Update at 4:20 p.m. with additional information throughout.
An Intel Netbook processor roadmap has emerged showing technology that extends to the 32-nanometer generation of silicon.
Future Netbook showed earlier this year at the Intel Developer's Forum
(Credit: Intel)One recent version of Intel's handheld and Netbook roadmap shows a chip platform code-named Medfield, which will be based on next-generation 32-nanometer process technology. The roadmap is featured in a report by UBS Securities.
Medfield (2010) will be preceded by Pineview (2009), based on a 45-nanometer process--the manufacturing process currently used in Atom processors. (Note that Pineview has already been mentioned and discussed by other sources on the Web. It is cited in various articles as either a 45nm or 32nm chip.)
(For those keeping track of the confusing swirl of code names, Medfield would be the successor to Moorestown.)
Medfield would integrate the processor, memory controller, multimedia functions, and I/O (Input/Output) into a single chip. The I/O hub has typically been on a separate piece of silicon--as has the memory controller (for Intel silicon) until recently. Like the current Intel Atom lineup, dual-core designs will be offered.
Medfield would also have a PC-based graphics core, the report said.
The report also noted that "the concept of netbooks" will evolve "from from basic web page consumption to multimedia consumption including high-definition (HD) video." Battery life should improve from two to three hours to closer to five hours as wide area network connectivity is added such as WiMAX, 3G/HSPA, and/or LTE. Features such as GPS and touch screens will also be bolted on.
Netbooks are a relative newcomer to the computer industry. They are small--typically with displays less than 10 inches diagonally--weigh less than three pounds, and cheap, usually costing less than $400.
The form factor has been selling well but has become a somewhat controversial design. As this ZDNet video shows, users still aren't quite sure about the utility of the device, since it falls in a gray area between smartphones and ultraportable notebooks.
On the mobile Internet device (MID) front--Intel's platform for handheld devices--the report said that while Moorestown will be based on the Lincroft processor and Langwell chipset, as Intel has indicated in the past, the Lincroft graphics core will come from Imagination Technologies, like the Atom (Silverthorne) Poulsbo chipset today.
Imagination is the same company that licenses PowerVR technology to Samsung, which, in turn, integrates it into silicon used in the Apple iPhone. PowerVR is also used in Intel's Canmore system-on-a-chip (SOC) consumer electronics platform.
Pineview, however, may use Intel in-house graphics, according to the report.
Update on September 21 at 9:10 a.m. with pricing correction.
The single life for Atom is over--or at least one version. Intel said it has begun shipments of the first dual-core version of the Atom processor.
Tranquil PC T7-HSG Home Server uses the dual-core Atom 330
(Credit: Tranquil PC)Atom 330 pricing information and data sheets for customers will go live Monday, according to Intel.
The chipmaker indicated at the Intel Developer Forum in August that it would be shipping the dual-core chip this month.
The power-efficient processor will be targeted at Atom-based desktops called nettops. Currently, Intel offers the single-core Atom N230 processor for this category of small desktops.
At 8 watts, the chip has a higher power envelope than single-core Atom processors. The N230 is rated at 4 watts, while Atom processors for mobile devices such as the Eee PC and Acer Aspire have a thermal envelope of 2 watts.
Other specifications include a core clock speed of 1.6GHz, 1MB of level-2 cache, and support for DDR2 667MHz memory.
It's available as either a package with the Intel 945GC Express chipset (which includes built-in graphics) or as part of the Little Falls2 motherboard, Intel said.
"This is not for Netbooks," an Intel spokesperson cautioned.
But caveats aside, computer makers will do with the chip as they please. And a few may venture to put the chip into a netbook or notebook design. One of the more compelling reasons would be the 8W thermal envelope--far below the standard 35W power envelope of mainstream Intel-based notebooks.
Another reason is price. At $43 in 1,000-unit quantities, this makes it the least expensive dual-core Intel processor, along with the dual-core Celeron processor, also priced at $43.
Note: the price was originally stated as $40. Intel lists the price as of September 21, 2008 at $43.
Tranquil PC, a U.K.-based PC supplier, has already been taking pre-orders for a home server based on the Intel Atom 330.
While the marquee processor theme at IDF Shanghai is "milliwatts to petaflops," Intel is also set to offer a vision of universal connectivity.
The main theme for the event, which starts Wednesday, Beijing time, refers to "very, very big to very, very small and low power," according to Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president and co-general manager of Intel's digital enterprise group, speaking in a video.
(See: Intel rolls out five new Atom processors.)
