14 DAY TRIAL // Intel's Atom processor has been designed to meet the performance requirements of small-sized desktop computer systems and sub-notebooks (also known as netbooks). As a matter of fact, the increasingly expanding netbook market has been the main catalyst for Intel's impressive sales numbers with its Atom CPU. However, some motherboard manufacturers have decided that the Atom is perfectly suitable for other computer systems as well, which can be built using a full-sized ATX mobo featuring an Atom CPU soldered onto it.
As mentioned in several of our previous articles, the Atom is among the main reasons for Intel's successful CPU business in Q2 this year. Apparently, the company's Atom business segment will continue to grow, given the increasing demand for more netbooks and nettops systems, as well as other small-power computer systems. Such systems could be built on an ATX form-factor mobo, much like the one that the guys at Expreview have came across.
Despite no direct indication that this is really a Galaxy-made mobo, according to the abovementioned website, the pictured motherboard has been designed by the Hong Kong-based manufacturer. By looking at the specifications list, we can say that users should expect a board layout with two memory slots, four SATA ports, one PCI Express x16 slot, five PCI slots, and a VGA port on the I/O plate.
One of the most interesting things about the new mobo is the tiny Atom processor that is soldered onto it. From the overall layout of the mobo, we could say the Atom is rather similar in size with the CMOS battery. Furthermore, according to the details posted on Expreview, this particular Atom is designed with a core speed of 1.6GHz, while the board itself is based on the 945GC chipset.
No details on when and where the board will become available but, given the increasing interest for small-sized, low-power and ultimately low-cost computer systems, it's likely it will surface in an upcoming ATX computer system.
