New chips and storage platform aim to ease vendor headaches

AMD has unveiled details of a new line of processors for embedded machines, and a blueprint for a storage platform.

The chip firm is offering vendors a set of blueprints for a system known as the Storage Bridge Bay, which will allow vendors to use a common design base for a low-cost storage system.

AMD argues that this will allow vendors to focus on fine-tuning the systems rather than the basic design.

"Storage Bridge Bay could help customers reduce the typical design cycle by three to nine months," said Buddy Broeker, director of embedded computing solutions at AMD.

The company is also planning three low-power, low-cost processors for embedded systems such as kiosks and gaming machines.

The new processors are designed to be socket-compatible with AMD's previous processors, which is important in the embedded system market where reliability and simplicity is key.

Hardware vendors will be able to plug the new processors directly into current board designs without the need to redesign the entire system.

AMD expects to release the new processors by the second half of 2008.