Acer has announced two new netbooks to add to its successful Aspire One line, but with a twist: they use AMD CPUs and Radeon graphics. The 521 will be an 10in screen model and the 721 is a slightly larger 11.6in panel which will overlap the CULV Timeline series slightly.
Acer claims the systems use Radeon HD 4225 graphics for "flawless 3D computing [and] mainstream gaming." It's likely a derivative of the 785G/880G chipset which also features Radeon HD 4000-based graphics, but whether AMD has made a new part, we're unsure yet.
Despite AMD stating it wouldn't focus on the netbook market, the new V-105 CPU is a 1.2GHz, single cored 9W part based on AMD's 45nm technology - different to the older generation of ultra-thin AMD machines that used antiquated 65nm recycled K8 CPUs.
Acer will offer up to 4GB of DDR3 and a 1,366 x 768 screen resolution on the 11.6in 721 model, but the PR cunningly leaves out the information for the 10in. Other features include LED backlit 16:9 displays, WiFi (no specifics whether 802.11n or -g only), Ethernet (again, no specifics whether 10/100 or Gigabit), webcam and microphone and optional 3G and Bluetooth. Finally we're also waiting on estimated prices and battery life figures too.
We contacted Acer to ask about the missing information above, but were told that it was unavailable at the time of writing. We'll update this when we receive new information.
Either way though, these new macines should mix up the netbook market and hopefully offer more performance than what Atom offers, which can only be a good thing, providing there's enough battery life to compensate.
Are you after a new netbook? Fancy something AMD instead of Atom? Let us know your thoughts, in the forums.
Acer claims the systems use Radeon HD 4225 graphics for "flawless 3D computing [and] mainstream gaming." It's likely a derivative of the 785G/880G chipset which also features Radeon HD 4000-based graphics, but whether AMD has made a new part, we're unsure yet.
Despite AMD stating it wouldn't focus on the netbook market, the new V-105 CPU is a 1.2GHz, single cored 9W part based on AMD's 45nm technology - different to the older generation of ultra-thin AMD machines that used antiquated 65nm recycled K8 CPUs.
Acer will offer up to 4GB of DDR3 and a 1,366 x 768 screen resolution on the 11.6in 721 model, but the PR cunningly leaves out the information for the 10in. Other features include LED backlit 16:9 displays, WiFi (no specifics whether 802.11n or -g only), Ethernet (again, no specifics whether 10/100 or Gigabit), webcam and microphone and optional 3G and Bluetooth. Finally we're also waiting on estimated prices and battery life figures too.
We contacted Acer to ask about the missing information above, but were told that it was unavailable at the time of writing. We'll update this when we receive new information.
Either way though, these new macines should mix up the netbook market and hopefully offer more performance than what Atom offers, which can only be a good thing, providing there's enough battery life to compensate.
Are you after a new netbook? Fancy something AMD instead of Atom? Let us know your thoughts, in the forums.
RELATED ARTICLES
MSI MPG Velox 100R Chassis Review
October 14 2021 | 15:04
Want to comment? Please log in.