 31 Watt.
The next-generation Turion and Athon mobile CPUs are codenamed “Lion”.
The AMD Sempron “Sable” is a lower-end “Griffin” chip with a single core, 512KB of L2 cache, a 25W power consumption, and a clock speed starting from 2GHz.
The “Griffin” processors are claimed to provide a more advanced power optimization when compared to existing AMD mobile processors.
Along with the new CPUs, the “Puma” platform will deliver the RS780 mobile chipset with the DirectX 10 ready HD3200 integrated graphics and the Unified Video Decoder. In addition, the RS780 includes PowerXpress technology for dynamic switching between integrated and discrete graphics to extend battery life, as well as PCI Express 2.0 and HyperTransport 3.0 technologies.
AMD has announced that the “Puma”/”Griffin”-powered laptops will start shipping at the end of the second quarter of 2008.

[vertex112]

I like how AMD is implementing the 780 chipset into mobile platforms due to its low power consumption and high performance. Although the new chipset is a real bonus, I don't think that AMD can really compete right now in the mobile market with Intel's C2D tearing it apart. I don't see how these new processors make a big enough performance difference to switch to AMD from Intel.

[Thund3rball]

Ya you can say that again. The Intel Merom & Penryn CPUs are kicking butt! I've got a Merom 2.2Ghz on a Santa Rosa chipset and my notebook flies on Vista Ult. 32. These AMD chips just break into 2MB L2 Cache while Merom is at 4MB and the higher end Penryns are at 6MB. And we'll be seeing 800MHz FSB later this year.

Maybe on lower end notebooks these AMD chips will shine but I just can't see how they are competing with Intel at this point in time :(

[CMetaphor]

Originally Posted by vertex112

I don't see how these new processors make a big enough performance difference to switch to AMD from Intel.

What about battery life? With these new processors and chipsets from AMD total system power can be lower than 50w or so. That could translate into very long battery life on those laptops. Note: with the new 780G chipset, even if a laptop has an add-in video card, that video card can be turned off and the system can return to the 780G when the sytem is at idle and/or in power saving mode. (Another example is add-in video card enabled when the laptop is plugged into the wall, and disabled (only 780G on) when on battery power.)

[Thund3rball]

Originally Posted by CMetaphor

What about battery life? With these new processors and chipsets from AMD total system power can be lower than 50w or so. That could translate into very long battery life on those laptops. Note: with the new 780G chipset, even if a laptop has an add-in video card, that video card can be turned off and the system can return to the 780G when the sytem is at idle and/or in power saving mode. (Another example is add-in video card enabled when the laptop is plugged into the wall, and disabled (only 780G on) when on battery power.)

The 780G is more the story here you are right. That is a big deal and something I kind of overlooked. Will it be enough to sway the masses though? Battery life is important to some but most people who are buying a high-performance notebook are less concerned with it I would think. But who knows... maybe that's just me? It will be interesting to see this unfold nonetheless.

[Babrbarossa]

They are definitely not gunning for the high end market here- they're producing an efficient platform which is smart since the majority of the market is looking for light weight and long battery life- the problem is that these aren't coming out til mid 2008- improvements aside, releasing modified K8s in four months to go against intels lineup seems a little hopeless, but perhaps they can secure a good chunk of the 6-700 dollar laptop market with it.

[Mr. Cipher]

If I want a high end computer, I'll take a desktop - unless I want a beast of a laptop that is (think eurocom laptops with full desktop computers in a laptop case), but I'd rather not have to go to physio because I carried that thing over my shoulder. I think the longer battery life is going to be a plus, but I agree with you Thund3r, I do not think it will be enough to change people around.

[Thund3rball]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cipher

If I want a high end computer, I'll take a desktop - unless I want a beast of a laptop that is (think eurocom laptops with full desktop computers in a laptop case), but I'd rather not have to go to physio because I carried that thing over my shoulder. I think the longer battery life is going to be a plus, but I agree with you Thund3r, I do not think it will be enough to change people around.

Those Eurocom Clevos are monster notebooks. But I disagree, a high performance notebook does not need to be a whopping 17" back breaker. Look at the recently released LG P300. A 13.3" notebook ready for gaming. And there are a ton of 15.4" high performance notebooks out there around 6 lbs.

LG P300 Specs:
T8300 2.4GHz
8600M GS 256MB
2GB 667
250GB
LED Screen
3.6 lbs

[Cheator]

Very nice... its good news, even if they don't outperform an Intel. ITs a nice chipset, and low power consumption is always good, especially when its cheap.

[CMetaphor]

Originally Posted by Thund3rball

Those Eurocom Clevos are monster notebooks. But I disagree, a high performance notebook does not need to be a whopping 17" back breaker. Look at the recently released LG P300. A 13.3" notebook ready for gaming. And there are a ton of 15.4" high performance notebooks out there around 6 lbs.

LG P300 Specs:
T8300 2.4GHz
8600M GS 256MB
2GB 667
250GB
LED Screen
3.6 lbs

I think the point was more about the power consumption gather than the weight. And I dont see why everyone thinks they will be low-performance laptops only. With Hybrid crossfire on there 780G boards the performance of the add-in video card is boosted. So i wouldnt be surprised if the next "mid-range" gaming laptop has some combination of the 780G with whatever AMD will make for a new-generation mobile graphics platform.