According to a report published by c’t magazine, Intel is now aiming to launch Larrabee in a variety of flavors in 2010 and has scrapped the previous late 2009 plan. Intel’s Joseph Schultz made this comment during the opening of a visual computing research center in Saarbruecken,

read more "Intel Moves to Larrabee into 2010 || What a move"

Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), one of the world’s largest chip foundries, just announced a marketing collaboration involving Intel’s Atom processor. Atom is Intel’s effort to downsize its processor chips to fit into the realm of emerging smart devices below the Personal Computer space. TSMC

read more "Intel Declares War || Can You Imagine This"

Intel announced a technology partnership with Nokia that could potentially give the chip maker the breakthrough it has been looking for into the mobile market.

The companies said last night they would work together on a new class of mobile computing devices, but would not say when they would come to market or give details on the kind of wireless products they hoped to develop together.

Analysts saw the pact as strategically important for Intel in the long term because it gains the world's top cellphone maker as a potential client.

But given the lack of details, analysts said it could take one or two years for products to come to market, and it remained to be seen if they would find favour with consumers.

"Intel at least has its foot in the door. It's an important and strategic customer," said Gartner analyst Jon Erensen, who sees the partnership as a way for Intel to get into the market for advanced phones known as smartphones.

However, he added, "You're probably talking about something like 2011 before you get down to the power consumption and integration (levels) you'd need for that kind of device."

Analysts said the deal gives Intel a chance to take on leading cellphone chip makers Qualcomm Inc and Texas Instruments, a big Nokia supplier.

It could also mean stiffer competition for ARM Holdings , which supplies core cellphone processors to both Texas Instruments and Qualcomm, and whose customers rely in part on software from Wind River Systems.

Intel said earlier this month that it would buy Wind River, whose software speeds up and connects devices made by Samsung Electronics, Apple, Hewlett-Packard Co and Motorola.

Intel, whose microprocessors are found in eight out of 10 personal computers, already works with LG Electronics on mobile devices. The agreement with Finland's Nokia, the world's largest cellphone maker, is a bigger step.

Intel Chief Executive Paul Otellini has said that the handheld, embedded and netbook markets would be as important for the company as the PC market in the near future.

Under the agreement, Intel will buy intellectual property from Nokia related to high-speed wireless technology. They also plan to collaborate on open-source mobile Linux software projects, which some analysts say will compete with Google's Android software in the netbook and mobile Internet device (MID) market.

Intel and Nokia said they aimed to define "a new mobile platform beyond today's smartphones, notebooks and netbooks" for hardware, software and mobile Internet services. They stressed the pact was about their technology collaboration and not about specific products.

read more "Nokia and Intel Collaborate On Mobile Devices"

Simmtronics has announced Intel G-41 chipset based motherboards for desktops as well as notebooks. Simmtronics G41T-M motherboards feature Intel G41 and ICH7 chipsets with support for Socket LGA775 based 45nm process made processors that include Intel Core 2 Quad. A Micro-ATX form factor motherboard based on Intel G41 chipset from Simmtronics is available for Rs. 4,200 with three years of warranty.

read more "Intel G41 Motherboards by Simmtronics"

INTEL (TICKER: INTC) and Nokia (NOK) announced a strategic alliance to develop Intel architecture-based mobile chips and open-source software. The goal appears to be creating open and standards-based technologies to explore new ideas and products in mobile computing and communications.

Collaborative efforts between the two companies will be centered around these three initiatives: definition of mobile chipset based on Intel architecture; development of open-source software infrastructure such as Nokia's Maemo and Intel's Moblin; and Intel licensing of Nokia's HSPA/3G modem internet protocol ...

read more "Nokia Pact Won't Fix Intel's Atom Chip"

INTEL LEADS the CPU market, full stop. More than ever, perhaps. So, why change its perfectly good branding then? After all, Core 2 - and Core 3, and so on - does sound better than Pentium, Hexium or Sexium, and definitely far better than Itanium, all names sounding like some evil Big Pharma drugs.

Aside from a lot of extra marketing and sales work, resulting in marketeers keeping their jobs in these tight times, there doesn't seem to be any real reason to rehash the branding just because of the Nehalem arrival.

The new chips, rather than being called say Core 3, got the brand new Core i7 moniker, in a way reminding us of the old P7 codename. Now, the dual-channel mainstream Nehalems will be called Core i5, and the low-end integrated-graphics parts might bear the burden of the Core i3 brand. And, just like the current i7 with the brand new three-digit product numbers instead of the old four-digit ones, you'll have an interesting time comparing chip models.

So, when you do your holiday system shopping later this year, you could, for instance, choose between the old Core i7 965, the new Core i7 960 or the brand new Core i5 XXX (I didn't say '860'). While all three are internally basically the same CPUs and run at a 3.2GHz clock, the differences will be there. The first one is the old 2008-launch part with unlocked multiplier but C0 stepping. The second one is to be the new part late this year, with locked multiplier but newer, more efficent D or even E stepping. And, finally, the last part will have two memory channels and the LGA1156 versus LGA1366 socket, but faster Turbo mode and of course cheaper P55-based mainboards. Love the confusion?

Many publications commented on the new branding approach, with mixed reactions. There is no clear connection to the old Core 2 branding, and even the product numbering was completely rehashed. Core 2 Quad Extreme QX9770 and Core i7 Extreme 965 cover the same market segment and run at the same default clock and, in fact, aren't that far apart in performance. But there's no correlation at all in the naming. The old Pentium, Pentium 2, Pentium 3 approach was, in this respect, more consistent.

