14 DAY TRIAL // According to a recent slide, leaked on the Internet and showing Intel's CPU roadmap, the leading manufacturer of computer processors is currently preparing to roll out its next-generation Atom processor, a release believed to take place sometime soon. The new chip, which will be part of the company's low-power CPU lineup, is set to debut in the third quarter of 2009.
Not many specifics are available at this time but, according to the slide, which surfaced on the Japanese-language PC Watch website, the upcoming processor, codenamed Pineview, is based on Intel's Lineroft micro-architecture. As you might have expected, the new Atom chip will be offered in both single-core and dual-core options, and will be manufactured on the same 45nm process technology as today's current-generation Atom processors.
The new CPU is expected to provide more computing power to all those low-power, small-sized netbook systems that have recently invaded the market. Unfortunately, there are no details either on the CPU's TDP level, which will ultimately decide the battery's overall lifetime. However, it is believed that, just like the current-generation Diamondville processor, the new Pineview will also feature HyperThreading technology, which will increase the number of cores on the operating system.
Another distinct detail that differentiates Pineview from Diamondville is that, unlike the first generation Atom processor, the new chip will come with a built-in graphics core and memory manager. The Pineview will use a Direct Media Interface (DMI) instead of a regular front side bus, a feature that is also common to the upcoming “Nehalem” desktop processors.
It is yet unclear whether the dual-core version of the Pineview will also be made available for netbook systems, which isn't the case with the current-generation Diamondville CPU. The dual-core Atom 330, expected to be aimed specifically at desktop systems, is yet to make its way into one of those small-sized, low-power nettops currently available on the market.