Intel announced today its next generation of Atom processors. Based on its Pine Trail platform, the new chips are built on a 45 nanometer process, come with integrated graphics built directly into the CPU, and promise significant improvements in average power consumption over the previous generation.
One of the most significant features of the new platform is the integration of memory controller and graphics into the CPU, a first in the industry on x-86 chips. That means two chips (CPU+chipset) instead of the previous three (CPU, chipset, I/O controller hub), a lower TDP, and substantial reductions in cost, overall footprint and power. The netbook platform features a 20 percent improvement in average power and a smaller package size over the previous Atom platform. This translates into smaller and more compact system designs and longer battery life. Because of the integration, the total footprint for the netbook platform has decreased by approximately 60 percent. For entry level desktop PCs, it’s a nearly 70 percent reduction in footprint and about 50 percent lower TDP than the previous generation.
The Atom N450 processor is intended for netbooks. For nettops (Atom-based entry level desktop PCs), there will be the Intel Atom processor D410 or the dual core D510. All three run at 1.66GHz and are complemented with the low-power Intel NM10 Express Chipset.
A number of manufacturers are expected to unveil new systems based on these new processors around CES 2010. Among these are ASUS, Dell, MSI, and Samsung.