Advanced Micro Devices Inc., Intel Corp.'s biggest rival in the market for microprocessors that act as the brains of personal computers, unveiled plans for new products it said would deliver improved performance and efficiency.
Executives disclosed details of a mobile-PC chip design that boosts power efficiency by allowing parts of the processor to turn on and off as needed.
The resulting product, part of AMD's Turion family, will offer two processors on a single chip and a new mechanism for making both of them work in concert for big jobs or shutting one down when a PC is carrying out less demanding chores, Phil Hester, AMD's chief technology officer, told reporters and analysts gathered Thursday at the company's headquarters.