AMD has expanded its AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processor families for desktop with several new processors designed to give mainstream consumers advanced performance capabilities from their desktop PCs at increasingly attractive price points. As desktop PCs continue trending toward smaller form factors, AMD remains committed to maximizing the user experience by bringing platform technology integration, efficiency and performance benefits to consumers. Examples of the new processor offerings from AMD include:
The new AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition processor, AMD’s fastest dual-core desktop processor to date at 3.2GHz, is an ideal choice for the budget-conscious consumer’s Microsoft Windows 7 system platform at an affordable $99 Suggested System Builder Price (SSBP).
The new AMD Athlon II X4 635 processor is designed to provide exceptional quad-core performance to handle the demands of multitasking and multi-threaded applications.
Continuing its commitment to providing high performance at affordable prices, AMD meets the computing needs of mainstream consumers with these new processors — from gamers to social media devotees. This variety and value enables OEMs and system builders to develop compelling PC solutions optimized for Windows 7.
The new additions to the AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processor lines are great choices for consumers interested in HD entertainment, casual gaming, digital file editing and social-media networking.
When combined with the latest generation of ATI Radeon 5800 Series graphics cards and AMD 7-series chipsets, these new AMD Phenom II and AMD Athlon II processors can provide consumers with optimal user experience and capabilities such as:
Brilliant HD entertainment experience
Support for DirectX 11 gaming feature
Exceptional energy efficiency with dynamic power management
Socket AM3 compatibility for flexibility and compatibility with motherboards based on the upcoming AMD 800-series chipset
Advanced multitasking performance
Optimized for Windows 7and the latest sleek desktop designs
Intel has announced new Intel Atom processors that feature integrated graphics built directly into the CPU, enabling improved performance and smaller, more energy-efficient designs in a new generation of netbooks and Atom-based entry-level desktop PCs. Major OEMs have committed to having systems on the new Intel Atom processors and a new companion chipset available within the next few weeks.
The newest Intel Atom platform, formerly codenamed “Pine Trail,” consist of a new Intel Atom processor, the N450, and a new low-power Intel NM10 Express Chipset (for netbooks). For entry-level desktop PCs, it consists of either the Intel Atom processor D410 or the dual core D510, also paired with the Intel NM10 express chipset. The Atom processor was designed from the ground up for small devices and low power, and remains Intel’s smallest chip, built on the company’s 45nm high-k metal gate manufacturing process. The overall package, including the chipset, just got smaller due to the increasing integration and 45nm manufacturing, which means smaller, more compact system designs, lower costs for OEMs and improved performance.
Broad Industry Momentum
Intel continues to see broad industry support for the Atom platform as netbook in particular have been hot sellers during a recessionary year due to their affordability, function and small size (7-10-inch screens). Additionally, Intel is expecting to see broad channel adoption for Atom in a variety of small form factor entry-level desktop PCs at low price points, including ultra-small designs (less than 1-litre chassis), fanless designs, and low-cost all-in-one designs.
Since Intel announced the first Atom processor for netbooks and entry-level desktop PCs in June 2008, the market has expanded rapidly. Since introduction, Intel has shipped over 40million Atom chips for netbooks to every major OEM around the world. In the same timeframe, netbooks have ramped faster and sold more units than Apple‘s iPhone and the Nintendo Wii. According to ABI Research, total Atom shipments for all segments are expected to continue to grow into the 100s of millions by 2011. Intel is not letting up, offering the next-generation platform for OEMs to continue to innovate around.
“The Intel Atom processor has feuled an entirely new category of computing over the last year and a half and we think the growth will continue for devices like netbooks and entry-level PCs built around basic computing and Internet usage models,” said Mooly Eden, Intel corporate vice president and general manager of Intel’s PC Client Group. “We’re excited to be delivering the next-generation Atom platform and working across the industry as we head into a second phase of growth, powering innovative new system designs with better performance, smaller footprints and better battery life.”
Intel has over 80 design wins to-date for the new Atom platform from such leading OEMs as Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Dell, MSI, Toshiba, Samsung and Fujitsu. While the bulk of the systems will feature the new Windows 7 Starter or Home Basic operating system, consumers will have a choice when it comes to selecting an operating system, with some OEMs offering Moblin Linux v2 as an alternative for customers who desire a customizable and differentiated user interface.
Worldwide netbook shipments by telecommunication companies are also growing and expected to fuel another round of expansion. Intel has been working closely with mobile operators and modem vendors to advance 3G capabilities in netbooks in established and emerging markets. To date, approximately a dozen service providers offer netbooks in various markets, and the numbers are expected to grow with the newest platform.
Improved Processor and Graphics Performance
One of the most significant features of the new platform is the integration of the memory controller and graphics into the CPU, a first in the industry on x-86 chips. That means two chips (CPU+chipset) instead of the previous three (CPU+chipset, I/O controller hub), a lower TDP and substantial reduction in cost, overall footprint and power. The netbook platform features a 20% improvement in average power and smaller package size over the previous Atom platform. This translates into smaller and more compact system designs and longer battery life. Because of the integration, the total footprint for the netbook platform has decreased by approximately 60%. For entry-level desktop PCs, it’s nearly 70% reduction in footprint and about 50% lower TDP than the previous generation.
