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According to the website, which cites "industry sources", the first Fusion processors are expected to combine dual-core Phenom and RV800 technology, and make use of TSMC's 40nm production, a

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halfway house between 45nm and 32nm design.

The 40nm design is expected to help AMD keep heat and power consumption down, a problem which has undoubtedly caused a few sleepless nights for the company's engineers.

Switching to 40nm will also allow the company to get the chip out of the door while it waits for the TSMC foundry to transition over to a 32nm process, expected sometime in the fourth quarter of 2009. Reports suggest 32nm versions of the processors could then debut towards the beginning of 2010.

Fusion was lauded by AMD as one of the driving factors and significant potential benefits of its acquisition of ATI back in 2005. Since then, however, the company has gone quiet on the technology except to confirm its continued existence.

The first Fusion processors, codenamed Shrike, are expected to arrive in 2009.

AMD was not available for comment at the time of writing.