AMD's ATI Radeon E4690 brings HD, DirectX 10.1 support to embedded GPU arena

AMD's newfangled ATI Radeon E4690 may not be the next Crysis killer, but it should do just fine in next-gen arcade and slot machines. All kidding aside (sort of...), this new embedded graphics set is said to triple the performance of AMD's prior offerings in the field, bringing with it 512MB of GDDR3 RAM, DirectX 10.1 / OpenGL 3.0 support and hardware acceleration of H.264 and VC-1 high-definition video. The 35mm chip also differentiates itself by integrating directly onto motherboards and taking on many of the tasks that are currently assigned to the CPU, but alas, it doesn't sound as if we'll be seeing this in any nettops / netbooks anytime soon ever. Video after the break.

[Manny @ Jun 1st 2009 9:03AM]

Would this be similar to nvidia's ion platform?

[Manny @ Jun 1st 2009 9:04AM]

just with dedicated memory?

[sam @ Jun 1st 2009 9:13AM]

Considering the article said we won't be seeing it in netbooks, nope, it'd be highly dissimilar.

I'm guessing this is a heavier-weight solution - and Ion is already pretty heavyweight for a netbook. But AMD's website appears to have no information whatever about power consumption (of the chip or the module), or maybe I didn't look long enough... Anyone know?

[Fnuky @ Jun 1st 2009 9:45AM]

"Would this be similar to nvidia's ion platform?"

Not at all - this is a discrete GPU, such as that you would put on a PCI express card.

It's not a CPU, nor a chipset.

[Tarnation @ Jun 1st 2009 10:05AM]

@Fnuky

This is an integrated GPU it will be soldered onto motherboards, most likely for laptops or AIO desktops.

[Fnuky @ Jun 1st 2009 12:08PM]

The terms "integrated" and "embedded" are pretty unhelpful here.

"Embedded", in this context, does not mean "embedded in the CPU" - it just means AMD are targeting products which are not general purpose computers - they need some kind of PC embedded inside them to make them run.

The RAM is "integrated" onto the same package as the GPU silicon, but it's not "integrated graphics". This is a complete dedicated graphics card on a single chip.

As such, this targets small form factor mobile and industrial products where space is at a premium. Most laptop / all-in-one motherboard designers would take the discrete, non-MCM version of the GPU and just stick the RAM on the motherboard. But it would not be shared with the main system RAM.

I repeat - this is nothing to do with nVidia's Ion, Intel's Atom or any integrated graphics chipsets!

It is, however, very impressive that they can stick half a GB of high-speed graphics RAM onto the same 35x35mm package as the GPU!

[iofthestorm @ Jun 1st 2009 1:53PM]

Yeah umm, embedded computers are very much not desktops/laptops/netbooks/whatever. I don't think this will go inside anything besides, as Engadget said, arcade cabinets.

[superhobo @ Jun 1st 2009 9:04AM]

There goes Ion.

[david @ Jun 1st 2009 9:07AM]

this looks great of HTPC platforms. We have been limited to Radeon 3300 thus far, but one has really needed at least an HD 4550 chip for the best results. Hopefully, this will fit the bill.

[Themonsteraria @ Jun 1st 2009 9:13AM]

Looks like AMD is finally playing "catch up". Hopefully this is the beginning of lots of new AMD products.

[Ebzy @ Jun 1st 2009 11:16AM]

What exactly is this GPU catching up to?

[liewhz @ Jun 1st 2009 10:12AM]

35nm? wow....

[mirakutea @ Jun 1st 2009 10:28AM]

35mm not 35nm.

[Tarnation @ Jun 1st 2009 10:31AM]

No, 35mm millimeter that is the physical size unless Engadget put in a typo. I don't believe AMD is quite ready for 35nm considering they 4770 just came out and it is 40nm.

[Stevenfb @ Jun 1st 2009 10:19AM]

I want Quake ported to my slot machine

When I finish a level, I get to pull the handle and get my prize.

[awholeian @ Jun 1st 2009 10:24AM]

I hope that this supports openCl for gpu computing. The 4600 series supports this, but I don't know if this one counts.

[Chak Amin @ Jun 1st 2009 10:49AM]

I for one would be thankful enough if this thing can or will kill ALL current Intel integrated >solutions< once and for all....People aren't getting their money's worth at every mainstream/reasonably priced laptops/notebooks with those.

[sam @ Jun 1st 2009 11:25AM]

why do you think people aren't 'getting their money's worth'?

Intel's graphics are good enough for most people because most people don't need graphics chips to do much (at least if you run XP or OS X, don't know about vista). Most people don't play games beyond what runs in a browser, so they don't need a fancy graphics chip. Intel graphics is perfectly fine for web browsing and crap like that. I mean I've got no idea what graphics chip is in this work PC... *checks*... surprise, it's an Intel. And graphics performance is *so* not my problem with this PC...

In other words I agree intel graphics are awful, but most people who actually care about graphics (ie gamers) would know that and buy something better. A majority of the people with Intel graphics, on the other hand, probably wouldn't benefit from anything better.

[RAQ @ Jun 1st 2009 12:12PM]

Finally a intergrated GPU that could be used in laptops. I want gaming graphics in a laptop, I know there is the alienware gaming laptops but they ar ejust too big. The closest thing to a laptop with bot portability and graphics power is the Dell Studio XPS 13. Though the studio 13 only has a Nvidia 9500 with 256mb dedicated graphics.

[elBravo @ Jun 1st 2009 1:31PM]

Every gpu nowadays has h264 acceleration, which is good and all. But now I want Flash h264 acceleration! Yes, I'm talking to you, Adobe.

[TRB @ Jun 1st 2009 8:06PM]

Oh lawdy. My heart just about jumped out when I misread 35mm as 35nm.

[Fanfoot @ Jun 2nd 2009 1:04AM]

Can it play full screen HD flash Youtube videos of Crysis?