AMD rolls out Alchemy Au1100 for mobile Internet devices

BANGALORE: AMD has announced the introduction of the Alchemy Au1100 processor

for the non-PC mobile internet appliance market, such as web pads, telematics,

and PDAs. Currently being sampled, the Au1100 offers a combination of high

performance, low power and high integration, stated a media release by the

company.

"AMD is committed to meeting the needs of our customers," said AMD’s

Personal Connectivity Solutions, vice president and general manager, Billy

Edwards. "They asked us to bring AMD's quality and passion for innovation

to this market, and to provide products such as the Au1100 processor. At 400 MHz

on 250 mWatts - half the power of our Au1000- they will not be

disappointed."

The convergence of several trends in technology, i.e. toward low power, high

performance processors, broadband wireless communications and sophisticated

Internet use, has both industry and consumers thinking beyond the PC. Mobile

information appliances are expected to have increased functionality and to take

many new innovative forms.

"This market is in its infancy, but we believe it is our highest growth

segment. Industry analysts say this market has the potential to reach $26

billion and 1.3 billion units shipped by the year 2007. We're excited to be here

at the start to foster competition and offer outstanding solutions for our

customers. In the next decade, we believe there will be a shift from voice

centric to data centric mobile information appliances. We are positioning

ourselves to be a major player as that shift happens," Edwards said.

The performance and power consumption of the Au1100 ranges from 333 MHz at

less than 200 mW, 400 MHz at 250 mW, to 500 MHz at 500 mW for the production

version of the Au1100. The Au1100 processor is designed to run a variety of

operating systems, including Windows CE.NET, Linux and VxWorks.

The Au1000 processor is currently in production and the Au1500 processor is

sampling, with production scheduled for the second quarter of 2002. The Au1100

processor is built upon the Alchemy Au1 core, which is based on a MIPS32

instruction set. Like the Au1000 and Au1500 processors, the Au1100 is a

System-on-a-Chip (SOC).

SOC is a processor that has a core around which there are a custom set of

integrated memory controllers and industry standard communication interfaces.

SOCs can be tailored for use in different information appliances, such as PDAs

and web tablets. Specifically, the Au1100 integrates a LCD controller, and can

reduce power consumption by up to 50 percent compared to the Au1000. An

integrated LCD controller enables high quality video on mobile information

appliances.

Another new feature on the Au1100 is the addition of two Secure Digital (SD)

controllers - enabling use of very small portable data storage devices. Other

features integrated into the Au1100 processor add functionality, and

include a USB Host/Device, which enables the user to plug into the

information appliance peripheral devices such as printers or digital cameras.

The Au1100 also has an integrated 10/100 Ethernet interface, to allow for

connection to a Local Area Network, and Infrared Digital Association (IrDA) Data

and Control for wireless data transfer between devices. The Au1100 also has

AC'97, for audio capabilities.