Featuring 55nm technology and triple the performance of its predecessors

Jun 1, 2009 06:46 GMT  ·  By

Sunnyvale, California-based Advanced Micro Devices has just announced the official introduction of its new Radeon E4690 graphics processing unit (GPU), specifically designed to enable DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 3.0 support for embedded graphics applications. Designed using the company's current 55nm manufacturing technology, the new GPU is said to be capable of more than tripling the graphics performance achieved by the chip maker's previous generation of embedded GPUs. The release comes just hours ahead of the official opening of the Computex 2009 show in Taipei, Taiwan.

“The ATI Radeon E4690 sets a new bar for embedded graphics performance,” said Richard Jaenicke, director of embedded graphics at AMD. “Blazingly fast graphics and HD video capabilities enhance the appeal of applications − such as arcade, casino, digital signage and more. With the industry’s only embedded graphics chip that offers DirectX 10.1 and UVD 2.0 support, the ATI Radeon E4690 enables competitive advantages for AMD’s embedded customers.”

According to AMD, the new graphics processing unit features a maximum GPU speed of 600MHz, a total of 320 shader processing units and 512MB of on-chip, 128-bit GDDR3 memory, clocked at a maximum of 700MHz. In addition, the new chip also enables support for a number of technologies, including Microsoft's DirectX 10.1, OpenGL 3.0 and AMD's Unified Video Decoder (UVD 2.0), which provides support for hardware acceleration of H.264 and VC-1 HD video, as well as MPEG-2 and multiple HD video streams.

Designed using the low-power 55nm processing technology, the new Radeon E4690 is said to provide support for embedded applications, digital signage and casino system market segments. The chip comes with AMD's promise for 5 years of planned supply availability, providing system builders with a long-term technical support.

AMD is also expected to announce new innovations for its server product family, an announcement that will most likely take into consideration the chip maker's much anticipated Istanbul family of processors.