AMD Launches Business-oriented PRO Series APUs, HP Wastes No Time Jumping On Board

In conjunction with a number of product announcements out of HP today, AMD has unveiled its brand-new APU series for both desktops and notebooks bound for business-class machines. Called AMD PRO, these chips are designed to offer great performance and unparalleled stability.

We’ll have to wait to learn about the entire lineup, but the focal point of AMD’s is its PRO A12. This quad-core chip is compliant with HSA (Heterogeneous System Architecture) 1.0 specs, and bundles a 512-core Radeon R7 graphics. Clocked at up to 3.4GHz, this chip should serve a multitude of business purposes very well.

Left to right: AMD PRO A12-equipped HP EliteBook 725, 745, and 755

One of the most interesting things about this launch is how quickly everything is going to roll out. AMD has already secured a major win with HP, and its products featuring AMD PRO should become available almost immediately. The shot above was taken earlier today at an HP event in Mexico City, and showcases three different notebooks that utilize AMD’s top-end A12 APU. These notebooks are slated to start out at $749, while the desktop counterparts will start at $549. Soon, Lenovo will also bundle AMD PRO in its M79 Tower series.

Worth highlighting is the fact that the EliteBook 705 series is the world’s thinnest and lightest in its given category. AMD is quick to note that it’s also the fastest.

Alongside this launch, AMD is also introducing management software it calls AMD PRO Control Center. With it, businesses will be able to take advantage of AMD’s Energy Saver, PC Health Center, USB Blocker, and Wireless Display.

Overall, a great showing from both AMD and HP. Now we’re in for a waiting game to see how long it takes for other vendors to begin integrating AMD PRO, and perhaps also see if Lenovo will bring the chip to its notebooks.