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Puma Platform for Notebooks |
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Written by Sasa Pantelic
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Monday, 07 July 2008 |
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Page 1 of 4  The long waited AMD platform for notebooks under the name PUMA is finally introduced and InsideHW had a chance to test notebook based on this platform. To all users that have been waiting cheap integrated graphics with good performances, time has come. Intel Centrino was so far “untouchable” in field of portable computers but AMD Puma, by all appearance, got a necessary quality to fight for highest position.
Even though ATI and nVIDIA are largest GPU manufacturers, the truth is that first place takes Intel. Of course, we are talking about integrated graphics cards but that’s where highest profit is. Much important issue is that integrated graphics is integral part of chipset and its sale is in direct correlation to sale of appropriate CPU. We just want to mention that CPUs for notebooks are noticeably expensive from desktop CPU. It’s obvious that integrated platforms generate huge profit. That information, as also as the fact that notebook sale slowly but surely surpassed desktop computers sale in world, are enough to make us understand why both of big manufacturers are investing huge money amounts and efforts in portable platforms.
Theory…
Puma platform is composed from three elements. First is processor AMD Turion X2 Ultra, second is motherboard with AMD chipset 7th series (M780G, M780V or M780) and the third is WiFi card that supports 802.11 a/b/g/n standards.
Turion X2 Ultra is developed under code name Griffin and represents hybrid of old K8 and new K10 architecture. It is made in 65 nm process and has 2MB L2 cache memory (1MB for each core) and it’s brought up few interesting solutions for consumption reduction, which is one of priorities for notebooks. Possibility that each core and northbridge can work on different voltages (all together there are three different voltages) is great innovation. Voltage can be changed in several steps. Just as reminder, Phenom has similar possibilities but separate voltage values can be set only for CPU and NB, while both cores working on same voltage.
Turion X2 Ultra is processor with two cores and it is well known fact that most applications will work fine with just one core. Turion X2 Ultra can lower clock of one core (depending on load) separately from other and also, it can turn it off, if there is need for that. Combination of power and clock reduction enables considerable power saving. Of course, all this is happening dynamically and for end user completely unnoticed.
Supported HyperTransport 3.0 brings larger bandwidth between chipset and processor. Additional power saving can be attained by changing “width” of this link and even by turning it off if it’s needed.
M780G has integrated graphics card and with this kind of solution we’ve already met through motherboards with 780G chipset attended for desktop computers. Integrated graphics card is known as ATI Radeon HD 3200 and represents the fastest integrated solution. It supports DirectX 10 and even has hardware accelerated reproduction of HD video material.
But, these performances are not good enough for everyone. Non-integrated graphics card in notebooks so far meant two things – higher price for device and substantially bigger consumption, which only gave negative effect on autonomy. AMD Puma offers solution for other problem and that segment of platform certainly draws a lot of attention. Official name of this technology is PowerExpress and represents synergy of two worlds. PowerExpress will be used in notebooks with integrated and additional graphics cards. So here is the idea… During work which is not graphically demanding, additional graphics card will be turned off and won’t waste energy and all job will done with integrated GPU. When you start a game (or some other application that demands more GPU power) rolls will be automatically changed and all burden will carry more powerful additional graphics card. When notebook disconnects from power network, it will automatically enter in power saving mode, which means that is only active integrated graphics card. Something like that we saw on new AMD desktop solutions but with a little difference – when alternation of graphics cards is done it is necessary to restart computer, while Puma platform can perform these alternations in any moment.
AMD Puma also uses Hybrid CrossFireX, technology that enables matching of integrated and additional graphics resulting in better performances. This is possibility that most gamers will appreciate. For functioning of this hybrid CrossFire, you will need HD 3450 or HD 3470 graphics card and Vista OS.
Novelty, but only when it comes to AMD, is also HyperFlash that enables using of extra flash memory for performances improvement. This can function only under Vista OS, using its ReadyBoost technology. It is quite obvious similarity with Intel Turbo Memory concept which so far didn’t show any great results.
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NoteBooks 