Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is gearing up towards 3D gaming and reveals it will be rolling out Fusion processing chips to cater for 3D technology early next year.
Jaco Laubscher, AMD SA's channel sales manager says the company decided to combine computer and graphic processing unit technologies to create a new class of processors called AMD Fusion Accelerated Processing Units (APUs).
These processors are designed to improve Internet browsing, video processing and 3D gaming experiences, he says. Notebooks, HD netbooks and desktops based on the first AMD Fusion APUs are scheduled to arrive in early 2011, according to the chip-maker.
3D gaming
Dirk Meyer, AMD president and CEO previously stated that the IT industry is at an inflection point, meaning that users are demanding technology that is more immersive and interactive.
AMD's 2006 acquisition of hardware manufacturer ATI was a strategic decision made to increase its market share in the gaming market, says Laubscher, and AMD will soon be replacing the ATI Stream brand with the AMD Accelerated Parallel Processing (APP) Technology brand.
A few weeks ago, AMD rolled out the Radeon HD 6800 series, a graphics card that it says boosts gaming acceleration, particularly with 3D gaming and games played on multiple screens.
In a demonstration, Laubscher explained how the Radeon HD 6800 has a reconfigured core design, enhanced tessellation and has achieved better performance than ATI's Radeon HD 5850, using 25% less silicon. Laubscher said tessellation is a way to increase the detail in a 3D animation. He added that more detail to create rich worlds and better user experience.
EyeFinity
Laubscher says the HD 6000 series uses the second generation of DirectX 11, which results in improved image quality, Blu-Ray 3D, multimedia acceleration and also provides support for AMD EyeFinity technology.
Last month, AMD demonstrated its six-screen display technology called Eyefinity aimed at ardent gamers.
Laubscher says AMD's EyeFinity technology is directed at gamers looking for a completely immersive experience. He says 3D gaming will become a natural progression in the gaming market. On a global scale, AMD has shipped more than two million EyeFinity cards since February this year.
“SA is rated as an early adopters market. And we expect to see a growing demand and uptake of 3D technology. However, it is still early days and cost remains a challenge, especially for multi-screen and 3D gaming.”
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