Why not look at something like that, since Intel already went with this BMW-style numbering? The "7" series is the high end, the "5" series is the mainstream, and the "3" series is doing the basic work. An obligatory "X" could be added at the end of any Extreme part in the "7" and "5" series, to avoid having to use different basic numbers for otherwise same-clocked extreme and normal, that is, locked parts. A similar "L" could be added for the low power parts, and an "M" for the mobile parts. Plus, of course, a "G" for the graphics-enriched ones.

After all, at the Xeon front, that's the case already. The "W" parts are top bin workstation CPUs, the "X" parts are for high end servers, the "E" parts are the mainstream offerings, and the "L" parts are the low power workhorses for dense and green computing.

Then, there should be enough numbering in reserve to accommodate the 32nm 'Westmere' parts without changing the i7-i5-i3 sequence. Right now this scheme seems to be a bit tight for the i7 series as we'd only have the 980, 985, 990 and 995 numbers available before hitting the four digits, and that has to take care of the next 20 months at least. Aside from that, the possible i8-i6-i4 sequence could then be left for the Sandy Bridge and Haswell generations.

Talking about numbers, in Chinese, eight is a very lucky number, but four isn't. The last murdered Alpha CPU was codenamed EV8, but was supposed to be really called, umm, the 21464. So, maybe, let's skip any future 'i4' at the low end, eh?

read more "Dell Grows Intel 'Nehalem EP' Iron"

Intel Chairman Craig Barrett will step down from his post in May, ending a 35-year stint at the world's No. 1 chipmaker, the company announced Friday.

Barrett, who joined Intel in 1974, also served as the chief executive of the company from 1998 through 2005.

"Intel became the world's largest and most successful semiconductor company in 1992 and has maintained that position ever since," said Barrett. "I'm extremely proud to have helped achieve that accomplishment."

Barrett said he was confident that Intel has the right management in place to continue its leadership in the chip making industry.

Jane Shaw, a board member since 1993, will replace Barrett as non-executive chairman in May.

Earlier this week, Intel CEO Paul Otellini announced that last quarter's profit tumbled 90% to $234 million, and reportedly told employees that he couldn't rule out the possibility that Intel might actually lose money in the current quarter. It would be the first time that's happened in more than 20 years.

The company also announced Wednesday that it will be cutting production at two U.S. silicon wafer facilities and closing three facilities in Asia, affecting between 5,000 and 6,000 workers.

Shares of Intel (INTC, Fortune 500) rose 3% in mid-afternoon trading, but the company's stock has lost more than 40% since August.

read more "Intel Chairman Barrett to Step Down"

Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, will sell processors to Nokia Oyj for mobile devices, marking the biggest breakthrough in Intel's expansion into the phone market.

The two will develop a new mobile device and chips, Intel and Nokia said today in a statement. Intel will also get mobile- phone radio technology from Nokia and the companies will develop versions of the Linux operating system for mobile devices.

Intel, whose microprocessors run more than 80 percent of the world's personal computers, has struggled for about a decade to get a foothold in the market for mobile-phone chips. The company has a unit that sells a scaled-down version of its personal-computer processor. The chip, called Atom, is designed for mobile devices that access the Web and handle basic computing functions.

"Even if they get just a piece of Nokia's business, it's a big deal," said Will Strauss, a Cave Creek, Arizona-based analyst for research firm Forward Concepts. "Nokia is still the biggest cell-phone maker in the world."

In 2006, Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini scrapped his predecessor's $5 billion investment in chips for mobile devices, after the company was late to the market and failed to win enough customers.

Restarted Effort

Now Otellini is again pushing to get Intel's chips into phones, a bid to lessen the company's reliance on computers, which account for more than 90 percent of sales. A total of 1.21 billion mobile phones were sold globally last year, according to ABI Research in Oyster Bay, New York.

Intel rose 3 cents to $15.71 at 11:18 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The stock had gained 7 percent this year before today. Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, fell 10 cents to 10.19 euros in Helsinki trading.

Intel Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith said in February that the company needed to land one of the top five mobile-phone makers if it wanted to build a significant business.

Intel is challenging Texas Instruments Inc., the largest maker of chips used to run programs in mobile phones. San Diego- based Qualcomm Inc., meanwhile, supplies the majority of communications chips for phones. Both companies have said that Intel would struggle to break their dominance because its products use too much power.

Intel announced in February it had landed LG Electronics Inc., the world's third-largest phone maker, as a customer. LG will use an Intel processor to make a mobile Internet device, a cross between a mobile phone and a computer.

Intel's attempts to create a mobile business have foundered in the past, even when they've had announcements of interest from customers, said Jim McGregor, an analyst at Scottsdale, Arizona-based research firm In-Stat.

"They've been dreaming of getting a significant win at Nokia," he said. "It's a big announcement, they're a key guy. The only question now is whether they will actually come out with a product."

read more "Intel Wins Nokia As Mobile-chip Customer"

What’s in a name? If you’re Intel, there’s plenty of brand equity in names like Atom, Centrino, Core and Pentium. But there’s also a fair share of confusion, too, among consumers and IT buyers.

And so, Intel is planning on revamping its portfolio of brand names, an effort that revolves around a good-better-best format. In a statement, the company said:

…we are focusing our strategy around a primary ‘hero’ client brand which is Intel Core. Today the Intel Core brand has a mind boggling array of derivatives (such as Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad, etc). Over time those will go away in its place will be a simplified family of Core processors spanning multiple levels: Intel Core i3 processor, Intel Core i5 processor, and Intel Core i7 processors. Core i3 and Core i5 are new modifiers and join the previously announced Intel Core i7 to round out the family structure. It is important to note that these are not brands but modifiers to the Intel Core brand that signal different features and benefits. For example, upcoming processors such as Lynnfield (desktop) will carry the Intel Core brand, but will be available as either Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 depending upon the feature set and capability. Clarksfield (mobile) will have the Intel Core i7 name.

