Just in time for the Consumer Electronics Show and the launch of an assault on its mobile strategy, Intel has announced an upgrade to its Atom microprocessor.
Atom has dominated the netbook category but it faces a challenge at CES from smaller, leaner-on-energy smartbooks featuring Arm-based processors.
The specifications of the new N450 Atom chip for netbooks are unimpressive at first glance compared to the previous generation. It has the same 1.66GHz clock speed, 512Kb cache and single core performance.
But Intel points out it has now moved the memory controller and graphics processor onto the same die as the central processor, meaning enhanced performance and better battery life.
Intel says the package size is 60 per cent smaller and power usage 20 per cent lower than the previous generation.
PC makers are already preparing to release more than 80 netbooks and entry-level desktop PCs based on the N450 and two other Atom versions announced today, according to Intel. The D410 and D510 offer better performance but are more power-hungry, making them less suited to battery-dependent netbooks.
Around 30 smartbooks are expected to appear in the first quarter, many featuring 3G wireless connectivity, Linux-based operating systems and all-day battery life from their ARM-designed microprocessors, from rival chipmakers including Qualcomm, Freescale and Nvidia.
Intel says around a dozen operators offer netbooks with 3G data connections currently and the numbers are expected to grow with the new platform. The bulk of the new systems will feature Windows 7 Starter or Home Basic operating systems, with some OEM’s offering Moblin Linux V2, an Intel-led alternative operating system and interface.
“We have yet to see any [smartbooks], so it’s all speculation,” said Anil Nanduri, Intel’s director of netbook marketing, on the threat from the new category.
“But Atom has been the processor of choice in today’s netbooks and we continue to innovate and provide the capabilities needed in the category.”
The world’s biggest chipmaker has shipped more than 40m Atom chips for netbooks to date.
One of the first netbooks to feature the new N450 is the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 (pictured).
