AMD Debuts Puma Platform for Notebooks

Today, AMD announced its new platform for notebooks (codename “Puma”), the first since its acquisition of graphics maker ATI. Although AMD is clearly still going after budget-conscious shoppers with light computing needs, it’s also courting Intel’s and Nvidia’s power users with its discrete graphics and HD video playback. Here’s what the platform consists of:

• CPU: AMD Turion X2 Ultra
• GPU: ATI Radeon HD 3000 series

HD 3800 series (3850, 3870, and 3870 X2) is designed for gaming. The first notebook GPU to support Microsoft DirectX 10.1. Claims to be energy efficienct. Support for full HD resolution (need an external monitor, however).

• ATI Avivo HD Technology: claims to use less battery power than other HD processing technologies.
• ATI Hybrid CrossFireX: allows discrete and integrated graphics to run together for performance and power-saving benefits.
• ATI PowerXxpress: allows users to switch between power-saving iGPU mode and high performance dGPU mode on the fly (no reboot required).
• ATI SurroundView technology: native support for up to four monitors
• 802.11n draft N wireless by Atheros
• Security features: TPM 1.2, support for smart cards and fingerprint sensors, AMD Virtualization technology.

AMD also announced ATI XGP Technology, an external box that lends a system discrete graphics capability. It has a proprietary connector that’s too large for an HDMI port. No word yet on the price. According to AMD, here’s how Puma stacks up against Intel’s Penryn platform:

• Three times the graphics performance, as measured by 3DMark06.
• Five times the HD image quality, as measured by HQV, a benchmark for HD processing.
• Wireless transfer of HD content is 40 percent faster.

Sounds like fightin’ words to us. We’re looking forward to getting our hands on a system with Puma and seeing if it lives up to its promises.