AMD unveils updated G-Series APUs for embedded applications

New chip offers upgrade path for AMD Geode with increased performance at just 2.3W

AMD is delivering increased performance and reduced power consumption for embedded applications with an addition to its G-Series of accelerated processing units (APUs) which combine CPU and GPU cores onto a single chip.

The new chip, known as the AMD Embedded G-T16R, delivers three times the performance of AMD's earlier embedded chips while reducing power consumption to just 2.3W on average, the firm said.

Like other G-Series Fusion chips, it is aimed at small form factor and cost-sensitive hardware designs that call for x86 compatibility and capable graphics, including applications such as point-of-sale terminals, tablets and mini PCs.

Wyse Technology, now part of Dell, is one vendor that already uses G-Series APUs in several of its thin client terminals, but AMD claimed there are more than 50 motherboards available supporting the platform, including many based on the Mini-ITX form factor.

"With the AMD G-T16R APU, we were striving for that critical balance of performance, power efficiency and cost for power, and cost-sensitive embedded applications, and we've achieved it," said Arun Iyengar, corporate vice president of AMD's Embedded Solutions division.

The AMD G-T16R offers a cost-effective upgrade path from AMD's widely used Geode LX family of embedded chips, while adding new technologies such as support for DVI, HDMI and DisplayPort interfaces, according to the firm.

To this end, AMD said it has extending planned availability for the entire AMD Embedded G-Series processor family through 2017, meaning that embedded developers can expect support for a further five years.