Intel has unveiled a new chip, codenamed Pine Trail, which brings together the Atom processor and the chipset in one single physical unit in a bid, by the world’s biggest semiconductor manufacturer to cut costs while improving power efficiency and performance.
The chips are smaller and more energy-efficient than their predecessors. They also integrate graphics processors (GPUs) and memory controllers into the CPUs. Two of them are single-core processors and the third is a dual-core CPU. All run at 1.66 GHz. Computers based on these new processors will be available Jan. 4, 2010
Intel is calling the new processors Pineview, and the platform Pine Trail. This is the first combination of a graphics processor with a x86 CPU.
The new product, called the N450 shares the same specifications as the existing N280 model with a 1.66 GHz processor speed, 512KB L2 cache and a 667MHz FSB. However, it manages to integrate a 400 MHz graphics module together with an integrated memory controller.
The new Atom CPU’s are 60 percent smaller than their predecessors, and consume 20 percent less power–50 percent for the nettops processors.
The integrated graphics and memory controller is an important part of that, the chip maker said. That not only will the integration help with the improved performance, but it will also mean lower power and a smaller overall size, now that the Atom platform will mean two chips, the CPU and chip set rather than three, the CPU, chip set and I/O controller hub.
Intel has already been shipping the new Atom processors and motherboard chipset to hardware manufacturers. Systems built on the new architecture will be available the first week of 2010 from a variety of vendors including Acer, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, and others.