AMD aims 'most capable' processor at embedded

LONDON – Microprocessor vendor Advanced Micro Devices Inc. has announced the immediate availability of its G-Series processor which is describes as an Accelerated Processing Unit of APU for embedded systems.

The G processor integrates monolithically a "Bobcat" processor core and a DirectX-11 capable graphics processor core and parallel processor, which AMD claimed gives the chip more compute capabilities on a single die than any processor in the history of computing and represents opportunity for major advancements in embedded systems.

AMD has already told some customers about the chip privately –including Congatec, Fujitsu, Haier, iEi, Kontron – and expects many to produce boards and embedded systems based on the G-Series in the near future.

The Embedded G-Series includes 1 or 2 Bobcat x86 cores with 1-Mbyte of L2 cache and 64-bit floating-point unit. It runs at clock frequencies of up to 1.6-GHz and consumes of the order of 10 to 20-W. Chip package occupies a 890 square millimeter footprint and includes an AMD Fusion I/O controller and hub IC.

AMD said it expects the Embedded-G to find use in graphics-intensive applications such as digital signage, internet-ready set top boxes, mobile and desktop thin clients, casino gaming machines, point-of-sale kiosks, and small form factor PCs, as well as numerous single board computers (SBCs).

AMD has prepared multiple BIOS options for the Embedded-G, support for various Microsoft Windows, Linux, and real-time operating systems, and an integrated OpenCL programming environment, and source-level debug tools.


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