AMD adds embedded G-Series chips to Fusion line

Fusion chips shrink down to drive devices such as thin clients and compact PCs

AMD has announced a new line of Fusion chips combining CPU and GPU, this time aimed at the embedded market where it is expected to power devices such as thin clients, set-top boxes and small form factor PCs.

Available immediately, the low-power AMD Embedded G-Series combines one or two of the firm's Bobcat CPU cores along with a DirectX 11-capable GPU onto a single piece of silicon, which the firm calls an Accelerated Processing Unit.

In this respect, it is similar to AMD's already announced Fusion chips, but the G-Series is designed to be accommodated in smaller systems and fits into a compact BGA package the size of a penny (actually a US one cent coin) and has a thermal design power rating of 9W and 18W.

AMD claims that its new class of accelerated processors combines "more compute capabilities on a single die than any processor in the history of computing", and said that it represents an opportunity for major advancements in embedded systems.

"I can't imagine what new categories of product our customers are going to dream up with this platform and can't wait to find out," wrote AMD's director of embedded solutions on the company's Embedded blog.

The Embedded G-Series is available in clock speeds from 1GHz up to 1.6GHz, and products built using the chips are expected in the near future from vendors such as Fujitsu, Wyse, Kontron, Compulab and others.