AMD sets new game PC specifications

(CNET) -- Advanced Micro Devices will try to make buying a game PC more like selecting a game console.

"AMD Game" will put badging on game PCs and set minimum standards for PCs that carry these badges. The idea is to allow gamers to select a PC like they would an Xbox 360 game console model.

AMD's specifications will target mainstream PC gamers, not high-end enthusiasts necessarily. Initially, the specifications will cover only desktops, with notebook standards coming later.

About a dozen resellers will launch systems with the badging, including Acer, Alienware, iBuypower, and Velocity Micro. Microsoft and Logitech will also support AMD Game.

AMD has good reason to revisit its game PC strategy. The PC gaming alliance estimates 263 million gamers worldwide, with global PC game (software) revenues estimated to be $9.6 billion in 2008. But more importantly, AMD's acquisition of ATI has put it in a unique position to be the only chip supplier in the x86 PC market that offers both a CPU (central processing unit) and discrete, high-end GPU (graphics processing unit). full story