AMD speed-bumps, unlocks chips for desktop, notebook
'APUs' also get home-video stabilization tech
AMD has speed-bumped its A-Series APUs for desktops and notebooks, added an update to its AMD Steady Video tech, and for the first time made a pair of its CPU-GPU mashups overclockable.
The speed bumps are nothing major, but the overclockable APUs (accelerated processing units) should be welcome to those desktoppers who have a penchant for experimentation – and no, not just those with ready access to liquid helium.
If you're tempted by the overclockable four-core A8-3870K ($135) or A6-3670K ($115), however, do note the fine print in AMD's Tuesday announcement of the new parts: "AMD's product warranty does not cover damages caused by overclocking, even when overclocking is enabled via AMD software."
AMD's upgraded line of APUs for desktops ... (click to enlarge)
... and for notebooks (click to enlarge)
The chips' AMD Steady Video tech is designed to stabilize shaky home-shot video, not to make The Blair Witch Project any less nausea-inducing. You can toggle it on or off using AMD's Catalyst Control Center utility or Vision Engine Control Center app, and use it on video running on Adobe's Flash Player 10.2 or later, or any player that uses Microsoft's DXVA API.
"On select systems using AMD A-Series APUs," an AMD spokesman informed The Reg in an email, "Internet Explorer 9 will include an AMD Steady Video plugin, unlocking one-click control to simplify access to the premium AMD Steady Video feature for video stabilization."
The new APUs are already in the component channel, and AMD estimates they'll hit the retail channel "over the next several weeks". ®
COMMENTS
AMD could try ramping production too
Have you tried to get hold of A8 APUs over the past few weeks? Rare as rocking horse poop! Having built a box to order with a Fusion APU they seem to me to offer excellent value for all-round use but if AMD can't meet demand Fusion is not going to save them against Intel in the desktop market.
"The chips' AMD Steady Video tech is designed to stabilize shaky home-shot video, not to make The Blair Witch Project any less nausea-inducing."
The nausea from that movie had NOTHING to do with the shaky video.
I find that nVidia had the best solution to BW nausea with their BGA mobile Geforce chips... They simply heat failed and saved you the agony of viewing the movie at all.
I would even buy one of these, but AMD drivers (and support) for Linux are so lame that I will never buy AMD GPU.
Silly Desktop User...
...you can overclock a laptop Llano to nearly the same speeds. 2.2/2.6 GHz for gaming with dual graphics, 2.8/3.0 for CPU-only work. With undervolt/underclock, 7+ hrs on a smaller battery or up to 14+ on a fat 9-cell.
Even the A4 has sufficient graphical power for DXVA-accelerated video, A8 laptops can play Battlefield 3 and other heavy games. AMD can't do much against desktop i-series, but their laptop APUs deliver an helluva value for money.
The reason new chips are available is because production is up
The reason AMD can offer new speed bump chips is because production is up. It will take a few weeks to fill the supply channel however. The unlocked models should be extra good fun.
