Advanced Micro Devices plans to release new core architectures at a faster pace and is doubling down on its heterogeneous computing strategy with lots of new APUs.

Over the next few years, Advanced Micro Devices will be betting big on heterogeneous computing and taking a page from archrival Intel's playbook by tightening the cycles for introducing new processor core technologies.

AMD released its product roadmap through 2013 this week at its annual Financial Analyst Day held at the company's Sunnyvale, Calif. headquarters. The big news was the chipmaker's commitment to what it calls a Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA), which will on its future processors like never before. But the adoption of an Intel-esque "tock" cadence for upgrading AMD's core architectures may be just as big a deal.

For some time now, Intel has introduced new processor architectures every two years or so while AMD has generally waited three years or more to make major changes to its processor core designs.

Not anymore. AMD will be unveiling three new core architectures in 2013 just a couple of years after introducing its current-generation cores, codenamed Bobcat and Bulldozer. The next-generation cores are Jaguar, which succeeds Bobcat and will be part of AMD's low-power APU platforms of the future, Steamroller, a more powerful APU core, and Piledriver, which is the engine that will be the basis of future Opteron server chips.

This year, AMD will release second-generation APUs, including a successor to the mainstream Llano chip called Trinity, an update to the low-power Brazos part called Brazos 2.0, and a new ultra-low power APU that's code named Hondo.

In 2012, the company will start transitioning its discrete graphics over to the 28-nanometer process node. AMD is also incorporating a new GPU core called Core Next in its Southern Islands generation of graphics chips due out this year, which includes the top-of-the-line Radeon HD 7970, also known as Tahiti.

Here's a rundown of what to expect from AMD's 2012 products, courtesy of the company's roadmap:

In 2013, AMD moves fully to 28nm with its entire range of discrete graphics and client APU parts. The company also plans to include the first HSA features in the 2013 products, which include Sea Islands discrete graphics chips, and new APUs code named Kaveri, Kabini, and Temash. Below is a breakdown of the specs and features AMD's telling us about those products:

Finally, AMD also updated its server roadmap this week. The company's Opteron family will welcome a new one-socket server part code named Zurich this year, while chips due out in 2013 include Abu Dhabi for two-socket and four-socket enterprise servers, Seoul for one-socket and two-socket systems, and Delhi, the follow-up to 2012's Zurich: