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.

Mobile Intel Pentium 4-M

The Pentium 4-M is available at speeds up to 2.6 GHZ. The difference between Mobile Pentium 4 and the Pentium 4-M is the 4-M does not support Hyperthreading, uses less power, and runs cooler.
Laptops based on this processor perform in the mid-range between the Celeron based laptops and the Centrino and Hyperthreading enabled laptops. The Pentium's mentioned above are recommended over this one since they offer better performance or battery life at equal or better prices.

Intel and Amd Processors Price List

AMD :

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 2.3GHz Processor - Rs. 3,450.00

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.4GHz Processor - Rs. 3,000.00

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2.6GHz Processor - Rs. 3,800.00

AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz - Rs. 5,800.00

Intel :

Intel Dual Core Processors

Intel Dual Core 2.0 GHz E 2180 - 800 FSB/1MBCache 3150

Intel Dual Core 2.20 GHz E2200 - 800 FSB/1MBCache 3250

Intel Dual Core 2.5 GHz E5200 - 800 FSB/2MBCache 3500

Celeron D Processors (775)

Intel Celeron 430 512K L2 cache 1.8 GHz 800MHz FSB 1950

Core 2 Duo (Current Prices)

Core 2 Duo 2.66Ghz E7300 - (3MB L2 cache 2.66Ghz 1066MHz) 5750

Core 2 Duo 2.80Ghz E7400 - (3MB L2 cache 2.80Ghz 1066MHz) 5875

Core 2 Duo 2.66GHz E8200 - (6MB L2 cache 2.66Ghz 1333MHz) 8500

Core 2 Duo 3.0 GHz E8400 - (6MB L2 cache 3.0Ghz 1333MHz) 9200

Core 2 Duo 3.16 GHz E8500 - (6MB L2 cache 3.16Ghz 1333MHz) 9600

Core 2 Duo 3.33 GHz E8600 - (6MB L2 cache 3.33Ghz 1333MHz) 13650

Quad Core Processors

Quad Core Q6600 2.4 GHz Q6600 - (8MB L2 cache 2.4Ghz 1066MHz FSB) (G0 Stepping Guaranteed) 10200

Quad Core Q8200 2.33 GHz Q8200 - (4MB L2 cache 2.4Ghz 1333MHz FSB) (G0 Stepping Guaranteed) 9025

Quad Core Q9400 2.66 GHz Q9400 - (12MB L2 cache 2.66Ghz 1333MHz FSB) 12650

Quad Core Q9550 2.83 GHz Q9550 - (12MB L2 cache 2.83Ghz 1333MHz FSB) 14650

Quad Core Q9650 3.0 GHz Q9650 - (12MB L2 cache 3.0Ghz

1333MHz FSB) 18300

Intel Core i7 Processor

i-920 2.66GHz i-920 - (8MB L3 Cache) 15150

AMD, Intel and Nvidia Unveil New Graphics Processors for Mobile Devices at CeBIT 09

AMD announced the world's first graphics processors to harness 40nm process technology: the ATI Mobility RadeonTM HD 4860 and ATI Mobility RadeonTM HD 4830. These graphics processors for mobile PCs offer advanced capabilities including support for the latest Microsoft DirectX 10.1 games, home theater-quality HD multimedia and energy-efficient features. 

"People now decidedly prefer mobile PCs, and innovations like this 40nm mobile GPU show AMD is uniquely positioned to make the best entertainment experiences of desktop PCs possible in a notebook," said Rick Bergman, senior vice president and general manager, Graphics Products Group, AMD. "Depending on the performance of the panel or external monitor, laptops that feature these tiny, powerful but efficient graphics engines can run today?s most demanding game titles at beyond 1080p HD resolution, or playback full 1080p HD video with high energy efficiency thanks to ATI PowerPlay and 40nm process technology." 

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 graphics will be featured in the forthcoming Asus K notebook. 

The new 40nm production process allows notebook manufacturers to deliver more graphics horsepower in a smaller ASIC die size, giving people access to capable discrete graphics ideal for smaller notebooks. 

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4830 graphics processors feature 3D engines derived from the ATI Radeon HD 4800 desktop series architecture with support for DirectX 10.1. The ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 supports GDDR5 memory technology which offers nearly twice the memory bandwidth of GDDR3. 

The second generation AMD Unified Video Decoder (UVD) keeps the CPU free to run social media applications or virus scan while UVD helps process intensive content such as Blu-ray movies. 

Additional power-saving features include ATI PowerPlay, ATI PowerXpress, and ATI Switchable Graphics technologies. 

