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Intel: So long Silverthorne, Diamondville; hello Atom

Intel on Sunday rolled out its Atom brand, a group of low-power processors formerly known under the code names Silverthorne and Diamondville.These chips are designed for mobile Internet devices set to launch later in 2008.
Written by Larry Dignan, Contributor

Intel on Sunday rolled out its Atom brand, a group of low-power processors formerly known under the code names Silverthorne and Diamondville.

These chips are designed for mobile Internet devices set to launch later in 2008. In a nutshell, Intel wants to be inside the device in your pocket.

Among the key points:

  • The Intel Atom line keeps the Intel Core 2 Duo instruction set, but aims for low power and a new architecture;
  • The chip is less than 25 mm², Intel's smallest yet.
  • The chips have a thermal design power spec of 0.6 to 2.5 watts and can hit 1.8 GHz.
  • Intel is hoping these little chips will appear in "netbooks," cheap Internet devices and "nettops." Nettops sound suspiciously like thinner thin clients.

More on Techmeme, Intel's press release and all resources.

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