PC makers hold off on N450

Some notebook manufacturers are taking a wait-and-see approach in regards to integrating the next-generation Intel Atom N450 CPU into their products, a recent report says. Instead, sources for DigiTimes claim they will look at PC maker Acer and ASUS, both of whom have already committed to launch products with the new chip before themselves releasing such products. The demand for netbook PCs, which feature sub-11-inch displays and clock speeds that are equal to or less than 1.66GHz, has dropped off lately, with lots of leftover inventory of such systems.

The low demand for this type of product has also resulted in some manufacturers leaving the market. Despite several unnamed Chinese netbook makers receiving engineering samples of the Atom N450 CPU to integrate into their products, the report says they will hold off on manufacturing such products until the first quarter of 2010. Acer and ASUS are expected to release N450-powered products sometime in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The Atom N450 has the same clock speed as Intel's current N280 chip, at 1.66GHz. Built on 45nm architecture, the single-core chip is due to ship sometime in October and would eventually replace the 1.6GHz Atom N270. Based on Intel's Pine Trail platform, the chip will support new visual effects and features. It also promises to be both smaller and more power efficient.

By Electronista Staff

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Intel, computers, industry, gadgets, ASUS, Acer, Atom