AMD VISION Processors: Pick Your Performance Level

With so many processors, graphics chips, and laptop configurations out there, it can be daunting for average consumers to figure out what kind of performance they're getting when purchasing a new notebook. AMD aims to simplify this with their VISION branding, which denotes specific usage scenarios and capabilities.

At its core, AMD VISION is a set of platform specifications combining an AMD processor and graphics solution to deliver a well-rounded computing experience optimized for different tasks like media, gaming, and general productivity.

AMD Vision Tier

There are four tiers to make sense of - VISION, VISION Premium, VISION Ultimate, and the new top-end VISION Black:

AMD VISION 

The base VISION standard is designed for basic day-to-day use like web browsing, office applications, media playback, and lightweight multitasking. You'll find AMD VISION laptops running on cost-effective processors like the E-Series APUs, with integrated graphics suitable for video decoding and older game titles.

AMD VISION Premium 

Step up to VISION Premium for a snappier, more responsive experience with resource-intensive applications like video editing and mainstream gaming. These notebooks come equipped with faster CPUs like AMD's A-Series Accelerated Processing Units that combine powerful x86 cores and robust Radeon graphics on a single chip.

AMD VISION Ultimate 

For those who demand top performance for the latest games, high-definition content creation, and serious multitasking, there's VISION Ultimate. You'll find discrete graphics cards paired with AMD's fastest mobile processors. High RAM capacities and storage options like SSDs are also common.

AMD VISION Black (New for 2012) 

Unveiled just recently, the VISION Black designation is AMD's new ultra-enthusiast platform aimed at heavy multimedia editing, hardcore gaming, and other extremely demanding workloads. It combines AMD's top-tier mobile processors with powerful discrete Radeon HD 7000M series graphics and premium components like solid-state drives and Blu-ray drives.

In addition to setting performance targets, AMD VISION laptops must meet certain Display, Video, Data Transfer, and Power Management criteria for each tier. This ensures a consistently great multimedia experience with smooth HD video playback, fast file transfers, and strong battery life when you need it.

With VISION taking the guesswork out of laptop shopping, AMD hopes to attract consumers looking for rich multimedia performance packed in an affordable and easy-to-understand platform. The new VISION Black brand in particular shows AMD isn't pulling any punches against Intel in the high-end mobile arena this year.

So whether you're a mainstream user, a gamer, or a multimedia professional, one of AMD's VISION tiers should have you covered without confusing spec sheet math. Just pick the brand that fits your needs and budget, and enjoy a finely tuned experience out of the box.