AMD promises desktop power on the move

AMD today unveiled its Geode LX 800@0.9W processor, claiming that the chip paves the way for next-generation embedded and mobile devices that offer fully-featured desktop computing power.

Requiring less than one watt of power, the x86 architecture-compliant Geode processor supports the Microsoft Windows XP and XP Embedded operating systems.

It is designed to provide increased memory bandwidth through a DDR interface and enhanced I/O throughput with USB 2.0.

AMD said that the chip could be incorporated in fanless portable products including multimedia devices, single-board computers, access devices and other general embedded applications.

Examples of products include HDTVs, IP set-top boxes, thin clients, point-of-sale kiosks and Windows-powered tablet PCs.

Dr James Jo, vice president of the digital media R&D centre at Samsung Electronics, said that processors integrating low power and high performance would allow designers to create enhanced x86 architecture-based embedded applications.

The AMD Geode LX 800@0.9W processor and AMD Geode CS5536 companion device chipset is available at $45 in 10,000 unit shipments. Slower speed variants are also available.