What apu are they using?

[cbn]

Why would it need an online connection?

Nevermind, my mistake:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3160-AGCB-2555

 

[The Stilt]

Something (plenty) is not right with this project :hmm:

Their "current prototype" uses GE-412H Mullins SoC, which has:

- 1200MHz base clock
- 1400 (Pb1) - 1600MHz (Pb0) boost clock
- 267 - 400MHz GPU clock
- 2 GPU CUs, 8 TMUs and 4 ROPs
- 7W TDP

Instead they could have used A6 Micro-6500T Mullins SoC, which has:

- 1200MHz base clock
- 1400 (Pb2) - 1800MHz (Pb0) boost clock
- 351 - 450MHz GPU clock
- 2 GPU CUs, 8 TMUs and 4 ROPs,
- 4.5W TDP

Regardless what they choose none of these parts pack even remotely enough punch to power a hand held console, able to run games they specified.

There isn´t even any new unreleased SKUs (which would require NDA) inbound, which would significantly increase the performance at the power / thermal budget device like this has available.

As everyone already knows, the new "Carrizo-L" is just a renamed Mullins SoC so nothing new from that direction either. In theory they could use the upcoming "Stoney Ridge" (Excavator based) design, but I certainly doubt they will go through the trouble of re-designing the whole platform for new package / VRM, DDR4 DRAM and so on.

The "performance" of the faster A6-Micro 6500T:

Cinebench R11.5 (ST): 0.47
Cinebench R11.5 (MT): 1.37

3DMark Fire Strike: 269
3DMark11: P497

 

[AtenRa]

Most probable they used the GE-412H on the prototype unit because it was widely available on the embedded channel.

 

[Phiioniic]

Do you think it's possible that they might put a 12-15w apu in it like the R series RX-421BD?

 

[Madpacket]

They could pull a small rabbit out of their hat providing AMD gives them something that can actually play decent games at a 720/30FPS target. That would be a good start given what tech is available today.

I like that they're using separate memory pools for the GPU even if it's only DDR3 given the already limited amount of RAM.

I won't back it though unless we get real benchmarks and independent reviews from reputable sites.

5 hours of battery while gaming is plenty. Shouldn't be an issue and you can install Windows as a primary OS..

Still think it has a small chance to succeed and they really need to set performance expectations.

 

[cbn]

It got canceled:

(they are rethinking the design)

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=SMACH-Z-Gets-Smacked

 

[cbn]

They could pull a small rabbit out of their hat providing AMD gives them something that can actually play decent games at a 720/30FPS target. That would be a good start given what tech is available today.

Apparently Rocket League comes free for folks ordering Steam Link, the controller, or Steam Machines:

http://steamed.kotaku.com/rocket-league-is-coming-to-steamos-and-it-s-free-if-yo-1726997275

I've read the same is true of Portal 2 as well.

So if they could make hardware capable of handling those games @ your 720p/30 FPS target that would be great.

P.S. Here are the Rocket league frame rates from the Anandtech A8-7670K review:

http://www.anandtech.com/show/9763/the-amd-a8-7670k-apu-review-rocket-league/7

Keep in mind that is with Windows. Using Linux would be slower, but I have to I think if A8-7670K is getting 158 FPS at 720p low there would be an AMD mobile APU that could get at least 30 FPS at the same resolution/detail setting (in Linux).

 

[dark zero]

Got cancelled... nVIDIA Tegra X1 can't manage 60 FPS at Full HD on really good config.

Even Core M can't get 60 FPS on FHD.

In few words, the only way to make it viable is getting 30 FPS on HD. Even VIA can get it.

And only Steam? It could be a perfect PS2 portable emulator.

 

[monstercameron]

Even running the games at vga res on a tiny screen would still look good if not better than most mobile/handheld games out there. The performance is there, its the design and battery that is/was an issue.

 

[dark zero]

Even running the games at vga res on a tiny screen would still look good if not better than most mobile/handheld games out there. The performance is there, its the design and battery that is/was an issue.

Battery won't be the issue... the real issue is the will of the developers since the games from Steam are made for higher and higher screens.