New AMD chips target mobile gamers

AMD hopes that videogame enthusiasts will soon be snatching up laptops built on two new mobile processors that the chipmaker introduced on Monday.

The Turion MT-40 and MT-37 chips are available to PC makers for $359 and $268, respectively, in bulk amounts. Longtime AMD supporter VoodooPC has already pledged to use the two chips in a pair of laptops outfitted specially for people who take their videogames seriously. Other laptop manufacturers that favour AMD, such as Acer, are expected to follow suit.

AMD now has 12 64-bit Turion processors available for thinner and lighter laptops, including three ML-series and seven MT-series chips. AMD designed the Turion series to use less battery power than its Athlon Mobile series, which the chipmaker reserves for desktop replacement models.

AMD is pushing both processors as alternatives to Intel's Centrino-based mobile Pentium chips, which include Intel's consumer-focused laptop platform, previously code-named Sonoma.

It's no secret that the AMD chips were released in advance of this week's Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco. AMD loves trying to steal Intel's thunder with the release of a new processor or other related technology right before or during Intel's shows.

While AMD knows that its two latest mobile chips won't eclipse Intel's Centrino marketing machine anytime soon, the number two semiconductor maker is counting on its overall portfolio to put pressure on its rival.

AMD recently saw its market share in servers rise to 11.2 per cent, marking the first time the company passed the 10 per cent milestone.

Both chipmakers announced drastically reduced prices on their more popular processors earlier this month to spur sales during the back-to-school and pre-Christmas buying seasons.