Intel Atom a new family of low-capability processors designed specifically for mobile Web devices

March 03rd, 2008 | Category: Tech Talk

The Intel Atom processor will be the name for a new family of low-power processors designed specifically for mobile Web devices (MIDs) and a new class of simple and affordable Internet-centric computers arriving later that year. Together, these new market segments represent a significant new opportunity to grow the overall market for Intel silicon, using the Intel Atom processor as the foundation. The company additionally announced the Intel Centrino Atom processor technology sort for MID platforms, consisting of multiple chips that enable the best World Wide Web experience in a pocketable device.

Press release after the jump

These new chips, previously codenamed Silverthorne and Diamondville, will be manufactured on Intel’s industry-leading 45nm process with hi-k metal gate technology. The chips have a thermal design ability (TDP) specification in 0.6-2.5 watt range and scale to 1.8GHz speeds depending on customer need. By comparison, today’s mainstream mobile Core 2 Duo processors have a TDP in the 35-watt range.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., March 2, 2008 – The Intel® Atom™ processor will be the name for a new family of low-power processors designed specifically for mobile World Wide Web devices (MIDs) and a new class of simple and affordable Internet-centric computers arriving later that year. Together, these new market segments represent a significant new opportunity to grow the overall market for Intel silicon, using the Intel Atom processor as the foundation. The company additionally announced the Intel® Centrino® Atom™ processor technology grade for MID platforms, consisting of multiple chips that enable the best Web experience in a pocketable device.
The Intel Atom processor is based on an entirely new microarchitecture designed specifically for small devices and low capability, while maintaining the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo instruction set compatibility consumers are accustomed to when using a standard PC and the World Wide Web. The design plus includes support for multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness. All of that on a chip that measures less than 25 mm², making it Intel’s smallest and lowest ability processor yet.1 Up

to 11 Intel Atom processor die — the tiny slivers of silicon packed with 47 million transistors each — would fit in an area the size of an American penny.

These new chips, previously codenamed Silverthorne and Diamondville, will be manufactured on Intel’s industry-leading 45nm process with hi-k metal gate technology. The chips have a thermal design potential (TDP) specification in 0.6-2.5 watt range and scale to 1.8GHz speeds depending on customer need. By comparison, today’s mainstream mobile Core 2 Duo processors have a TDP in the 35-watt range.

“This is our smallest processor built with the world’s smallest transistors,” said Intel Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Sean Maloney. “This small wonder is a fundamental new shift in design, small yet robust abundant to enable a big World Wide Web experience on these new devices. We believe it will unleash new innovation across the industry.”

With personal computing increasingly going mobile and the computer industry rapidly developing new classes of products to connect the next billion humans to the World Wide Web, the Intel Atom processor offers customers the strange ability to innovate around the new low-power design. In addition to the MID opportunity, Intel believes the demand for a new category of low-cost, Internet-centric mobile computing devices dubbed “netbooks” and basic Internet-centric desktop PCs dubbed “nettops,” will grow substantially by the next several years. The Intel Atom processor is perfectly suited to meet these new market segments.

Intel said the Intel Atom processor additionally has potential for future revenue opportunities in consumer electronic devices, embedded applications and thin clients.

Intel Centrino Atom Processor Technology
The Intel Centrino Atom processor technology sort represents Intel’s best technology for MIDs. previously codenamed “Menlow,” Intel Centrino Atom processor technology includes the Intel Atom processor, a low-power companion chip with integrated graphics, a wireless radio, and thinner and lighter designs. Together, these components are designed to enable the best mobile computing and World Wide Web experience on these new devices.

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