So what is this Mantle thing Pete keeps Pluging in the demos?

[Dargoth]

and what is it actually doing for Beyond earth?

Im guessing that AMD are Firaxis GFX partner for Beyond earth

 

[MadDjinn]

http://www.amd.com/en-us/innovations/software-technologies/mantle#overview

basically, a way to get better graphics with a new card, but old CPU.

It does have some current drawbacks in that recording with Mantle is iffy at best.