"Milliwatts" refers to chips such as Atom, a tiny low-power, low-cost processor destined for ultramobile devices and low-cost desktops typically running either Linux or Windows XP. The first Atom chips will launch in June.
"Petaflops" refers to high-performance computing--what used to be called supercomputing. ("Peta" is quadrillion, or a thousand trillion; "flop" is floating-point operation.) Intel is targeting petaflop supercomputers that would compete with the fastest supercomputer in the world: IBM's Blue Gene/P machines.
Though more technology and product details will certainly emerge in the next two days in Shanghai, the main chip themes are already out there. Gelsinger spelled them out at briefing earlier this month.
The specs for Intel's Dunnington processor
(Credit: Intel)The chip buzzwords are: Tukwila, a new quad-core chip with 2 billion transistors, a whopping 30MB of cache, and a new interconnect technology called QuickPath; Dunnington, a six-core chip for multiprocessor computers that can support four or more processors (in this case, each with six cores); Nehalem, a follow-on to the current "Penryn" processors, it is a new 45-nanometer chip microarchitecture due in the fourth quarter that scales up to eight cores; and Larrabee, a visual-computing architecture that uses many cores ("many" usually means many more than a typical quad-core computer).
In addition to Atom, the processor spotlight will likely fall on Nehalem and Larrabee. Nehalem is a relatively known quantity; Larrabee, a relatively unknown quantity. So interest should focus on the latter.
Nehalem boasts increased parallelism, better branch prediction (to move instructions more quickly through the instruction pipeline), and an on-chip memory controller for increased memory performance--what Intel calls "memory latency reduction." Something, by the way, Advanced Micro Devices already has in its chips.
Larrabee is a graphics processor scheduled for the 2009-2010 time frame. It will include a new vector instruction set to improve the performance of graphics and video applications. Larrabee will be compatible with Intel's popular x86 instruction set, theoretically making life easier for software developers.
On another front, Intel is evangelizing universal connectivity, always a problematic proposition, simply because it invariably promises more (sometimes much more) than it can deliver. Intel puts it this way: "Imagine a day when a single device small enough to fit in your pocket...knows your tendencies and preferences and can adapt and optimize its interfaces to match what you are doing at any point any time...Imagine a day when this device...can dynamically become a hybrid combination of other computing and multimedia devices in close proximity." You get the picture. Intel calls this "Carry Small, Live Large."
On a slightly more practical level, the Cliffside technology is being demonstrated from the Mobile Products Group; it enables a single Wi-Fi adapter to function like two independent Wi-Fi adapters. The hope is that this technology could sync your MP3 and video files without a USB cable, directly and wirelessly connecting your notebook to your TV to view HD movies. More here.
There is also a demonstration of wireless device discovery and setup. This demonstration shows how to detect and connect to nearby wireless displays, using the familiar FnF7 (Function F7 key combination).
The following is a partial list of the sessions at this week's Intel Developer Forum in China, which runs April 2 to 3. Topics set to be covered at IDF Shanghai include Netbook, Nettop, Bloomfield (Nehalem), solid-state drives, QuickAssist (accelerators), system-on-chip (Tolapai), and USB 3.0.
The items below are taken directly from Intel's own material:
Intel Atom Processor for the Desktop
The Essential Building Block for Purpose Built, Basic Desktop Computing Devices: Intel's strategy for basic desktop computing devices. See how the new Intel Atom processor based desktop platforms provide the world's best solution for basic computing, content consumption, and thin client.
Intel Basic Mobile Platform with Intel Atom Processor: Growing New Markets
Overview of growth opportunities for internet-centric computing devices or netbook market. Introduction to 2008 Basic Mobile Platform with Intel Atom Processor Architecture. Understand low cost system BOM (Bill Of Materials) & implications for netbooks. How netbooks are different from Mobile Internet devices, Ultra Mobile PCs, and Entry Notebooks. Opportunities for OEMs/ODM/Software community.
The Intel-Powered Classmate PC: Innovating for the Future
An introduction to technology for the next billion users and how to designing a product for first time user in environments that are not ideal. This includes the implementation of specific technical features in the Second and Next Generation Intel-powered classmate PC including: - PATA MLC Flash - Rugged and high temperature tolerant parts/design - Fan-less thermal system design.
Passive and Fanless Thermal Enabling for Affordable Internet-Centric Nettop
Introduction of Nettop, internet-centric computing devices roadmap and associated thermal solution space. Value proposition of passive/fanless cooling - Cost, Noise, new usage.
