AMD Fusion is the marketing name for a series of APUs (Accelerated Processing Units) that have been in development since 2006. The final design is the result of AMD's merger with ATI, combining general processor execution as well as 3D geometry processing and other functions of modern GPUs into a single chip.

AMD's ultrathin platform, code-named "Brazos", was introduced early this year as the company's fourth mobile platform targeting the ultra-portable notebook market. It features the 40nm AMD Ontario APU, a 9-watt chip for netbooks and small form factor desktops, and Zacate, an 18-watt APU for ultrathin, mainstream, and value notebooks and desktops.

The Asus E35M1-M Pro motherboard we are testing today is an implementation of the AMD Fusion/Brazos platform that packs a dual-core AMD Zacate 18W processor (formally known as the E-350 APU), DirectX 11 graphics support along with USB 3.0 and SATA 6Gb/s, making for a relatively inexpensive bundle at $140.