Initially, the ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4860 and ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4830 graphics processors are available in quality notebooks from leading notebook manufacturer ASUS, with models planned for availability beginning in Q2 2009. 

AMD launches new X3, X4 parts; debuts DDR3 on Socket AM3

The ink is barely dry on AMD's Socket AM2 Phenom II launch, but Sunnyvale is making up for lost time when it comes to debuting new products. On Monday, February 9, the CPU manufacturer released a total of five new Phenom II-class processors, all of which are classified as Socket AM3 parts. Unlike Socket AM2 chips, which are only compatible with DDR2 memory, Socket AM3 CPUs can use either RAM standard and drop neatly into either motherboard.

The backwards-compatibility of Socket AM3 chips should make them quite attractive to anyone upgrading an older Athlon 64 X2 or even a Phenom part; AMD's Phenom II (aka Deneb) offers a number of significant performance and thermal improvements over the ill-fated Phenom I. Remember that backward compatibility only goes one direction—AM2+ processors will not work in AM3 boards.

AMD's decision to preserve AM2+ motherboard support was made several years ago, and probably has the company thanking its lucky stars today. Rumor has it that both Intel and AMD have delayed their plans for a full press migration towards DDR3 thanks to the current state of the worldwide economy. If Socket AM3 had broken with Socket AM2 the way that AM2 broke compatibility with Socket 939, the company's ability to position itself as the low-cost upgrade alternative would've been nullified completely.

Of the five new processors, three are quad-core while two are triples. The new quad-cores are: AMD Phenom II X4 910, (2.6GHz, 6MB L3, OEM-only) 810 (2.6GHz, 4MB L3), X4 805 (2.5GHz, 4MB L3, OEM-only), X3 720 Black Edition (unlocked multiplier, 2.8GHz, 6MB L3), and the Phenom II X3 710 (2.6GHz, 6MBL3). 

Have a look "How Penryn different from standard Pentium Core 2 processors"

Penryn is not a revolution, but rather an evolution of Intel's Core 2 family of processors. Three new technologies have been crammed into this new square of silicon to make faster and more powerful laptops with longer battery life. 

First is the 45nm size reduction of the processor's die (the tech term for a processor's casing or mold). This die shrink means the processor can have features and innards as small as 45 nanometers wide, which means that Intel can squeeze more processors out of a single slab of silicon. The newfound space not only drives down prices, but also enables the new processors to use less energy and run at cooler temperatures. Cooler-running processors mean that Intel can ramp up computing speeds without melting the insides of the computer (or burning your lap, for that matter).

When a processor's die is shrunk, however, it becomes easier for electrons to leak out wasting electricity, and counteracts some of the benefits of the size reduction. To combat this leakage, Intel has introduced a new transistor technology called High-K that reigns in much of the leakage and leads to more energy efficient processors. Tests have shown that Penryn processors can get almost a full hour of battery life over older Core 2's during normal usage and about 20 minutes more while playing back a DVD. 

Lastly, is a new set of instructions called SSE4, which is aimed at speeding up media functions such as video encoding (converting video so you can edit it on your computer) and playback. The catch is that software developers must write applications to specifically take advantage of the new instructions. The popularity of the Intel processors and the dramatic performance increase guarantees that companies will get on board. Applications that are already SSE4-enabled (like the DivX video encoding suite) have seen boosts in performance of almost 40%. That's quite a difference when you're talking about cutting down what typically takes an hour to encode HD video to just over 30 minutes.

Intel Core i7

Desktop Core i7 models

NVIDIA's SLI Tech Now On Intel X58-Based Mobos

Intel Corporation has licensed NVIDIA SLI technology for inclusion on the DX58SO motherboard for the Core i7 processor, which means that consumers waiting to pull the trigger on an Intel X58-based motherboard, Core i7 CPU and four NVIDIA graphics cards can finally forge ahead.

According to Clem Russo, VP and General Manager of Channel Desktop Platform Group at Intel Corporation: "The addition of NVIDIA SLI technology to the Intel DX58SO motherboard has been a welcome addition. The pairing of our new Core i7 processors on our Extreme Series motherboard and NVIDIA GeForce graphics has resulted in some of the world's fastest consumer gaming PC platforms." Due to the announcements, NVIDIA can now claim that its SLI technology -- which enables gamers to bridge two, three, even four NVIDIA GPUs together for insane performance levels -- is available on all modern consumer PC platforms. Yep, all of them -- including the Intel Core i7, Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo processors, as well as those based on the AMD Phenom II CPU. 

Intel CPU roadmap extends to 32nm in 2H 2009, AMD falls behind

AMD may face tougher competition by Intel if it does not come out with a new product roadmap and more powerful technologies to show within two years, sources at Taiwan PC manufacturers expressed.

