AMD Launches the Industry's Best Performing Low Profile Graphics Card for CAD for Both Small Form Factor and Tower Workstations

AMD FirePro(TM) W4300 Low Profile Graphics Card Boasts Unprecedented Flexibility in Its Class

LAS VEGAS, NV -- (Marketwired) -- 12/01/15 -- Today at Autodesk University 2015, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) unveiled the AMD FirePro™ W4300 for the best Computer-Aided Design (CAD) performance that fits both small form factor (SFF) and tower workstations.1 The AMD FirePro W4300 card expertly integrates a powerful GPU and 4GB of GDDR5 memory within a low-profile design for installation in SFF as well as full-sized systems. Organizations can now confidently simplify their IT management by standardizing on a single, capable professional graphics solution throughout their workstation deployment.

The AMD FirePro W4300 professional graphics card is optimized for the latest CAD applications including Autodesk® AutoCAD, Inventor as well as Revit®, Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS® and CATIA®, PTC Creo®, Siemens NX™, and many more. Engineering professionals can efficiently work with large geometry-intense models and apply GPU-accelerated features in their projects, such as the new Order Independent Transparency (OIT) mode supported in SOLIDWORKS. Users can help increase productivity by visualizing their workflows across up to six displays2, and up to 4K and 5K resolution.

"We designed the AMD FirePro W4300 specifically for CAD," said Sean Burke, corporate vice president and general manager, Radeon Technologies Group, AMD. "CAD users rely on AMD FirePro graphics cards to enable their application features to best visualize their designs, and now can continue to do so without having to compromise by using the latest energy efficient, small form factor workstations."

Based on AMD Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture to optimize utilization and maximize performance, the AMD FirePro W4300 card features:

  • 4GB GDDR5 GPU memory for large projects helping to improve workflow application responsiveness.
  • AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology2 that allows the use of up to six ultra-high resolution displays, helping users to multitask across multiple applications and displays with ease.
  • Four DisplayPort 1.2a connections standard (with support for up to six DisplayPort monitors via MST-enabled hub) and AMD FreeSync™ technology3 that enables GPU control of the display refresh rate for tear-free display updates, critical for media and entertainment applications and workflows.
  • OpenCL™ 2.0 support enabling developers to take advantage of new features that give GPUs more freedom to do the work they are designed to do.
  • Unique power monitoring and management technologies plus the maximum power consumption of 50W in a low-profile form factor. AMD PowerTune technology4 dynamically optimizes GPU power usage and AMD ZeroCore Power technology4 significantly reduces power consumption at idle.
  • Certification on more than 100 different applications for improved performance and reliability, including the most popular design and engineering and media and entertainment applications. AMD FirePro™ professional graphics drivers are released several times each year and include performance and feature improvements.

The AMD FirePro W4300 professional graphics card is currently in production -- contact local distributors for availability. Availability from major workstation OEMs is planned for 2016. For more information, contact the AMD Professional Graphics Team by email: AMD.ProfessionalGraphics@amd.com

From December 1 to 3, AMD FirePro products are on display in booth 426 at Autodesk University 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Supporting Resources

About AMD
For more than 45 years AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies -- the building blocks for gaming, immersive platforms, and the datacenter. Hundreds of millions of consumers, leading Fortune 500 businesses, and cutting-edge scientific research facilities around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work, and play. AMD employees around the world are focused on building great products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, FirePro and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. OpenCL and the OpenCL logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. used by permission by Khronos. Other names are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

1 Based on AMD internal testing as of October 12, 2015 using SPECviewperf 12.0.1 to measure visual performance and create the geometric average results of the following four CAD tests: catia-04, creo-01, sn-02 and sw-03. AMD FirePro W4300 scored 47.23 vs. Quadro K1200 which scored 38.99. Test system: Intel E5-1650 v3 3.50GHz, 16GB RAM, Win7 64-bit SP1, AMD 15.201 beta23, Nvidia 354.13. Individual scores for AMD FirePro W4300: catia-04 = 38.79, creo-01 = 43.31, snx-02 = 45.65, sw-03 = 64.86. Individual scores for Quadro K1200: catia-04 = 35.07, creo-01 = 32.77, snx-02 = 29, sw-03 = 69.35 FP-183
2 AMD Eyefinity technology supports up to six DisplayPort™ monitors on an enabled graphics card. Supported display quantity, type and resolution vary by model and board design; confirm specifications with manufacturer before purchase. To enable more than two displays, or multiple displays from a single output, additional hardware such as DisplayPort-ready monitors or DisplayPort 1.2 MST-enabled hubs may be required. A maximum of two active adapters is recommended for consumer systems. See www.amd.com/eyefinityfaq for full details.
3 FreeSync is an AMD technology designed to reduce or eliminate screen tears in games and videos by allowing the monitor's refresh rate to be controlled by and synchronized to the graphics card. Requires DisplayPort 1.2a compliant monitors that support DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync.
4 AMD PowerTune and AMD ZeroCore Power are technologies offered by certain AMD FirePro™ products, which are designed to intelligently manage GPU power consumption in response to certain GPU load conditions. Not all products feature all technologies -- check with your component or system manufacturer for specific model capabilities.

Cautionary Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. ("AMD"), including the features, functionality and availability of the AMD FirePro W4300; which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are commonly identified by words such as "would," "may," "expects," "believes," "plans," "intends," "projects," and other terms with similar meaning. Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this press release are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations, speak only as of the date of this document and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Risks include, without limitation the following: that Intel Corporation's dominance of the microprocessor market and its aggressive business practices may limit AMD's ability to compete effectively; that AMD relies on GlobalFoundries Inc. (GF) to manufacture most of its microprocessor and APU products and certain of its GPU and semi-custom products. If GF is not able to satisfy AMD's manufacturing requirements, AMD's business could be adversely impacted; that AMD relies on third parties to manufacture its products, and if they are unable to do so on a timely basis in sufficient quantities and using competitive technologies, AMD's business could be materially adversely affected; failure to achieve expected manufacturing yields for AMD's products could negatively impact its financial results; the success of its business is dependent upon its ability to introduce products on a timely basis with features and performance levels that provide value to its customers while supporting and coinciding with significant industry transitions; if AMD cannot generate sufficient revenue and operating cash flow or obtain external financing, it may face a cash shortfall and be unable to make all of its planned investments in research and development or other strategic investments; the loss of a significant customer may have a material adverse effect on AMD; global economic uncertainty may adversely impact AMD's business and operating results; the completion and impact of the 2015 restructuring plan, its transformation initiatives and further restructuring actions could adversely affect AMD;; AMD may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service its debt obligations or meet its working capital requirements; AMD has a substantial amount of indebtedness which could adversely affect its financial position and prevent it from implementing its strategy or fulfilling its contractual obligations; the agreements governing AMD's notes and its amended and restated senior secured asset based line of credit for a principal amount up to $500 million impose restrictions on AMD that may adversely affect AMD's ability to operate its business; the markets in which AMD's products are sold are highly competitive. Investors are urged to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in AMD's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to AMD's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 26, 2015.

Contact:
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Source: Advanced Micro Devices