AMD rumoured to unveil next-gen ‘Carrizo-L’ APUs this December

Advanced Micro Devices reportedly plans to release its next-generation code-named Carrizo-L accelerated processing units (APUs) already in December, according to a media report. If the information is correct, AMD’s competitive positions against Intel Corp. will get significantly better early in 2015.

Traditionally AMD unveils new APUs early in calendar year and gradually increases their production to address different segments of the market. With the code-named Carrizo family of APUs AMD wants to change its approach a bit. DigiTimes claims that AMD will release its Carrizo-L APUs for the entry-level notebook segment in December 2014, which will help the company to better compete against Intel’s new Celeron and Pentium microprocessors. Unfortunately, “fully-fledged” Carrizo APUs will only be launched next March.

AMD’s Carrizo APUs are based on the next-generation Excavator x86 micro-architecture and improved AMD Radeon graphics. The new chips will offer higher performance compared to existing offerings. Unfortunately, since Carrizo and Carrizo-L are expected to be produced using 28nm process technology, they will not be as energy-efficient as Intel’s code-named Broadwell microprocessors made using 14nm technology. Still, any new chip will improve AMD’s position on the market.

Carrizo-L APUs are projected to replace AMD's existing Beema and Mullins APUs for entry-level notebooks and tablets, according to the report. Keeping in mind that Carrizo-L is based on high-performance micro-architecture, they should provide a significant performance increase when compared to existing offerings.

It is not completely clear why AMD wants to release new entry-level APUs already in December, ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in early January. Traditionally all hardware designers roll-out their novelties at CES.

Given the fact that the information comes from unofficial sources, it is possible that AMD will begin revenue shipments of the Carrizo-L this December, but will formally introduce the new chips at the CES trade show in early 2015.

AMD did not comment on the news-story.

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KitGuru Says: It is interesting that for some reason AMD decided not to proceed with APUs based on the Puma+ low-power/low-cost microarchitecture. Perhaps, in the light of the fact that Intel’s Broadwell chips offer both high-performance and very high energy efficiency, AMD simply has to use high-performance architecture for its low-power offerings to stay competitive.

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