14 DAY TRIAL // Santa Clara, California-based Intel is reportedly planning to expand its range of netbook-focused Atom Z5xx series of processors, with the introduction of two new models, the Z515 and the Z550. From the two, the latter will provide a core speed of 2.0GHz, which will make the upcoming Atom processor the fastest CPU in its family. This new CPU should further increase the performance of some of the upcoming low-power, portable computer systems that are based on the Intel Atom platform.
Reports of these new processors have been surfacing since late last year, but it appears that HKEPC now has some confirmation from sources in the industry. According to the details made available in a recent news-article, the upcoming Atom Z550 processor should deliver a core speed of 2GHz. Other specifications of the processor include an L2 cache of 512KB and an FSB of 533MHz, while the TDP level will remain at 2.4W, the same as the company's current Z540 model, which is clocked at 1.86GHz.
In terms of performance and provided features, the Z515 will come out as something between the Z500 and the Z520. According to the aforementioned website, the chip will run at a standard core speed of 800MHz with a TDP of 0.65W. However, thanks to the implementation of Intel's new Bust Performance Technology, the chip will be capable of boosting its core speed to 1.2GHz, which will consequently boost the TDP to 1.4W.
Apparently, these two CPUs will become available sometime next month, which is when chipzilla is also said to be planning to release some new Core 2 models. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing, a detail that should become available at the launch of the CPUs. However, the 2.0GHz Z550 would probably be priced close to the Z540, thus providing netbook builders with a higher-performance alternative to the current Atom flagship model.