New Quad-Core AMD and Intel Chips Surface

Computer chip makers Intel and AMD are ending 2008 with a quad-core bang. Intel has a new mobile processor - the Intel Core 2 Quad Mobile Processor Q9000 - that is being hyped by Acer in its just announced Acer laptop. AMD reportedly already has its upcoming Phenom II processors popping up online for pre-orders to consumers. The catch, neither AMD or Intel have made official announcements about either chips - yet.
The Intel Core 2 Quad Mobile Processor Q9000 is at the heart of Acer's new Aspire 8930G-7665 notebook PC. This latest quad core processor is running inside this laptop with 12MB of shared L2 cache, a 1066 MHz front side bus and a clock speed rate upwards of 2.53 GHz.
The Acer notebook, besides the Q9000 processor, has respectable features such as an 18.4-inch LCD, 4GB of DDR3 memory, a NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT graphics set and a 500GB SATA hard drive. The 8930G-7665 is said to be available now for around $1,800.
Intel, besides putting forth the Q9000, is also said to have released four other mobile processors. This comes as AMD is getting ready to publicly debut its new quad-core Phenom II processors at the 2f009 Consumer Electronics Show. The new AMD processor, which some retailers already have available for pre-orders, will run at speeds up to 3GHz and includes an 8MB cache.

AMD releases Shanghai ahead of schedule

Shanghai, Advanced Micro Devices' next-generation processor, is being released ahead of schedule and, the company says, minus the mistakes of its last generation, Barcelona. "Originally the plan was that Shanghai would launch in Q1 of '09 and we were able to pull that into Q4," stated Pat Patla, general manager of AMD's server and workstation chip business.The product will not only be announced in the fourth quarter but vendors will also be shipping servers in the fourth quarter that feature Shanghai.
Shanghai is a quad-core product targeted at servers and will be AMD's first 45-nanometer processor, whereas Barcelona was 65-nanometer. Typically, the smaller the geometries, the faster and more power efficient the chip. Intel has been shipping 45-nanometer processors since last year and these processors now make up most of Intel's offerings.
AMD is also boosting the size of the cache memory, which typically speeds performance, from two megabytes to six megabytes. Another speed improvement will come from increasing "instructions per clock." Shanghai will also feature HyperTransport 3, a high-speed communication link technology between silicon.

VIA’s Nano CPU represents foray into 64-bit world

VIA has been a long-time maker of competing x86-based products. Their products have not always been well known as their market share is very small due to limited manufacturing abilities and poorly performing products (their x86 FPU was half-clocked until the most recent iteration before Nano). Still, they have kept the pace over the years and have produced processors that require very little power suitable for low-end notebooks and desktop computer system.s And now, they are prepping a 64-bit version, called VIA Nano.
Nano was officially announced in May, 2008, though no individual products have yet been sold. Some websites have had reviews and benchmarks out. VIA’s new Trinity platform, a Mini-ITX 2.0 reference system employing their VX800 low-power chipset and either a Nano or C7 CPU and S3 Chrome graphics allow for DirectX 10.1 and hardware support for Blu-ray and other popular HD video formats using an HDMI interface.
Isaiah, the codename for Nano, is believed to be releasing to the general public in early 2009 as a pin-compatible replacement for existing C7 and C7-M models. It will provide full x86-64 support while also extending performance levels above the previous C7 core design. It uses VIA’s proprietary 800MHz FSB technology (following a licensing dispute with Intel which forced it away from using Intel’s bus architecture), and has been shown to compete really well against Intel’s Atom-based systems, often outperforming them and routinely coming in with better power numbers, despite the 65nm process technology compared to Atom’s 45nm.

Intel and AMD In 2009

Choosing a processor is an exercise in predicting the future. Given the rapid pace of technology, you'd ideally like a CPU—and the other parts of the system—to last a few years. Choose a CPU that's too new and you end up on the pricey, bleeding edge of the envelope. Choose one that's been around too long and you may find yourself struggling to run new software. Whether you're buying a PC, making an upgrade, or building a new system from scratch, you'll face the same problems.
There are also different manufacturers and product lines to consider, though when it comes to the processor game, Intel has been firing on all cylinders while AMD has been playing catch-up. This year 2009 looks to be more of the same. Both companies are poised to introduce new product lines. Intel is moving forward with a substantially new microarchitecture, whereas AMD is just now making the move to the 45nm manufacturing process, which Intel has been using for nearly a year. The smaller architecture allows CPU manufacturers to build processors that use lower power and run at higher clock speeds, as well as cram more transistors on a CPU die.