Advanced Micro Devices reportedly plans to scrap its “better by design” program later this year when it unveils its next-generation code-named Tigris mobile platform. The platform policy is expected to be canned in favour of a new brand called AMD Vision, which will represent AMD’s future notebook platforms.

Notebooks powered by AMD’s new central processing units featuring the company’s new graphics cores as well as premium Wi-Fi controllers will carry the name AMD Vision, according a claim by HKEPC web-site citing Taiwan-based makers of notebooks. In fact, the forthcoming AMD Tigris-powered notebooks will carry three different labels depending on the insides of the mobile computers:

• AMD Vision: AMD Athlon Neo X2 processor, integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200/4200 graphics core, third-party Wi-Fi controller;
• AMD Vision Premium: AMD processor, ATI Radeon HD 4330 dedicated graphics core, third-party Wi-Fi controller;
• AMD Vision Ultimate: AMD Turion X2 processor, ATI Radeon HD 4870 dedicated graphics core, third-party Wi-Fi controller.

The China-based web-site also claims that lower-performance microprocessor with higher-performance graphics processor (or otherwise) will also be qualified for more advanced logotype, e.g. AMD Vision Ultimate. The reports may not be correct, though, as there are no official comments from AMD.

AMD Vision-branded systems will not contain any chipsets from Nvidia Corp. or graphics cores or processors from Nvidia.

The forthcoming Tigris platform will be based on dual-core code-named “Caspian” central processing unit  manufacturing using 45nm fabrication process as well as next-generation RS880M+SB710 core-logic set. The new platform will also utilize 3rd generation S1 socket for processors and hence is likely to be compatible with quad-core mobile CPU code-named Champlain that are due in 2010. Select manufacturers will also install ATI Mobility Radeon discrete graphics processors made using 40nm process technology into laptops.

AMD’s Tigris platform is mostly aimed at desktop replacement as well as thin-and-light notebooks, but not on ultra-portables or netbooks. Therefore, its market success completely depends on performance as well as power consumption, but not on the low-price.

Tags: AMD, Vision, Tigris, Caspian, 45nm