AMD vs Intel vs VIA

Whilst Intel’s Atom CPU is found in the majority of netbooks released to date, it is facing competition from other vendors who are looking to jump onto the netbook cash-cow. Apart from prospective ARM processors, AMD recently launched the Athlon Neo which is found in the 12-inch HP Pavilion dv2 and is meant to be a step-up from Intel Atom CPUs. VIA also launched the Nano chip, intended specifically for netbooks and has first been seen in the Samsung NC20.

Symbian Boasts S60 Running on Intel Atom Processor

Symbian OS is capable of running on Intel Atom processors, revealed Symbian Executive Director Lee Williams.

Williams noted that the problem is not the technical side, but the business perspective of the challenge. It is likely for Atom processors to be more expensive than the currently used ARM processors, as they are designed to run on netbooks and low-power notebooks, rather than on mobile phones.

The feat was achieved by the SOSCO (S60 on Symbian Customer Operations) team, who used "an off the shelf Atom based motherboard from Intel". The director also said that this port could bring in new "major business partners willing to come in and invest in the development of a product solution, and one that enables some differentiators to come to market for consumers".

Intel "Jasper Forest" processor disclosed

Intel revealed its latest processor, codenamed 'Jasper Forest', at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing. This marks the first time Intel has made mention of this processor and so initial details were a bit sketchy. Intel says the processor is targeted at the embedded and storage application markets.

Intel said the new processors will be based on the Nehalem-EP architecture, the same used in Intel's recently announced Xeon 5500 series of server processors. But unlike the server platform, the Jasper Forest processor will use only two chips instead of the three used in the 5520 chipset. Intel has integrated the I/O hub onto the processor chip which means you can now have Xeon-level performance in a smaller space.

New Core 2 Quad Processors From Intel

Intel has extended its Core 2 Quad line-up with the launch of two models: Q8400 and Q8400S. Both use 45-nm technology, work internally at 2.66 GHz, work externally at 1,333 MHz, have 4 MB L2 cache and 95 W and 65 W TDP, respectively.

Intel to Release Six-Core Chips for Desktops

Intel Corp. is projected to release its first six-core microprocessors for desktops in the second quarter of 2010, nearly two years after the company began shipments of six-core chips for high-end x86 servers.

Intel Gulftown processors – which will be drop-in compatible with LGA1366 infrastructure – will have six physical cores with Hyper-Threading technology enabled, thus, capable of processing up to twelve threads at the same time. According to a news-story by HKEPC web-site, which cites mainboard makers, the code-named Gulftown processors made using 32nm process technology, will be launched in Q2 2010, a year from now.

The Gulftown chip belongs to Westmere family of microprocessors that have some micro-architectural advantages over currently available Core i7 processors that belong to Nehalem family. Gulftown will significantly boost performance of the microprocessors while staying in the same thermal envelope of 130W.

New Specialized Intel Atom Processor Targets Cars, Internet Phones

Intel announced four unique versions of processors and two new system controller hub additions to the company?s "embedded" business division product line-up. The new products for the Intel Atom processor Z5xx series include industrial-temperature options, as well as different package-size choices better suited for in-car infotainment devices, media phones, eco-technologies and other industrial-strength applications. The Intel Atom processor is the company's smallest built with the smallest and most energy-efficient transistors.
In addition to in-car applications, the Intel Atom Z5xx processor series also targets an emerging category of Internet-based communications devices Intel calls "media phones." The package size and power envelope of the Intel Atom Z5xx series are ideal for the media phone, which provides communications services over IP and easy, one-touch access to lifestyle applications such as e-mail, text messaging, weather information, YouTube, horoscopes and digital photo albums.
The new products will be available in the second quarter.

AMD Six-Core ‘Istanbul` Processor Slated for Second Half of `09 Release

Advanced Micro Devices is looking to offer its first six-core processor, currently codenamed “Istanbul,” by the second half of 2009. AMD has been demonstrating the new processor, which uses the same socket and thermal envelope as the current crop of 45-nm AMD Opteron processors. This AMD processor will compete against the likes of Intel’s six-core Xeon chip.