So glad Intel has taken the complexity out of it. Actually, the company acknowledges that there will be multiple brands in the market next year, including the old names, as the company makes the transition.

Under the Core brand, the i3 represents the entry-level of the Core family, with Core i5 and Core i7 representing the mid-level and high-level products. Celeron will stick around for entry-level computing, Pentium for basic computing and Atom for devices such as netbooks and smartphones. For PCs, think of Celeron being good, Pentium being better and Core being best.

Even Centrino, which came to be synonymous with wireless computing, won’t completely go away. The company plans to transition the name to WiFi and WiMax products next year.

read more "Switching To Good Reduced Complexity : Intel"

Intel Corp., the world's largest chipmaker, will sell processors to Nokia Oyj for mobile devices, marking the biggest breakthrough in Intel's expansion into the phone market.

The two will develop a new mobile device and chips, Intel and Nokia said today in a statement. Intel will also get mobile- phone radio technology from Nokia and the companies will develop versions of the Linux operating system for mobile devices.

Intel, whose microprocessors run more than 80 percent of the world's personal computers, has struggled for about a decade to get a foothold in the market for mobile-phone chips. The company has a unit that sells a scaled-down version of its personal-computer processor. The chip, called Atom, is designed for mobile devices that access the Web and handle basic computing functions.

"Even if they get just a piece of Nokia's business, it's a big deal," said Will Strauss, a Cave Creek, Arizona-based analyst for research firm Forward Concepts. "Nokia is still the biggest cell-phone maker in the world."

In 2006, Intel Chief Executive Officer Paul Otellini scrapped his predecessor's $5 billion investment in chips for mobile devices, after the company was late to the market and failed to win enough customers.

Restarted Effort

Now Otellini is again pushing to get Intel's chips into phones, a bid to lessen the company's reliance on computers, which account for more than 90 percent of sales. A total of 1.21 billion mobile phones were sold globally last year, according to ABI Research in Oyster Bay, New York.

Intel rose 3 cents to $15.71 at 11:18 a.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. The stock had gained 7 percent this year before today. Nokia, based in Espoo, Finland, fell 10 cents to 10.19 euros in Helsinki trading.

Intel Chief Financial Officer Stacy Smith said in February that the company needed to land one of the top five mobile-phone makers if it wanted to build a significant business.

Intel is challenging Texas Instruments Inc., the largest maker of chips used to run programs in mobile phones. San Diego- based Qualcomm Inc., meanwhile, supplies the majority of communications chips for phones. Both companies have said that Intel would struggle to break their dominance because its products use too much power.

Intel announced in February it had landed LG Electronics Inc., the world's third-largest phone maker, as a customer. LG will use an Intel processor to make a mobile Internet device, a cross between a mobile phone and a computer.

Intel's attempts to create a mobile business have foundered in the past, even when they've had announcements of interest from customers, said Jim McGregor, an analyst at Scottsdale, Arizona-based research firm In-Stat.

"They've been dreaming of getting a significant win at Nokia," he said. "It's a big announcement, they're a key guy. The only question now is whether they will actually come out with a product."

read more "Dell Grows Intel 'Nehalem EP' Iron"

And that means pure creative exhilaration with four 64-bit cores inside the new Mac Pro. The Core-based Intel Xeon is so power efficient, that Apple engineers were able to remove the liquid cooling system from the previous Power-PC based model. Which means you can load up the Mac Pro with more cards, more hard drives, more memory. So you can do more with Final Cut Studio, Aperture, Logic Pro, and the growing number of universal applications for creative professionals.

read more "Four on the Floor"

Realize new possibilities for connecting with friends, family, and digital entertainment with the phenomenal performance of the AMD Phenom X4 quad-core processors. Built from the ground up for true quad-core performance, AMD Phenom X4 processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

Processor

* Type / Form Factor: AMD Phenom X4 9950
* Multi-Core Technology: Quad-Core
* 64-bit Computing: Yes
* Processor Qty: 1
* Clock Speed: 2.6 GHz
* Compatible Processor Socket: Socket AM2+
* Manufacturing Process: 65 nm
* Thermal Design Power: 140 W
* Thermal Specification: 64 °C
* Architecture Features: HyperTransport technology, Enhanced Virus Protection, AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology, AMD Virtualization

Cache memory

* Installed Size: L2 - 4 x 512 KB - L3 cache - 2 MB

Expansion / connectivity

* Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - Socket AM2+

Miscellaneous

* Included Accessories: Cooler (fansink)
* Package Type: AMD Processor in a Box (PIB), OEM/tray

Manufacturer warranty

* Service & Support: 3 years warranty
* Service & Support Details: Limited warranty - 3 years

read more "AMD Black Edition AMD Phenom X4 9950"

Leaders of the pack seeking monster performance, look no further. With four execution cores, the Intel Core 2 Quad processor blows through processor-intensive tasks in demanding multitasking environments and makes the most of highly threaded applications. Whether you're creating multimedia, annihilating your gaming enemies, or running compute-intensive applications at one time, new quad-core processing will change the way you do everything. Pioneer the new world of quad-core and unleash the power of multithreading.
General

* MPN: BX80580Q8200
* Product Type: Processor

Processor

* Type / Form Factor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200
* Multi-Core Technology: Quad-Core
* 64-bit Computing: Yes
* Processor Qty: 1
* Clock Speed: 2.33 GHz
* Bus Speed: 1333 MHz
* Compatible Processor Socket: LGA775 Socket
* Manufacturing Process: 45 nm
* Thermal Design Power: 95 W
* Thermal Specification: 71.4 °C
* Architecture Features: Enhanced SpeedStep technology, Execute Disable Bit capability, Intel 64 Technology, Enhanced Halt State (C1E), Intel Thermal Monitor 2