High End Desktop Platform, Next Generation (Nehalem) Processor
Background on the Desktop version of our Next Generation Intel Microarchitecture (Nehalem) Processor. Key electrical and system design guidelines to consider in designing a platform with the new Intel desktop processor (Bloomfield). Information on the new Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) & the Integrated Bus Controller on the new Intel desktop processor (Bloomfield) processor. Updates on other key new technologies of this High End Desktop platform and the advantages they bring to developers
Microsoft Windows Rally Technologies
The Windows Rally technologies provide manufacturers of network-connected devices with an architecture that enables effortless setup, more secure and manageable connectivity to other devices and computers, and rich end-user experiences. Using Windows Rally technologies enables hardware and software developers to focus development resources on product differentiation rather than connectivity fundamentals. For our mutual consumers, the result will be a dramatic reduction in complexity. Connecting a network device to a PC will be effortless, reliable, and more secure.
SATA Solid-State Drives: Not All Drives are Created Equal
A technical overview of NAND-based high-performance SATA solid-state drive (SSD) technology. A comparative review between Intel's upcoming SATA SSD products and other SSD and conventional hard disk drive alternatives, focusing on the areas of performance, power and reliability
DDR3, the Optimal Memory for Notebooks
Understand the benefits of DDR3 memory. Understand the DDR3 eco-system readiness and outlook for Mobile. Learn how memory impacts critical performance and power benchmarks and what these benchmarks mean to end-users.
Extreme Mobile Gaming: Design Considerations for High Performance Notebooks
Introduction to Extreme Edition Gaming Notebooks. Details on Extreme Edition Notebook hardware & software offerings. Updates on available Thermal technologies. Methods to tune platform performance
Inside Intel Next Generation Nehalem Microarchitecture
Intel's Nehalem microarchitecture is the next major microarchitecture update from Intel aligning to it's "Tick-Tock" cadence for processors. This session will provide architectural insight into this new microarchitecture that will start shipping in the second half of 2008. You will learn the details behind the key microarchitecture features including: Enhancements to the out of order execution engine. Enhancement to the Platform bandwidth. Enhancements to the cache subsystem. Extension to the instruction set with SSE4.2. And more...
Intel QuickAssist Technology Components
Understanding of the scope of Intel QuickAssist Acceleration Technology and Components. Hardware and software architecture of Intel QuickAssist Technology FSB-FPGA Accelerators and AAL. Learn about the Integrated Accelerator & Intel's new System On Chip Product (Tolapai). Hardware and software architecture framework of Tolapai
Moblin.org - Open Source Development for the Intel Powered Mobile Internet Device
Moblin.org, the umbrella open source project hosts the core software stack and technologies for Intel powered Mobile Internet Device (MID). This course will go into technical details on Moblin.org, for how you could setup platform-specific environment and build applications based on Moblin.org sub-projects and technologies.
SuperSpeed USB - Fast Sync-N-Go for Mobile Devices
SuperSpeed Market overview and Industry timeline updates. Update on SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) specification architecture details. Guidance on industry opportunities for 2008/2009
Intel Architecture Based SoC (System-on-Chip)
Join us to hear about the vision for Intel Architecture-based SoCs and the unique benefits that they bring to the industry. This Technology Insight will focus on a generic SoC on-die architecture and its impact on SoC-based platforms for embedded communications, mobile devices, and consumer electronics. The talk will also outline Intel's expectations of the industry ecosystem in the areas of Electronic System Level (ESL) language, tools, and new methodologies.
Intel's upcoming Atom processor is all about cost. And the Atom-based Nettop desktop cuts costs right down to the bone.
Nettop
(Credit: Intel)Though Atom Netbooks such as future Asus Eee PC notebook models have been described in the press, the Nettop concept is not so clear. So, what is a Nettop?
The Nettop falls under the rubric of Intel's "Basic PC" category, whose underlying thrust is penny pinching. Cost will range from $100 to $299.
The Nettop is centered on the low-cost "Diamondville" variety of the Atom processor but incorporates a number of other cost-saving measures including what Intel lists in a "Business Client Group" presentation as "no system fans...no CPU socket...(an) optimized PSU (power supply unit)" and "cost optimized OS solutions."
Intel also states that "moving from HDD to SSD" (from hard disk drives to solid-state drives) will result in "additional platform savings."
Internet connectivity is what a user will be using the Nettop for primarily. Machines will run either Windows or Linux software.
Intel in the same presentation cites a forecast of 60 million "Basic Nettop" units by 2011.
Nettop market
(Credit: Intel Corp.)
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