Excavator-based APUs with support for DDR4 memory
Just after its not so good financial call, AMD has announced the launch of its first processors with support for DDR4 memory. Although these are not aimed at consumer market, AMD's new Excavator-based R-series APUs are a significant update for embedded market.
Aimed to be used in the embedded market, targeting digital signage, vertical markets, networking, point-of-sale, commercial and industrial applications, the new R-series APUs are based on the same Excavator CPU cores as the previously launched AMD Carrizo APUs. Since the embedded platform requires certain level of security, AMD has implemented features like ARM TrustZone and HSA 1.0 features.
The initial lineup will include five Merlin Falcon R-series APUs with support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, thanks to its dual controller design. Three out of these five processors are APUs, featuring AMD Radeon 3rd generation Graphics Core Next (GCN) graphics while two are pure CPUs, without integrated graphics.
AMD has also noted that there will be a few more R-series APUs available in the first quarter next year, which will be a part of the iTemp lineup, featuring a wider validate temperature ranging from -40ºC to 105ºC.
The most interesting part of the new R-series APUs is the DDR4 memory support. When compared to the previously available Kaveri-based Bald Eagle R-Series APUs, the new Merlin Falcon is a SoC as it integrates the external southbridge on the same silicon die as the APU. Both the chipset and the APU are made on the same manufacturing process, which should reduce the power consumption but also reduce both the package and the needed motherboard size, which is now 30 percent smaller.
The new Merlin Falcon APUs also support up to three displays, using a wide choice of ports, including DisplayPort, eDP (Embedded DisplayPort), HDMI, DVI. The D-Sub (VGA) and LVDS outputs are not available without translators from Analogix or Realtek.
When it comes to performance, the new Merlin Falcon R-series APUs offer the same performance as the Bald Eagle APUs but at much lower TDP. AMD noted that the Merlin Falcon RX-421BD APU offers the same performance as the Bald Eagle RX-427BB which has a 35W TDP.
AMD's new Merlin Falcon APUs could find their way in plenty of gaming machines, communication, industrial and medical applications as well as security/surveillance and retail signage applications, and will be running on DDR4 memory.
Source: AMD.com.
Aimed to be used in the embedded market, targeting digital signage, vertical markets, networking, point-of-sale, commercial and industrial applications, the new R-series APUs are based on the same Excavator CPU cores as the previously launched AMD Carrizo APUs. Since the embedded platform requires certain level of security, AMD has implemented features like ARM TrustZone and HSA 1.0 features.
The initial lineup will include five Merlin Falcon R-series APUs with support for both DDR3 and DDR4 memory, thanks to its dual controller design. Three out of these five processors are APUs, featuring AMD Radeon 3rd generation Graphics Core Next (GCN) graphics while two are pure CPUs, without integrated graphics.
AMD has also noted that there will be a few more R-series APUs available in the first quarter next year, which will be a part of the iTemp lineup, featuring a wider validate temperature ranging from -40ºC to 105ºC.
The most interesting part of the new R-series APUs is the DDR4 memory support. When compared to the previously available Kaveri-based Bald Eagle R-Series APUs, the new Merlin Falcon is a SoC as it integrates the external southbridge on the same silicon die as the APU. Both the chipset and the APU are made on the same manufacturing process, which should reduce the power consumption but also reduce both the package and the needed motherboard size, which is now 30 percent smaller.
The new Merlin Falcon APUs also support up to three displays, using a wide choice of ports, including DisplayPort, eDP (Embedded DisplayPort), HDMI, DVI. The D-Sub (VGA) and LVDS outputs are not available without translators from Analogix or Realtek.
When it comes to performance, the new Merlin Falcon R-series APUs offer the same performance as the Bald Eagle APUs but at much lower TDP. AMD noted that the Merlin Falcon RX-421BD APU offers the same performance as the Bald Eagle RX-427BB which has a 35W TDP.
AMD's new Merlin Falcon APUs could find their way in plenty of gaming machines, communication, industrial and medical applications as well as security/surveillance and retail signage applications, and will be running on DDR4 memory.
Source: AMD.com.
News by Luca Rocchi and Marc Büchel - German Translation by Paul Görnhardt - Italian Translation by Francesco Daghini
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