Cache memory

* Installed Size: L2 cache - 4 MB

Expansion / connectivity

* Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - LGA775 Socket


Miscellaneous

* Package Type: Intel Boxed

Manufacturer warranty

* Service & Support: 3 years warranty

read more "Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200"

Multi-tasking has become a way of life, but sometimes your PC just can't keep up with everything you want to do on it at the same time. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor enables true multitasking - taking computing to an all new level. Dual-Core technology is like having two processors working together, each one taking care of different applications. So now you can simultaneously burn a CD, check e-mail, edit a digital photo, and run your virus protection - all without slowing down your computer. To protect your computer you've installed all the latest virus protection and firewall software. The result? Your PC is safer but slower. Upgrade to a computer powered by the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor - now you can run protection programs in the background while a second runs the applications you want to work on - making computing fast again.
Processor

• * Type / Form Factor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+
• * Multi-Core Technology: Dual-Core
• * 64-bit Computing: Yes
• * Power Efficiency: Energy Efficient
• * Processor Qty: 1
• * Clock Speed: 2.7 GHz, 2.6 GHz
• * Compatible Processor Socket: Socket AM2
• * Core Voltage: 1.325 V/1.35 V/1.375 V, 1.3 V/1.35 V, 1.2 V/1.25 V
• * Manufacturing Process: 65 nm, 90 nm
• * Thermal Design Power: 65 W, 89 W
• * Thermal Specification: 68 °C, 70 °C, 72 °C

* Architecture Features: 3DNow! Professional technology, HyperTransport technology, AMD64 technology, integrated memory controller, Enhanced Virus Protection, AMD Cool'n'Quiet Technology, AMD Virtualization, HyperTransport technology, AMD64 technology, integrated memory controller, Enhanced Virus Protection

Cache memory

* Installed Size: L2 cache - 1 MB ( 2 x 512 KB ), L2 cache - 2 MB ( 2 x 1 MB ), L2 cache

Expansion / connectivity

* Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - Socket AM2, 1 x processor

Miscellaneous

* Included Accessories: Cooler (fansink)
* Package Type: AMD Processor in a Box (PIB), OEM/tray

read more "AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+"

This industry's first quad-core processor for mainstream servers provides breakthrough performance and capabilities for the ultimate in powerful, dense and energy efficient servers. With the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor you get breakthrough performance - up to 50% greater than the industry-leading Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor in the same power envelope.

Processor

• Type / Form Factor: Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5440
• Multi-Core Technology: Quad-Core
• Processor Qty: 1
• Clock Speed: 2.83 GHz
• Bus Speed: 1333 MHz
• Thermal Design Power: 80 W
• 64-bit Computing: Yes
• Manufacturing Process: 45 nm
• Compatible Processor Socket: LGA771 Socket
• Thermal Specification: 67 °C
• Packaging Type: FC-LGA6

Cache memory

• Installed Size: L2 cache - 12 MB
• Type: Advanced Smart Cache

Expansion / connectivity

• Compatible Slots: 1 x processor, 1 x processor - LGA771 Socket

Miscellaneous

• Pricing Type: CTO,
• Included Accessories: Passive 2U heatsink,
  
• Package Type: Intel Boxed, OEM/tray
• Compliant Standards: RoHS
• Manufacturer Selling Program: HP Smart Buy

Manufacturer warranty

• Service & Support: 3 years warranty
• Service & Support Details: Limited warranty - 3 years

read more "Intel Quad-Core Xeon E5440"

The new moniker "Atom" sets in marketing stone the Intel brand for small devices. I'll skip the banalities about Atom silicon being crucial for Intel's future and just pose a question: Can Intel spur innovation in ultrasmall devices the way it has in the PC and server industry?

I won't hazard any rash predictions but will make a few observations about the current landscape.

First, a little recent history. The ultramobile PC (UMPC) based on Intel's first-generation processor (the A110) for small devices has not exactly been the market sensation that the iPhone has. The Samsung Q1 and the Asus R2H are two examples of products that never really took off. As if to recognize this mistake (and confuse people in the process), Intel has stopped referring to this category of gadgets as UMPC and now calls it the Mobile Internet Device or MID.

This underscores the pitfalls and potential for Intel. The pitfalls: consumers will forever unfavorably compare the UMPC and MID to the more feature-rich notebook PC or, conversely, to the smaller, cheaper cell phone. The potential: a new category of computers spearheaded by a device with an iPhone-like following.

Enter the Atom-branded low-cost platform for ultraportable devices. Asus's popular Intel-based Eee PC is already demonstrating the potential here. So much so that a Sony vice president recently cited the Eee PC as a threat. (He depicted it as causing "a race to the bottom" because of its low price.) The XO laptop offered by the One Laptop Per Child organization is another example. (It uses an AMD Geode processor.) Both are priced around $300 and both are Internet-centric devices that offer the same wireless capabilities of more expensive laptops.

For smaller MID-like devices, such as the iPhone and Nokia N810, success is less certain. Many of the scores of pocket-sized gadgets on the market use processors based on the tried-and-true ARM design. Intel won't displace ARM anytime soon. But these devices are proprietary, which may leave Intel an opening. Because Intel's Atom processor is compatible with the Core 2 Duo instruction set, developers of small devices have a common platform to target.

"This is our smallest processor built with the world's smallest transistors," Intel Executive Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Sean Maloney said in a statement. "This is...a fundamental new shift in design. We believe it will unleash new innovation across the industry."

This is probably true. But Intel has a long way to go in a crowded market that bears little if any resemblance to the PC industry, where the chipmaker competes relatively comfortably with only one other company (AMD). There's also a long wait for Intel's Moorestown, the next generation of small chips for small devices due in 2009 or 2010. The great expectations for Moorestown almost overshadow the current Atom technology. Moorestown will not only be more power efficient but more highly integrated: a system-on-chip (SOC) design combining the CPU, graphics, and memory controller onto a single chip.

read more "Atom means Intel is Serious About Smallness"

Intel's upcoming Atom processor is all about cost. And the Atom-based Nettop desktop cuts costs right down to the bone.

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.

read more "Intel Nettop Is All About Cost Cutting"

Intel's low-cost Atom processors will be at the core of inexpensive PCs. And inexpensive computers these days often come with Linux.

How do PC companies shave off the last hundred dollars or so to get to $299 or in some cases $199? Easy. They swap out Windows (pricey) for Linux (free).

Case in point: Home Depot, the home supply store, sells a Mirus-branded desktop with either Windows or Linux. Based on the same hardware, one model sells for $419, the other for $299. Can you guess which one is $299? That's a steep price cut--more than 25 percent--for the system with Linux. Inside the Mirius is a Celeron D 420, which lists for $34, the cheapest chip that Intel currently lists on its pricing Web site.

Linux-based PCs like this are prime real estate for Atom. Especially when reports this week cite the cheapest upcoming Atom processors (due in the second quarter) at below $30.

A likely high-profile candidate for Atom and Linux is the Eee PC. The Linux option allows resellers to keep offerings as cheap as possible. The current Eee PC at Newegg is priced at $349 with Linux and a Celeron M processor (the forerunner--from the standpoint of market positioning--to Atom).

Processors from Via Technologies also match up well with Linux operating systems such as gOS. Wal-Mart sells (online) an Everex gPC2 TC2512 desktop computer with a 1.5GHz Via C7-D Processor and Google-centric gOS for $199.

Though Atom-based computers with Linux will be targeted at emerging markets, the success of the Eee PC in mature markets like the U.S. and Japan means that there is pent-up demand for stripped-down but practical PCs. "In emerging markets it will be a first PC. In mature markets, it will be a second or third PC within a household," said Dean McCarron, founder and principal of Mercury Research. Also, an Atom-based desktop could potentially go on the back of a monitor that is used in point-of-sale applications, McCarron said.

And don't overlook Via's C7 or low-end versions of its upcoming Isaiah processor being paired with low-cost computers with a Linux option. The V7 is slated for HP's upcoming HP 2133 Mini-Note PC and Isaiah is expected to garner a number of design wins in both ultraportable notebooks and desktops.

Though the HP 2133 may not be the best example of a low-cost PC (it is expected to come with Windows Vista Business, hiking the price to almost $750), expect Linux-based "Netbooks" (Intel's self-described category for small, inexpensive notebooks) to be less expensive than this.

read more "Linux Destined For Low-Cost Intel Atom PCs"

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.

"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 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.

read more "At IDF Shanghai, Intel's Vision of Chips"

During a keynote speech at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai, an Intel executive brandished a Netbook that looked Air-thin. Will inexpensive Linux Netbooks be a poor man's MacBook Air?

Most of the photos to date of upcoming Netbooks are ho-hum designs, engineered to be inexpensive yet practical for users such as young schoolchildren. But some upcoming designs look intriguing--and extremely thin.

"This Netbook is running Linux...As you see, this doesn't mean an ugly design. It's a really nice-looking, stylish design," said Dadi Perlmutter, executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobility Group, when waving a very-thin-looking Netbook (photo) at the audience during his keynote at IDF.

Consider the typical specifications for a Netbook (best exemplified by the tiny Eee PC) and it's not a stretch to design an ultraportable, ultrathin Netbook:

Power-sipping Atom processor: This chip will draw as little as 0.65 watt, much less than the Air's Core 2 Duo chip which has a TDP (Thermal Design Power, or thermal envelope) of 20 watts. This means less heat dissipation.

Solid-state drive: Netbooks (Eee PC, Intel Classmate) will typically use SSDs, not hard-disk drives--another power- and space-saving feature. (There will be exceptions such as the 2go, which packs a hard drive.)

No optical drive:: Typically, Netbooks won't come with optical drives--meaning power and cost savings.

Smaller display: Netbooks will have small, less-power-hungry displays, ranging from seven to nine inches.

Though not as well-endowed as full-fledged notebooks like the MacBook Air, Netbooks won't set you back $3,000 either. It's likely that the price will be much closer to $300--but that's a big unknown at this point.

Intel sees two distinct market opportunities for the Netbook. In the developing world, Netbooks will attract first-time buyers. In more mature markets, they will become supplemental PCs.

read more "Thin Intel Netbook to VIE With MacBook Air?"

The Atom N270 processor got buried last week under the mobile Internet device PR juggernaut. But it may prove to be more popular initially than the high-profile Atom Z5XX series for MIDs.

As previously reported, the Atom Z500, Z510, Z520, Z530, and Z540 series of processors will go into handheld-size mobile Internet devices (MIDs) such as the Lenovo IdeaPad U8. Intel promoted the Z5XX series heavily at IDF because the chipmaker needs to jump-start a new category of personal computers that fit in your pocket. Whether consumers actually need these devices is a question that will be answered later this year.

Intel Atom, Celeron segmentation

(Credit: Intel)

The Atom N270 is quite different in this respect: It has a ready-made market. The N270 will go into an existing market segment--Netbooks--and will replace the popular Celeron in many cases, making this Atom potentially a high-volume chip. For example, currently, the Eee PC and Intel Classmate (technically Netbooks) use the Celeron. Versions of both these compact notebooks are slated to use the Atom. Based on Intel's description of the market, this category of Netbooks will use the N270 (see graphic).

Though the die (the actual processor inside the chip package) is the same for both the Atom Z5XX series and N270, the packaging and chipsets are different (see graphic). The N270 will use the 945GSE and 82801 (ICH7M) core logic. A version of this chipset (with 950 integrated graphics) is used in low-cost notebooks and desktops today. The Celeron has traditionally used the lower-end 915 chipset.

So, the way it shakes out is: the Atom Z5XX series for MIDs; the N270 (and upcoming processors) for Netbooks; the Celeron for low-cost notebooks. Note: the Atom Z5XX series includes a single-chip with integrated graphics called the Intel System Controller Hub.

read more "Intel Atom N270 Processor Set For Netbooks"

The Intel Core 2 Duo processors are built in several of the world's most advanced, high-volume output manufacturing facilities using Intel's leading silicon process technology. The processor family is based on the revolutionary Intel Core microarchitecture, designed to provide powerful yet energy-efficient performance. With the power of dual cores, or computing engines, the processors can manage numerous tasks faster. They also can operate more smoothly when multiple applications are running, such as writing e-mails while downloading music or videos and conducting a virus scan.

Processor

• Type / Form Factor: Intel Core 2 Duo P8600
• Multi-Core Technology: Dual-Core
• 64-bit Computing: Yes
• Processor Qty: 1
• Clock Speed: 2.4 GHz
• Bus Speed: 1066 MHz
• Compatible Processor Socket: Socket P
• Packaging Type: 478-pin Micro FCPGA
• Manufacturing Process: 45 nm
• Architecture Features: Enhanced SpeedStep technology, Execute Disable Bit capability, Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel 64 Technology, Intel Advanced Smart Cache, Intel Smart Memory Access

Cache memory

• Installed Size: L2 cache - 3 MB
• Type: Advanced Smart Cache

Expansion / connectivity

• Compatible Slots: 1 x processor - Socket P

Miscellaneous

• Package Type: Intel Boxed

Manufacturer warranty

• Service & Support: 3 years warranty
• Service & Support Details: Limited warranty - 3 years

read more "Intel Core 2 Duo P8600"

Sharp got atomized Monday. The Japanese electronics maker along with Willcom announced the ultra-mobile Willcom D4 "communication device" based on Intel's Atom processor and Microsoft's Vista operating system.

Microsoft and Intel were also credited with development of the device, according to the Japanese-language release on the Sharp Web site.

The handheld-size device uses a 1.33GHz Z520 Intel Atom processor and runs Windows Vista Home Premium (with Service Pack 1). Other prototype devices based on similar designs--referred to as mobile Internet devices or MIDs--have also been shown running the Linux operating system.

With a separate headset, the device can also be used as a phone using Wilcom's Personal Handy-phone System (PHS) network, both Sharp and Willcom said.

The device weighs in at 470 grams (about one pound) and features a 5-inch sliding LCD (1024x600/262K colors) with an LED backlight, a 1.8-inch 40GB hard disk drive (Ultra ATA/100), 64-key QWERTY keyboard, a built-in camera, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a mirco SD card slot, and a USB 2.0 slot.

The D4's inclusion of a 40GB hard disk drive is an indicator that the device is meant to run Windows--because of the operating system's typically larger footprint--not Linux.

Intel Atom technology includes a single-chip with integrated graphics called the Intel System Controller Hub.

Atom will find its way into fit-in-your-pocket MIDs from Gigabyte, Toshiba, LG Electronics, Lenovo, and BenQ, among others. Netbooks (inexpensive, Internet-centric ultra-small notebook PCs) such as Asus's popular Intel-based Eee PC, MSI's Wind PC, and Clevo will also use the chip.

Willcom D4 is slated for a June release and is expected to be priced at 128,600 yen ($1,272).

read more "Japan Handheld With Intel Atom Chip Debuts"

Intel's Atom processor was prominently displayed in systems at a conference in Japan. The chipmaker's next-generation X4500 graphics also made an appearance.

Small systems and circuit boards using the Atom processor appeared on the Web site PC Watch, which highlighted designs at a "Systems Expo" in Tokyo.

A host of small devices with the Atom processor are due in June. The 45-nanometer chip will compete with processors from Via Technologies such as the C7 and upcoming Isaiah processor.

Small PCs and computer systems using the low-power Atom processor included a small embedded computer from Japan-based Dux, a car "infotainment" system from Portwell Japan, and a motherboard for mobile internet devices from Sophia Systems.

Advantech was also showing an Atom-based circuit board as was Nagano. A 1.6GHz Atom-based board from Omron was on display too.

And that's not the only upcoming Intel chip that made an appearance. A board was shown with Intel's upcoming X4500 graphics silicon. The X4500 is slated to be part of the forthcoming GM45 ("Cantiga") chipset for the mobile Centrino 2 platform and the G45 ("Eaglelake-G") chipset for desktops.

read more "Intel Atom Chip Makes Strong Showing"

If there was any doubt about the state of solid-state drives, Computex seems to be putting it to rest.

SanDisk, TDK, and Intel, among others, are announcing new solid-state drives while Asus is launching the Eee PC 1000 with a larger-capacity drive.

Solid-state drives (SSDs) are used increasingly instead of hard disk drives in small computers like the Asus Eee PC and devices like the Apple iPhone because SSDs use less power and are generally more rugged--due to the fact that they have no moving parts.

The Asus Eee PC 1000, for example, will be offered with SSDs up to 40GB in capacity, beating the 20GB SSD offered in the Eee PC 901.

With this market segment in mind, SanDisk introduced a line of solid-state drives that are designed for "netbooks"--a category of compact, low-cost notebook PCs best exemplified by the Eee PC.

The SanDisk "pSSD" (Parallel ATA solid state drive) is available in 4-, 8-, and 16-GB capacities. The device can achieve a "streaming read" speed of 39 megabytes per second and a streaming write (record) of 17MBps, according to SanDisk. These speeds compare favorably with the low-performance 1.8-inch hard disk drives used in small notebooks.

The pSSD solid-state drives are expected to be available starting in August when pricing will be announced.

TDK also launched new solid-state drives. The "HS1" series is a line of 1.8-inch solid-state drives with the Micro Serial-ATA (SATA) interface. The Micro SATA specification provides for a smaller connector for the high-speed SATA interface used widely in PCs today.

The HS1 series offers capacities of 16, 32, and 64 gigabytes, respectively. The product uses SLC (single-level cell) NAND flash memory. SLC-based solid-state drives are used widely, today but many SSD manufacturers are planning to move to more advanced multilevel cell (MLC) technology later this year.

Burst performance is 100MBps for reading data and 50MBps for writing data. These speeds compare favorably with 2.5-inch hard disk drives.

TDK's SSDs are now available for volume shipment at sample prices of about $1,900 for a 64GB model and about $1,400 for the 32GB model.

On Tuesday, Intel will introduce the Z-P230 Parallel ATA (PATA) series of solid-state drives. The Z-P230 "is a cost-effective storage solution designed to replace traditional hard disk drives in netbook and nettop systems, yet is four times smaller and lighter than a standard 1.8-inch hard disk drive," Intel said. The drives come in 4GB and 8GB capacities.

The Intel SSDs are being launched along with low-power Atom processors that include the N270 for netbooks and the 230 for low-cost desktops--what Intel calls nettops. The chips run at up to 1.6 GHz with an average power consumption of 2.5 watts.

Intel will also announce high-capacity solid-state drives in the second half of this year that have capacities of 80GB and 160GB.

read more "SanDisk, Intel, TDK Launch Solid State Drives"

Appropriately, a tiny Intel system board has debuted to match the tiny Atom processor. This could yield more portable desktop PC designs like the Eee Box.

The Intel-made motherboard is based on the Mini-ITX standard, which was originally developed by Via Technologies.

Diminutive desktops based on these motherboards can get as small as a typical notebook PC--a design small enough and light enough to be portable.

Intel is calling this category of desktops that sport an Atom 230 or N270 processor Nettops.

Nettops are designed for basic computing tasks like browsing the Web and sending e-mail and are generally cheap, usually less than $300. They typically offer more expansion options, more ports, and greater flexibility than Atom-based Netbooks, which are essentially small notebook PCs.

Intel Nettops contain tiny desktop motherboards.

read more "Intel Debuts Atom Circuit Boards"

I don’t usually discuss PC, workstation, and server processors because I’m all about embedded processors these days. But Intel’s photo of the first Core i7 processor stopped me and I thought I’d write something. Here’s the photo:

The image shows four x86 processor cores arrayed across the top. Each core runs at 2.66 GHz (faster cores that exceed 3 GHz will appear in the future). Each of the four on-chip processor cores has its own 64-Kbyte L1 and 256-Kbyte L2 caches. The four on-chip processor cores share an on-chip, 8-Mbyte L3 cache and, of course, main memory external to the chip. An integrated, high-speed DDR3 memory controller links that off-chip main memory to the processor chip. In all, this is a very powerful machine.

Unfortunately, I get the impression from my many conversations with embedded systems designers that a lot of embedded designers think this is the right way to architect embedded systems. When they see three levels of on-chip cache used for this class of processor, they start to believe that all processors need caches—that cache memories are just part of the game now. What they forget or ignore is that processors in the same league with Intel’s Core i7 chip cost hundreds of dollars and dissipate many tens of Watts. This is a great league, but it’s not the embedded league.

read more "Intel Unveils First Quad-Core Processor Based on Nehalem: Core i7"

Learn more about the Intel® Cluster Ready program. View news, articles, webinars, presentations, and videos, including news about the latest Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series and its benefits for high performance computing. Discover how Intel Cluster Ready partners and customers are benefiting from the Intel Cluster Ready program by reading case studies and testimonials. And find out how you can participate in upcoming events in your area.

read more "Intel Cluster Ready News And Events"

According to news and rumor site DigiTimes, Intel doesn’t have much in the way of upcoming Core i7 processor price cuts, but if you’re looking to piece together a Core 2 machine, look for some pretty significant reductions in the near future.

Citing un-named motherboard makers, the site claims Intel will drop pricing on several quad-core processors on April 12. These include:

- Core 2 Quad Q9300 - $266 down to $213 (19.92%)
- Core 2 Quad Q9550S - $369 down to $320 (13.28%)
- Core 2 Quad Q9400S - $320 down to $277 (13.44%)
- Core 2 Quad Q8200S - $245 down to $213 (13.06%)

On May 31, DigiTimes says Intel will introduce a handful of new processors, among them the Core i7 975 (3.33GHz) for $999 and Core i7 950 (3.06GHz) for $562. Other new processors expected at the end of May include the Core 2 Duo E7600 for $133, Pentium E6300 for $84, and Celeron E1600 for $53.

