It’s been an exciting time for ArcSoft, working with AMD on the new AMD Fusion APU platform. The closer ties between the CPU and discrete-class GPU in the AMD Fusion Family of APUs meshes well with the advanced video processing needs of ArcSoft’s core products.

MediaConverter 7, ArcSoft’s video conversion application, takes advantage of the AMD Fusion platform in a number of ways. The GPU allows hardware accelerated preview of a variety of common video formats. Then during the transcoding process, AMD’s Advanced Parallel Processing technology gives a significant performance boost, allowing the end user to cut down the time they have to wait before doing what they really want to do: watch their videos on their portable device of choice. The AMD Fusion technology gives MediaConverter a real edge in performance while performing the rather mundane conversion process.

TotalMedia Theatre 5, ArcSoft’s universal video player supporting everything from 3D Blu-ray to YouTube videos, takes similar advantage of the discrete-level GPU on the APU for hardware acceleration of video. But the high-definition formats Theatre uses, sometimes carrying twice the data to create the 3D effect – while still juggling other tasks like high-definition audio and an advanced UI – can really push the CPU to its limits. Fortunately, the discrete-level GPU handles this massive volume of video data like a champ, unburdening the CPU and allowing it to handle the other tasks with ease. Theatre also puts AMD Advanced Parallel Processing (APP) technology to use with our SimHD feature which applies a number of enhancements including scaling, sharpening and dynamic lighting to standard definition DVDs bringing them to near high-definition quality. APP allows offloading more of that processing onto the GPU, allowing ArcSoft to further push the envelope on the number of enhancements that can be added in real time.

And this is just the beginning. ArcSoft will be taking further advantage of AMD Fusion technology in these and other applications as the platform grows and our development teams gain more insight into the possibilities AMD Fusion offers through our collaboration with AMD.

George Tang is the VP and General Manager of Video and Home Entertainment Group at ArcSoft. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites, and references to third party trademarks, are provided for convenience and illustrative purposes only. Unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such links, and no third party endorsement of AMD or any of its products is implied.