Intel Tunnel Creek revealed at IDF

Intel used the second day of its Developer Forum to unveil a new system-on-a-chip version of the Atom. Nicknamed Tunnel Creek, it will be based on the upcoming Moorestown Atom chip but will target computing in home users' embedded spaces: Intel suggests home media and phone tablets or in-car entertainment and nav systems. It will incorporate not just the memory controller but the graphics core as well, and in many cases it may not need an external chipset to handle other tasks.

The design will also allow companies to make a custom chipset that connects to the processor as long as it communicates using PCI Express.

Specific home devices weren't mentioned, but Intel said it had landed two deals in China that will use some form of Atom processor. China Mobile will use the chips for a "compute and cloud" cellular network where x86 processors are used both at remote cell sites as well as in servers. Local car maker Rongcheng HawTai Automobile is also involved and will use an Atom system based on the Intel- and Nokia-made MeeGo OS for the entertainment in its B11 sedan.

Timing for Tunnel Creek wasn't given, but Moorestown is due later this year and has its first known appearances in the LG GW990 smartphone and OpenPeak tablet.

By Electronista Staff