AMD unveils new chips, new company, new chairman

AMD has launched new 40nm processors

AMD has this week launched new 40nm graphics processors, announced new senior appointments, and closed the deal to spin off its manufacturing operations.

The chip firm said that its new ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 and 4830 graphics processors would redefine mobile PC entertainment, and boasted of a home cinema-quality high-definition (HD) multimedia experience with support for Direct X-based games.

"People now decidedly prefer mobile PCs, and innovations like this 40nm mobile GPU show that AMD is uniquely positioned to make the best entertainment experiences of desktop PCs possible in a notebook," said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager of AMD's Graphics Products Group.

"Depending on the performance of the panel or external monitor, laptops that feature these tiny, powerful but efficient graphics engines can run today's most demanding game titles at beyond 1080p HD resolution, or playback full 1080p HD video with high-energy efficiency thanks to ATI PowerPlay and 40nm process technology."

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 graphics processors will first see the light of day in the forthcoming Asus K notebook, according to AMD.

The firm also announced that it had closed its strategic transaction involving Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC) and venture capital firm Mubadala Development Company of Abu Dhabi. The deal means that AMD has handed off its manufacturing commitments to the two companies, while retaining a controlling share in the resulting business.

"ATIC is the ideal partner to help scale AMD's 40 years of semiconductor expertise, and provide a manufacturing foundation for the entire industry to produce the next generation of semiconductor innovations," said Dirk Meyer, president and chief executive at AMD.

Meyer also announced two new appointments to its board of directors. Bruce Claflin has been made chairman, replacing Hector Ruiz who recently retired, while Waleed Al Mokarrab, chief operating officer at Mubadala Development Company, has been appointed to the board.