Golly, is that time of year already?
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2011 will be the year of the graphics enabled microprocessor
THIS WILL BE the biggest year yet for the graphics enabled microprocessor (GEM) chips that feature a CPU and graphics processing unit in a one-chip design.
A report by Isuppli, the company most known for tearing down and poking at gadgets, said GEMs will be in around half of the world's notebooks this year. This is an increase from 39 per cent in 2010.
It also said that GEMs will reach 45 per cent of desktop computers, increasing from 36 per cent in 2010. It said that there will be a resurgence due to strong corporate demand. It also said that by 2014 83 per cent of all notebook PCs and 76 per cent of desktop PCs worldwide will have GEMs.
"With GEMs capable of generating the total graphic output of a PC, no additional graphics processor or add-in graphics card is needed." said Isuppli principal analyst for compute platforms Peter Lin.
"Computers today are serving up ever-richer multimedia experiences, so the graphics capabilities of PCs have become more important, driving the rising penetration of GEM."
This year will be a straight fight between Intel and AMD, according to Isuppli. Intel has the Sandy Bridge processor family "which integrates the CPU and graphic processor in a single piece of silicon". AMD will release "five application platforms with five GEM microprocessor categories".
The report did note that GEMs won't ever be likely to offer the performance of a gamer-friendly discrete graphics card, which is better for handling high-performance visuals. But this won't be a problem for the mass market. µ
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AMD is releasing Llano with Radeon HD6550 core designs on die. This is a 5 monh old design. It was released November 2010. This is a level of performance that can not be matched by anything that Intel is offering. If this years stat discrete GPU os next years on die APU then the mass market price point just disappears. Without the mass market then revenue for new designs dries up. This must be keeping Nvidia awake at night.
What AMD needs is a Graphics memory upgrade card. So if you really want to unlock the potential of the APU you bung in some SGRAM. Of course that would mean either the return of AGP or a chipset that allows for graphics memory upgrades.
As a Linux user, I always had problems with discrete graphics and their drivers. In the recent times, things has gotten even worse, like Nvidia Optimus not being supported at all (in Linux, most Optimus cards draw power and can't be disabled, despite not being usable).
I'm very happy with discrete graphics "dead". With a single Intel/AMD integrated card in the CPU, they'll become very well supported, and their power is enough for any task.
Except maybe playing high end games, which is a thing I never have understood why people need a laptop for (I don't play games, but in such case I would opt for a 2560x1600 30-inch IPS monitor, in a desktop computer with a couple of beast GPUs).
Hip hip HURRA! Discrete graphics cards dead!
And according to AMD, in 2015 the cpu and gpu WILL BECOME ONE!!!
So intel will take this idea, throw lots of money at it, and try make it happen sooner i guess.
... this means low-end systems will become a bit cheaper. My employer will be pleased.
The word is "combined" not "compined".
The word is "discrete" not "discreet".
Though they don't predict the GPU being compined with the CPU for gaming, I wonder if instead the CPU will be added to the GPU in the future, for higher performance rigs, as the GPU/card solutions for gaming are larger part of the system's power usage anyhow.
Actually the 2 million using Steam is a raindrop in the sea compared to the hundreds of millions being used every day in business. None of which need discreet gaming grade graphics to display wordprocessing, spreadsheets or firefox/internet exploder etc etc.
Think before commenting.
And the mass market you mean that 2 million people who online at Steam on a good day?