First look: AMD Puma platform

Notebooks can even be equipped with both the IGP and a discrete GPU. ATI's 'PowerXpress' system will dynamically switch between them, providing low-power operation within Windows but enabling the discrete chip for 3D applications.

If performance is comparable to the HD 3000 series of desktop cards, Puma devices could prove to be very capable gaming laptops.

This is a smart fight for Puma to pick, because while Centrino does permit discrete graphics, most implementations have tended to use Intel's GMA X3100, leading to lacklustre 3D performance. Centrino 2 will upgrade this to the more powerful GMA X4500, but we'd still expect mid- and upper-range Mobility Radeon GPUs to outclass Intel's chip. Confirmation of that, though, will have to wait until the new chips appear.

The Mobility Radeon chipset also features AMD's unified video decoder, which reduces CPU load and power drain by using dedicated hardware to decompress video files. X4500 has a similar feature, but it only supports MPEG2 - that's fine for DVD playback, but it won't help with Blu-ray discs encoded as VC1 or AVC. AMD's chip works with all three formats.

Finally, Puma's most innovative feature is a proprietary PCI-Express 2.0 8x connector, which can be connected to an external enclosure containing a desktop graphics card. AMD calls this system XGP, and it gives gamers upgradeable desktop-quality graphics at home, while keeping bulk and power consumption to a minimum. Actual hardware, however, has yet to materialise, and our sample MSI notebook didn't even have the requisite connector.

Ready to pounce?

AMD likes to emphasise efficiency, and if the Turion Ultra can keep up notebook processing power while reducing battery drain then that has to be a good thing. The promise of desktop-standard graphics is attractive too.

But as we examined our sample unit it quickly became apparent that testing a single machine reveals very little about Puma as a platform - especially with the new graphics chips, and the new XGP box, still to materialise.

That's because Puma's range of hardware options is so broad. The specification can take in any sort of portable PC from a dirt-cheap hand-held upwards - only stopping short of the niche role of mobile super-computer.

The most consistent part of the set-up is the processor, which for now comes in just one version at three different clock speeds; but that too will become more variable when the new Mobile Sempron appears.

As a result, our conclusions about this pre-production sample apply to this particular design only. In particular, talking about power consumption is pointless, as the manufacturer's choice of screen, hard disk and graphics system are all at least as significant as AMD's engineering.

Holding the leash

It inevitably follows that Puma's eventual success or otherwise is down to manufacturers. Probably, some Puma notebooks will be great; others, we're sure, will be disappointing. That's not exactly AMD's fault, but it's an indicator that the company isn't really in a strong enough position right now to dictate platform specifications.

What's more, AMD has confirmed it won't be pushing the Puma name on the high street, nor will it pay manufacturers to promote the platform on its behalf. So there's really no incentive for a manufacturer to follow even AMD's loose specifications. We won't be surprised if Puma ends up watered down with whatever components manufacturers feel like using.