AMD launched its seventh-generation Bristol Ridge A-series APUs (next-generation laptop processors)

AMD is marking the occasion of Computex Taipei by launching its next-generation laptop processors. The seventh-generation Bristol Ridge A-series APUs, that's AMD parlance for "Accelerated Processing Units" that include a CPU and GPU on the same chip feature CPU cores based on the new Excavator architecture alongside Radeon graphics. The FX chips are at the high end of the range, while the A12 and A9 are positioned as competitors to Intel's Core i5 and i3 processors respectively.

AMD is claiming that Excavator delivers up to 52 percent improved CPU performance over the sixth generation, with up to 53 percent higher visual performance than the integrated graphics in unspecified Intel Core i7 processors. As for power efficiency, AMD offers the somewhat unusual statistic of "as little as one third the power consumption of a three-year-old AMD system for 1080p video playback" while delivering up to 38 percent higher performance, so make of that what you will.

AMD's flagship laptop for the launch is a variant of HP's Envy X360 convertible, which launched last year with Intel Skylake processors. The Envy X360 has a 15.6" display that flips around for tablet use, and AMD is claiming up to 10 hours of battery life. It and other seventh-generation AMD APU systems should be available from today.