We already know that AMD believes the CPU is dead: APU is the new king. Now we're actually beginning to see it, thanks to a leaked slide detailing AMD's "Shrike" platform.
Shrike, scheduled for 2009, will introduce AMD's next-generation mobile technology and will become its first "Fusion" product. It'll combine two CPU cores, a GPU core and memory controller onto a single piece of silicon.
We've been patiently awaiting AMD's arrival in the ultraportable space, and this appears to be it. The chip features third-generation "STARS" processor cores, based on current Phenom technology. Little is known in regards to the GPU core, but AMD claims it to be a "next-gen" design with support for DirectX 10.1.
The slide also illustrates that Shrike will carry PCIe support, offering OEMs the option of a discrete graphics card. Shrike could, therefore, be found in a multitude of devices and not just ultraportables.
Unfortunately, Shrike isn't expected until mid-2009 at the earliest, so we'll be in for a wait before we see Shrike-powered ultraportables.
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