Intel Atom Processors Announced

Intel's new low-power processors, designed for mobile Internet devices (MIDs), UMPCs, and other ultra portable computers has been named Atom.  The chips were previously codenamed Silverthorne and Diamondville, and will be manufactured on Intel's 45nm process with hi-k metal gate technology. According to Intel, the new Atom processors have a thermal design power specification in 0.6-2.5 watt range and scale to 1.8GHz speeds. The company also announced the Intel Centrino Atom processor technology for mobile computing, formerly codenamed "Menlow,"  which consists of multiple chips including an Intel Atom processor, a low-power companion chip with integrated graphics, a wireless radio, and thinner and lighter designs.

"The Intel Atom processor is based on an entirely new microarchitecture designed specifically for small devices and low power, while maintaining the Intel Core 2 Duo instruction set compatibility consumers are accustomed to when using a standard PC and the Internet. The design also includes support for multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness. All of this on a chip that measures less than 25 mm, making it Intel's smallest and lowest power processor yet. Up to 11 Intel Atom processor die -- the tiny slivers of silicon packed with 47 million transistors each -- would fit in an area the size of an American penny."