Today we had a total of five different netbook models announced with Intel's new Pinetrail Atom N450 processor (the Fujitsu LifeBook MH380, Asus Eee PC 1005PE, MSI Wind U130 and 135 and the Dell Inspiron Mini 10). But what exactly is this new processor all about, and how does it differ from the N270/N280 Atom CPUs that we've been hearing about in netbooks for the past year? In a way, Intel's Pinetrail platform of CPUs heralds a new age for the company's aging x86 processors. And things can only get better. Continue reading for a more in-depth explanation.
Introduction: Intel Atom N450, D410 and D510 processors
All in, there are a total of three new processors under Intel's Pinetrail platform. The Atom N450, geared towards netbooks, is a single-core CPU clocked at 1.66GHz with 512K of L2 cache memory and a TDP of 5.5W. The other two processors under Intel's Pinetrail platform are the D410 and D510, with the D510 being a dual-core version of the D410, clocked at 1.66GHz at stock as well. These three are the processors you will be seeing with upcoming netbooks and nettops throughout early 2010.
Two birds with one stone
The last generation of Intel's Atom platform, codenamed Diamondville, ran on a system with a total of three chips including the CPU itself and the graphics controller. The above diagram illustrates how the transition from Diamondville to the new Pinetrail Atom platform would look like, in a nutshell.
With Pinetrail, the processor (Pineview) is rolled into one chip with the memory and graphics controller. The second chip in the Pinetrail platform is called Tiger Point, and this functions as the I/O Controller Hub, normally referred to as the southbridge.
With the platform's number of chips down to two, and the integration of the GPU (graphics controller) and CPU (the processor itself, Pineview) onto the same die, there's roughly a 20% average power reduction and a 60% package size reduction -- and that's just for netbooks. For nettops, the new platform offers a 50% lower TDP and a 70% packaging reduction.
Real-world benefits - more than meets the eye
The most obvious benefits of switching to Intel's Pinetrail platform include reduced sizes for nettops and netbooks due to the platform's smaller footprint, less heat due to a lower TDP (and possibly less noise due to not needing a powerful yet noisy fan for cooling), and less power draw which results in more battery life -- a boon for avid mobile computer users.
With the introduction of Pinetrail, Intel also eliminates the need for an integrated GPU to partner with Atom to handle graphics, which almost renders NVIDIA's Ion platform completely obsolete. I say almost, because although Intel's integrated graphics solutions have definitely improved over the years, the CPU maker's best effort in this regard still don't hold up to NVIDIA's mobile graphics solutions. The Ion platform, for example, pairs an Intel Atom processor with an NVIDIA GeForce 9400GT, and completely obliterates the performance of Intel's GMA graphics in both HD movie playback and gaming. Still, if you're willing to trade in that power for a little more battery life, the Pinetrail platform from Intel will serve you just right.
Is it worth upgrading to?
If you just bought your netbook or nettop recently and are feeling a bit of buyer's remorse, well, you should. The next-generation of netbooks and nettops, coming early next year, are mostly going to feature Intel's new Atom processors. They are going to cost about the same as current netbooks in the market and will offer significant upgrades with regards to mobility and battery life.
Based on various online reports, there doesn't seem to be a huge difference in terms of performance between the old and the new, though, so perhaps it's still OK to owe it all to timing. I mean, it's the holiday season, and I can't blame you for wanting to spend your money on gear right now, but if you have yet to spend on a netbook or nettop this year, waiting out a bit more for Pinetrail isn't such a bad idea.
Source: [Intel]
