Semiconductor vendors and non-iPad tablet Jedi**

At the 2011 Taipei International Computer Show, the hottest issue was nothing more than a tablet computer. Its vast business opportunities, such as a blooming flower, drew the attention of global semiconductor manufacturers, including Intel, Microsoft, Andrews International, and AMD. Even the new shoreline of the Chinese mainland's wafer makers has locked in this business opportunity. There are new developments from the wafer to the software platform.

With Apple's iPad and iPad 2 tablet PCs selling on the global market, non-Apple makers certainly do not allow them to specialize in the past and observe the performance of Computex this year. It can be found that the world-renowned semiconductor vendors and software developers are targeting flat-panel business opportunities and vigorously promote their products in order to market the market for tablet PCs.

However, under Intel's dual-track operation of stealing the tablet and pushing new laptops, laptops are also actively fighting for the upper reaches of the flat-panel offensive; coupled with AMD also pushes the personal computer's central processing unit (CPU) and acceleration. Processor (APU), laptop counter-attack situation should not be underestimated; and in the case of soaring business opportunities, the international high-performance processor (ARM) Cortex-A15 has become a tool to open up the market, driving the tablet dual-core, four The development of nuclear wafers, including the new shoreline's push for dual-core solutions, is aimed at high-end applications in the Chinese mainland market.

In addition, high-level flat-panel devices increasingly require continuous writing and reading speeds per second for storage media, and demand for high-definition (HD) and three-dimensional (3D) audio and video performance has also increased. Technology (SATA) Interface Solid State Drives (SSDs) and Voice Processors are highly developed. In this regard, companies such as Andromeda International, Intel, and Audience have actively deployed follow-up product lines through their professional wafer manufacturing technologies and experience in response to the flat-panel market development trend. In addition, Microsoft (Microsoft) also tailored a new generation of operating systems for the use of flat-panels, strongly against the Google Android platform.

It can be seen that the tablet has become a star in the electronics industry, attracting semiconductors and software companies to revolve around it, so that the market continues to heat.

Attacking the Tablet/Ultrabook In response to Intel’s development trend of flat-panel devices, Intel not only proposed the ultra-thin mobile computer Ultrabook concept at the Taipei International Computer Show, but also stimulated the sales of laptops and actively promoted a new generation of Atom ( Atom) processor is attacking the market of flat-panel devices in an attempt to reverse the situation in the international flat-panel market.

Ma Hongsheng, Intel’s executive vice president, said that Intel will promote innovations on various platforms, such as adding USB 3.0 capabilities to the 2012 chipset, and continue to plunge Thunderbolt technology and boost the notebook market.

Intel's executive vice president Sean Maloney (Figure 1) stated that the Atom processor can significantly reduce transistor leakage, achieve lower operating power, and increase transistor density, allowing the product to have more features and longer battery life. Endurance, so Intel will be based on low-power design Atom processor as the main product, grab the device market.

Among them, the innovative 32-nm Medfield platform is optimized for low-power consumption and high-performance, provides extended use time, and supports multiple media, games, and advanced imaging functions. It can be used in operating systems such as Android and MeeGo. Smartphones and tablet PCs help manufacturers to develop tablets with a thickness of less than 9 mm and weighing less than 1.5 pounds. The relevant end products are expected to be available in the first half of 2012.

In addition to stepping up the layout of the flat-panel market, Intel also collaborated with Asustek to develop Ultrabooks for ultra-thin notebooks, adding new growth momentum to the notebook PC market. The Asus Ultrabook uses the second-generation Core processor Sandy Bridge, which is less than 20mm thick. In the future, the next-generation Ivy Bridge, a processor developed using the 22nm tri-gate transistor technology, is expected to be installed in various new systems in the first half of 2012, and is expected to create notebook computers with thinner and higher power-saving performance.

Ma Hongsheng pointed out that Ultrabook has top performance, faster response, and a slim and beautiful appearance. It locks down to the mainstream price of less than 1,000 US dollars. The new product UX21 developed in cooperation with Asustek is expected to come out at the end of the year; 40% of consumer notebook market is Ultrabook. He further disclosed that after the Ivy Bridge, Intel’s “Haswell” processor architecture, which is expected to be introduced in 2013, will further change the thermal design of mainstream notebook computers, reduce the power of the microprocessor to half, and implement the concept of Ultrabook widely. Initiated a new wave of revolutions in the mobile device market.

Struggling with the tablet/personal-computer market AMD’s utmost in stealing the tablet, and not forgetting the ultra-micron market of the PC market, the 9-series chipset and Fusion series APU with higher performance were presented at the Taipei International Computer Show Enhance the competitive advantage of personal computer CPU; At the same time, it also locked the fast-growing Microsoft Windows Tablet PC market, launched the 2011 HD Tablet PC platform based on the Z series APU, and took the tablet with high-efficiency image computing performance. train.

Deng Yuanqi, senior vice president of AMD Semiconductor and president of Greater China, said that the company’s HD tablet platform will inject powerful graphics performance into Windows tablets.

Deng Yuanyi, senior vice president of AMD Global and president of Greater China (Figure 2) stated that the concept of combining the CPU and graphics processor (GPU) - the APU - has always been the goal of AMD, and is now the new Z series. The APU further realizes its internal integration of the HD6250 GPU, which mainly locks the Windows tablet, supports HTML5, Adobe Flash 10.2, and an external screen, and can display 3D, HD, and other distinctive multimedia screens. A great weapon.

Deng pointed out that in view of the rapid take-off of tablet PCs, AMD will continue to expand its APU product line to attack market opportunities with high-performance mapping performance. As a result, AMD will be able to provide users with better audio and video entertainment, compared to Intel's low-power Atom processor cut-in and MIPS's Android on-MIPS platform migration strategy. Enjoy, another open road.

Nigel Dessau, senior vice president and general manager of marketing for AMD's personal computer CPU area, pointed out that the AMD 9 Series chipset is a key element of the company's next-generation desktop platform, Scorpius, which includes eight platforms. The core Zambezi processor and Radeon HD 6000 series of independent display cards, with high-definition entertainment experience, multi-processing, overclocking and other functional advantages, have been selected by ASRock, Asus, Biostar, Elite, Foxconn, Gigabyte, Jetway, and MSI. Machine type.

On the other hand, the Fusion series APU built with AMD Vision technology targets the notebook and desktop market. The new product adopts a new digital graded labeling system to mark the features of the internal CPU and GPU. If the Vision A8 series computer brings Brilliant HD performance, users can simultaneously perform multi-processing, online games and video editing; Vision E2 series provides Smart HD performance through Video Accelerator, smooth playback of 1,080p high-definition video .

It is understood that the APU of AMD's Llano will be available in June. The next year's blueprint for APU products will be based on the introduction of Trinity processors. As for low-power processors, Hondo will continue to lock down Windows Tablet PCs.