AMD unleashes Puma notebook platform

AMD has been working on Puma since acquiring ATI in 2006

AMD has launched its Puma notebook platform which ties the firm's Turion mobile processors with ATI's Radeon HD 3000 graphics chips along with a mobile version of AMD's 780 chipset.

The company expects the system to form the core of its business, consumer and gaming notebook lines.

AMD has been working on the notebook platform since acquiring ATI in 2006.

Scott Shutter, brand manager at AMD's notebook division, told vnunet.com: " This really represents a culmination of the acquisition.

"We are starting to use more visual applications and, as Vista continues to march in, [users] need machines that can handle that."

The chipmaker is hoping that Puma receives a warm response from vendors. Shutter claimed that early take-up has been good, and that adoption of the new platform is three times that of previous AMD notebook platforms.

Shutter also believes that the new platform will provide a substantial advantage in the market over Intel in the coming years.

"We do expect [Intel] to improve," said Shutter. "But even if it had a 100 per cent improvement, we still would have an advantage."

Puma will offer onboard graphics and discrete graphics cards. Shutter explained that, while the embedded offerings would deliver "discrete-level performance", the company is advising users to go with the discrete graphics models instead.

"We recommend that people buy discrete because it will increase the longevity of their platform and give them a better experience," he said. "Buyers need to take a bit of a longer view."