[Extreme Tech] AMD Fusion for Gaming Tested - Overclock.net

Cr4zYH3aD · 10-09-08

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AMD Fusion: The inevitable convergence of CPU and GPU. We've been reading and hearing about Fusion since AMD bought ATI a couple years ago. What we haven't seen is something tangible, something we can dig our greedy little mitts into.

Until now.

What we have today isn't a single-chip CPU/GPU. It's not a system-on-a-chip. We have a beta utility. It's designed for the AMD/ATI Spider platform, and requires a 7-series motherboard and the Windows Vista 32-bit operating system. It is the AMD Fusion Gaming Utility.

When you strip it down to its elements, it's an overclocking utility—with a bit more. "Fusion for Gaming," which is currently at release candidate 1 (RC1), peels away the layers of Windows Vista and allows you to use one of its pre-configured profiles or to create your own. The profiles serve to strip Vista down to a lean gaming platform, employing a utility called AMD Boost to remove—temporarily—services that the PC doesn't need at the moment. Fusion also automatically overclocks the GPU and CPU using the familiar Overdrive utilities.

Whether you believe this is just a precursor to the real deal—integrated CPU/GPU functionality—or a diluting of the brand, Fusion is an interesting attempt to give gamers greater control of not just their hardware, but the underlying operating system, in one software utility.

We put the thumb screws to a system armed with the very best AMD/ATI hardware and AMD Fusion for Gaming RC1. AMD is quick to point out that, although the utility is designed to make games "more responsive," it may not be reflected in measurable frame rates. What, then, is the effect of Fusion? We played a bunch of games, and benchmarked the bejeepers out of our system, to find out. Continued...

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Fusion: Worth the Effort?
If you happen to have a Spider system built of recent components and running Vista 32, do immediately download Fusion for Gaming. You won't be sorry.

This clever utility truly does streamline Windows Vista for gaming. It does its trick with grace and ease, and it makes enthusiast-level gaming attainable by just about anyone.

Since the product is still in beta, we're not going to give it a score. Rest assured, if we did, it would be up around 4 or 4.5 out of 5. With Fusion looking this good so far, we can't wait to see what AMD/ATI has planned for its hardware.

On the other hand, Fusion isn't some magical melding of the CPU and the graphics processor. In some ways, it's unfortunate that AMD chose this name for what's really a pretty nifty utility.

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Brutuz · 10-09-08

Lets see it in 64bit.

darksideleader · 10-09-08

pretty interesting read. My future system will be a fast AMD tri-core system, this just sweetens the deal

p0isonapple · 10-09-08

This sounds terrific! I think stripping vista down for gaming is a GREAT idea! Im skeptical on the CPU / GPU convergence, but this utility is exactly what gamers need.

Haha ok im a bit excited, but seriously, optimizing an OS for gaming is a great idea.

Licht · 10-09-08

So is this piece of software for all AMD systems or just ones with fusion processors? (Pretty sure it is for all but just want someone to clarify for me.)

kobilica · 10-09-08

I bet Intel will copy that!

sweet_3025 · 10-09-08

Just downloaded from AMD site and tried. Its nice and fun, On the website there is a list of supported mobo. I am sure they are going to add more mobos on that list.

Vegnagun · 10-09-08

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Originally Posted by kobilica

I bet Intel will copy that!

Thinkin' you should fix the name of your sig rig before a mod sees it.

I have this for XP I think it works but i'm not sure xD

tofunater · 10-09-08

this was posted a while back when they first released it. here you can read the results I had with it there. It is an interesting tool especially if you've set up oc profiles in catalyst and overdrive.

Vegnagun · 10-09-08

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Originally Posted by sweet_3025

Just downloaded from AMD site and tried. Its nice and fun, On the website there is a list of supported mobo. I am sure they are going to add more mobos on that list.

Where di you find the mobo list at?

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[Extreme Tech] AMD Fusion for Gaming Tested

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