AMD roadmap shows two-watt Hondo chip for tablets
updated 09:40 pm EDT, Tue July 5, 2011
Leaked AMD slides reveal move into tablet market
AMD is preparing to build chips for tablets, according to new leaks from Turkish site Donanim Haber adding to reports from over a month ago. This time, the focus is on low-power chips codenamed Hondo based on an upcoming Brazos-T platform that is due to hit production in 2012. The slides reveal the release date will coincide with that of Windows 8, which is also being made for tablets.
The Hondo chip, which is said to use about two watts and has a TDP of less than 4.5W, is meant for fanless designs. The Desna chips from the earlier leak, for example, had respective numbers of 4W and 5.9W. How this was achieved isn't known, however. The Hondo chips use a Fusion controller hub that houses a generous number of SATA and USB I/O ports.
The chips will have active standby and DirectX 11 graphics support for full HD playback. Hondo will also have Secure Digital IDs and an always-on Wi-Fi feature. Suppliers should get the new chips in December, with volume production slated to start in the spring of 2012.
