Intel's Atom Architecture: The Journey Begins
by Anand Lal Shimpi on April 2, 2008 12:05 AM EST- Posted in
- CPUs
The Product Lineup
Alongside the technology disclosure, Intel is also unveiling the first five Atom processors that will be shipping this year:
| Clock Speed | TDP | Average Power | Idle Power (C6) | FSB | SMT | Price | |
| Intel Atom Z500 | 800MHz | 0.65W | 160mW | 80mW | 400MHz | No | $45 |
| Intel Atom Z510 | 1.1GHz | 2W | 220mW | 100mW | 400MHz | No | $45 |
| Intel Atom Z520 | 1.33GHz | 2W | 220mW | 100mW | 533MHz | Yes | $65 |
| Intel Atom Z530 | 1.60GHz | 2W | 220mW | 100mW | 533MHz | Yes | $95 |
| Intel Atom Z540 | 1.86GHz | 2.4W | 220mW | 100mW | 533MHz | Yes | $160 |
We originally expected Atom to top out at 1.60GHz but it looks like Intel wanted an even higher performing 1.86GHz part in the mix. At 1.86GHz, the Atom should offer performance beyond that of a 1.0GHz Pentium M - not bad for having a 2.4W TDP.
The pricing is admittedly higher than expected, at least for the chips with Hyper Threading (SMT) enabled. Given that the Atom processor is effectively targeting UMPCs and MIDs, the pricing structure makes sense but in order to get x86 everywhere Intel is going to need to offer higher performance at its lower price points.
Centrino Atom
As we've reported before, along with the Intel Atom brand comes the new Centrino Atom brand. The requirements are as follows:
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lopri - Thursday, April 3, 2008 - link
This article is as much propagana-ish as it is technical. Did you read the last page of the article?clnee55 - Friday, April 4, 2008 - link
Since Anand wrote this article. I let him answer your accusationGulWestfale - Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - link
i believe that the graphics core in the chipset is a powerVR gen5 derivative; intel already uses some of their tech in its existing mainboards and wikipedia states that intel has licensed gen5 tech for one of its chipsets, the GMA500 (which is the same as poulsbo?) gen5 is also DX10-capable, which matches the info in your article.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerVR#Series_5_.28S...">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerVR#Series_5_.28S...
yyrkoon - Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - link
and wikipedia has been known to be wrong . . . a lot lately it seems.My point here *is*, I would probably trust anandtech more than wikipedia now days, as it seems any Joe can put up a 'reference' without citation.
jones377 - Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - link
Following the references link from the Wiki article...http://www.imgtec.com/News/Release/index.asp?NewsI...">http://www.imgtec.com/News/Release/index.asp?NewsI...
Poulsbo uses a PowerVR 3D core
Anand Lal Shimpi - Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - link
Yep, you guys are correct, I wasn't aware that it was public yet :) I've updated the article.Take care,
Anand