Intel Designs Dual-Core Atom for Netbooks

When Intel launched its new Atom platform, it introduced two rather distinct series of central processing units, namely the Intel Atom D and the N series. As their names suggest, the D series is meant for desktops, whereas the N-series chips are aimed at mobile PCs, particularly netbooks. However, what was not present in the N line was a dual-core chip, like the Intel Atom D510 from the desktop line. This, however, may soon change, if recent reports are anything to go by.

The Intel Atom D processors are generally used in nettops, because of their entry-level processing power, whereas the Atom N chips serve netbooks quite well as part of the Pine Trail platform. With such devices evolving quickly, however, even gaining HD media capabilities from NVIDIA's ION graphics processor, the platform itself might need to evolve in order to keep up with the growing demand for improved performance.

According to PC Inpact, Intel is working on a dual-core Atom N central processor, meant to enable better multitasking and an overall better netbook performance. There is already a netbook PC based on a dual-core Atom, namely the ASUS Eee PC 1201N, but this model uses the desktop Atom D510 chip, which draws more power and generates more heat than the Atom N330, N470 or the more widespread N450. If the company is genuinely developing an N dual-core, likely dubbed Atom N500, netbooks will have access to a higher performance without a noticeable impact on battery life.

Of course, since the Atom line is designed for low power and, thus, lower processing capabilities, a dual-core would not exactly provide any sort of breakthrough-level performance. Of course, there is no way to confirm these rumors at this time, even though PC Inpact states that the report originates with sources within companies that work with the Santa Clara chip maker. Nevertheless, a dual-core Atom CPU would definitely allow Intel's Pine Trail platform to keep up with the advancements in netbook design and with customer demand.

Naturally, there is no knowing what type of price such a CPU would have, nor is there any indication of when it will formally launch.