Intel announces updated dual-core Atom chip for netbooks
updated 05:10 am EST, Mon March 7, 2011
1.66GHz, two cores, four threads
Intel has used CeBIT to formally announced its new dual-core Atom N570 processor for netbooks. The new processor is built on a 45nm process and runs at 1.66GHz, slightly faster than the first dual-core Atom for netbooks, the N550. It includes 1MB of L2 cache and supports DDR3 667MHz RAM and has TDP (Thermal Dynamic Profile) of 8.5W. Also supported is Intel’s multi-threading technology for a total of four virtual cores, while it incorporates 176 million transistors.
Intel hopes that the new processor will help to spur further development of the netbook platform, once the fastest growing new category of device. This has of course now changed with the arrival of the iPad, and is under further threat by a slew of Android 3.0-based tablets starting to hit the market.
ASUS, Lenovo and Samsung are continuing to develop new netbook designs based on the Atom architecture and are using CeBIT to demonstrate netbooks based on the new dual-core Atom for netbooks.