Finally, if you can wait until mid-summer, Intel is expected to issue another round of price cuts on July 19. These include:

- Core 2 Quad Q8300 - $183 down to $163 (10.93%)
- Core 2 Duo E7500 - $133 down to $113 (15.04%)
- Pentium Dual-core E5400 - $84 down to $74 (11.9%)
- Pentium Dual-Core E5300 - $74 down to $64 (13.51%)
- Celeron Dual-core E1600 - $53 down to $43 (18.87%)

read more "Current and Future Intel Processor Price Cuts as High as 20%"

Jump to: navigation, search Intel CPU core roadmaps from NetBurst to Sandy Bridge Nehalem is the codename for an Intel processor microarchitecture,[1] successor to the Core microarchitecture. The first processor released with the Nehalem architecture is the desktop Core i7,[2] which was released on November 15, 2008 in Tokyo and November 17, 2008 in the USA.[3] The first computer to use Nehalem-based Xeon processors was the Mac Pro workstation announced on March 3, 2009.[4] Nehalem-based Xeon EX processors for larger servers are expected in Q4 2009.[5] Mobile Nehalem-based processors will follow in 2010. Initial Nehalem processors use the same 45 nm manufacturing methods as Penryn. A working system with two Nehalem processors was shown at Intel Developer Forum Fall 2007,[6] and a large number of Nehalem systems were shown at Computex in June 2008. The architecture is named after the Nehalem River in Northwest Oregon,[citation needed] which is in turn named after the Nehalem Native American nation in Oregon.[citation needed] The code name itself had been seen on the end of several roadmaps starting in 2000. At that stage it was supposed to be the latest evolution of the NetBurst architecture. Since the abandonment of NetBurst, the codename has been recycled and refers to a completely different project.

read more "Intel Nehalem (Microarchitecture)"

AMD Sempron processors for desktop and mobile products offer best in class performance, compatibility with all the applications you need, and the reliability of AMD processors.

Processor

Type / Form Factor : AMD Sempron LE-1250

64-bit Computing : Yes

Power Efficiency : Energy Efficient

Processor Qty : 1

Clock Speed : 2.2 GHz

Compatible Processor Socket : Socket AM2

Manufacturing Process : 65 nm

Thermal Design Power : 45 W

Architecture Features : AMD64 technology

read more "AMD Sempron LE-1250 / 2.2 GHz processor"

Multi-tasking has become a way of life, but sometimes your PC just can't keep up with everything you want to do on it at the same time. The AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor enables true multitasking - taking computing to an all new level. Dual-Core technology is like having two processors working together, each one taking care of different applications. So now you can simultaneously burn a CD, check e-mail, edit a digital photo, and run your virus protection - all without slowing down your computer. To protect your computer you've installed all the latest virus protection and firewall software. The result? Your PC is safer but slower. Upgrade to a computer powered by the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core processor - now you can run protection programs in the background while a second runs the applications you want to work on - making computing fast again.

read more "AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ / 2.7 GHz processor Dual-Core"

Realize new possibilities for connecting with friends, family, and digital entertainment with the phenomenal performance of the AMD Phenom X4 series quad-core processor. Built from the ground up for true quad-core performance, AMD Phenom X4 processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

read more "AMD Phenom X4 9150e / 1.8 GHz processor Quad-Core"

Realize new possibilities for connecting with friends, family, and digital entertainment with the phenomenal performance of the AMD Phenom X4 quad-core processors. Built from the ground up for true quad-core performance, AMD Phenom X4 processors speed through advanced multitasking, critical business productivity, advanced visual design and modeling, serious gaming, and visually stunning digital media and entertainment.

read more "AMD Black Edition AMD Phenom X4 9950 / 2.6 GHz processor Quad-Core"

End-to-End 802.11 Draft-N Notebooks with Intel® Centrino® processor technology are now available with new wireless technology offering faster throughput and better range. Certain WiFi Access Points (APs) are also available with the Draft-N standard of this technology. Better, faster, stronger 802.11 Draft-N APs, when coupled with a notebook based on Intel Centrino processor technology including Intel® Next-Gen Wireless-N, can offer up to 5X throughput¹ and up to 2X the range² over APs with 802.11a/b/g. The "Connect with Intel® Centrino®" logo program Selected access points (PDF 17KB) are all 802.11 Draft-N and undergo a controlled set of tests to evaluate: Performance over range Real world use cases: video, voice, data transfer Backwards compatibility Coexistence with a/b/g networks Elimination of dead spots We do the homework and you get the benefits. Tested and verified to work together Your new notebook with Intel® Centrino® processor technology and Intel Next-Gen Wireless-N has enormous potential. When you buy an 802.11 Draft-N Access Point, be sure to look for the "Connect with Intel® Centrino®" logo to maximize your WiFi experience. Sample performance of approved vs. non-approved access points: Look for the identifier on the wireless access point product packaging to ensure a better wireless experience with laptops based on Intel® Centrino® processor technology.

read more "Connect With Intel Centrino Processor Technology"

Mobile Broadband On The Go

WiMAX extends broadband connectivity beyond WiFi hotspots, enabling faster download speeds and metro-wide connectivity. To take advantage of existing WiFi hotspots and to offer service beyond them, Intel provides WiFi and WiMAX connectivity in a highly compact module on Intel® Centrino 2 processor technology notebooks. Take your high-speed internet with you around town with WiMAX-enabled Intel® Centrino® 2 processor technology.

read more "Intel WiMAX Products²"

Intel® 802.11 Draft-N§ WiFi Adapters provide up to 450 Mbps of bandwidth¹ for today's demanding applications such as streaming High-Definition (HD) videos or backing-up your digital media files. In addition, Intel's 802.11 Draft-N§ products are backwards compatible to today's installed base of legacy 802.11a/b/g networks enabling you to connect in more places.

read more "Intel 802.11 Draft-N§ products"