Apr 29, 2011 20:21 GMT  ·  By

Expected to launch sometime in the forth quarter of 2011, Intel's next-generation Atom platform, code named Cedar Trail, has just been detailed and the initial launch will include two chips that feature a dual-core design and an improved IGP.

The Cedar Trail platform comprises the Cedarview-D processor and the NM10 chipset, which is the same controller logic used by Pine Trail.

Unlike the current Atom processors, however, the CPU used by Cedar Trail will be built using the 32nm fabrication process and features a unified architecture that packs both the processing cores and the GPU on the same die.

The processing cores remain unchanged from the current Atom chips, but the operating frequencies will be increased to allow for better performance.

It's interesting to note that both CPUs will use a dual-core design, with the faster D2700 even featuring support for the Hyper-Threading technology.

Both D2500 and D2700 Cedar Trail processors will pack a built-in DDR3 memory controller and their TDP is estimated at 10W, 3W lower than that of the Intel Atom D525.

The most worthwhile addition brought to these processors will be the inclusion of a new IGP that is fully compatible with DirectX 10.1 and features HD decoding (MPEG2, VC1, AVC, and H.264) with Blu-Ray 2.0 support.

Intel has also added support for more display options, including HDMI 1.3a, DisplayPort 1.1, eDP (embedded DisplayPort), LVDS, and VGA. In addition, the IGP will be able to drive two displays simultaneously.

Price wise, Cedar Trail continues from where Pine Trail left us, so it will target sub-$300 netbooks, although is possible that the D2700 could b used for powering $400 portable computers.

Right now, it's pretty hard to predict how these processors will stack up against AMD's C and E-series APUs, but graphics performance is expected to lag behind the Radeon HD 6310 GPU. (via AnandTech)

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Intel's next generation Cedar Trail Atom platform gets detailed
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