About the Platform
The N450 is a single core atom processor with 512k of L2 cache and a seven-watt total kit TDP including chipset. The D410 for entry-level desktop PCs is a single-core Atom processor with 512k of L2 cache and 12-watt kit TDP including chipset, and the D510 for entry-level desktop PCs is a dual core Atom processor with 1meg L2 cache and 15-watt total kit TDP including chipset. The new chips all run 1.66GHz. Pricing and availability will be announced in January as systems become available from OEMs.
Cindy Ng, Intel Netbook Marketing Team, demonstrates the Intel Atom Processor N450 for netbooks and the Intel Atom Processor D410 and D510 for entry-level desktops.
New Intel Core processors for consumers
Formerly codenamed “Lynnfield,” these new chips are based on Intel’s award-winning Nehalem microarchitecture and are designed for consumers who need top-notch performance for digital media, productivity, gaming and other demanding applications. These processors, along with the new Intel P55 express chipset, are available today.
All processors are lead- and halogen-free and feature Intel exclusive Turbo Boost Technology. The top-of-the-line Core i7 processors also support Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. Combined, these features give computer users absolute “intelligent” performance when necessary and optimum power-efficiency when the computer is lightly loaded.
Computers just got smaller
The new chipset brings the most revolutionary design changes since the invention of the PCI bus in the early 1990s and sets the stage for Intel’s forthcoming 2010 compute platform. The Intel P55 Express Chipset will be the baseline building block component for motherboards worldwide, delivering great new levels of performance and scalability for everyone from the retail buyer to the technically savvy do-it-yourselfer.
The new Core i7 and i5 processors are the first Intel processors to integrate both a 16-lane PCI Express 2 graphics port and two-channel memory controller, enabling all input/output and manageability functions to be handled by the single-chip Intel P55 Express Chipset. Previous Intel chipsets required two separate chips. A new Direct Media Interface (DMI) connects between the processor and chipset. The chipset supports eight PCI Express 2.0 x1 Ports (2.5GT/s) for flexible device support. Dual graphics cards are supported in a “2×8″ configuration. The chipset also supports six SATA 3Gb/s Ports with Intel Matrix Storage Technology providing RAID levels 0/1/5/10. Up to 14 USB 2.0 Ports can be supported with the chipset’s integrated USB 2.0 Rate Matching Hub, along with Intel High Definition Audio for premium digital sound. The new processors are the first to be supported by the new Land Grid Array (LGA) 1156 package and socket technology.
Better Entry Servers
Small businesses requiring 24/7 operation and educators now have more reasons than ever to buy a purpose-built server with Intel’s new Xeon processors and Intel 3400 and 3420 chipsets. These new products improve small business productivity by running e-mail, file, print and dynamic Web serving tasks more efficiently. They also improve education by enabling dependable classroom collaboration and making school administrative services more productive. Servers based on Xeon 3400 processors provide more dependability over desktop systems through differentiated features such as Error Correcting Code memory and RAID 0/1/5/10 for server operating systems. They are designed to help small businesses grow by enabling up to 64% more sale transactions and up to 56% faster business response time. This improvement is enabled with Intel’s Nehalem microarchitecture and a 4x improvement in memory capacity (32GB). Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Intel Hyper-Threading Technology enable these servers to automatically adapt their performance to unique business needs. The processors launched today also include the Intel Xeon L3426, a low-power variant that delivers up to 188% improvement in energy efficiency per dollar than the previous-generation Intel Xeon X3380, and enables innovative server form factors for space and thermally constrained environments.
For more information on these products, please visit www.intel.com/xeon.
AMD announced the AMD Athlon II X2 dual-core 245 and 240 processors, delivering 45nm technology-based performance to mainstream PC users for less than $67 USD. When combined with AMD’s chipsets, these processors are designed to provide plenty of performance to handle today’s popular mainstream applications in multitasking environments – all while remaining cool and quiet.
Given the current economic environment, consumers are seeking the best computing value without sacrificing the performance required to maintain their digital lifestyle. With these processors, system builders and PC OEMs can better address the industry’s need to provide affordable, powerful and energy efficient desktop PCs that help consumers quickly and easily create, enjoy and share their digital world.
The AMD Athlon II X2 245 and 240 processors are geared toward the growing segment of mainstream, value-conscious PC users seeking a full-featured product with best-in-class performance to enhance their computing capabilities at home and at play. Those looking for an enhanced digital experience and demanding extreme multitasking performance to help them do more in less time will find these processors help exceed their expectations.
AMD Athlon II dual-core processors provide consumers the capability to multitask more efficiently and better create, render, transfer and share their multimedia content. When combined with ATI Radeon HD graphics technology and AMD chipsets, systems based on the AMD Athlon II X2 245 and 240 processors deliver a vivid visual experience, smooth multitasking and exceptional digital media performance with efficiency.
At the International Supercomputing Conference, AMD announced that AMD Opteron processors continue to power many of the highest-performing supercomputers in the world, including the top two overall. AMD Opteron processor highlights from the latest Top 500 Supercomputer Sites listinclude:
