Pinetrail: Intel's Atom D510 processor and NM10 chipset get tested

Intel's Pinetrail Atom platform isn't just intended for netbooks, but also nettops, or as Intel likes calling them, entry-level desktops. The first entry-level desktops with Pinetrail are expected to hit the market by January 2010, and they will be fitted with either the single-core Atom D410 CPU or the dual-core Atom D510 CPU (partnered with the new NM10 chipset which was previously referred to as Tiger Point; see a better explanation of the Pinetrail platform here).

If you plan on getting any of the new nettops that will come out running on Pinetrail in January, then you might want to check on the benchmarks ran by Tom's Hardware, comparing the performance and power consumption of the new Intel dual-core Atom D510 with the last generation Atom and a low-end Pentium E-series processor. The results are not in the least bit surprising. The Intel Atom D510 didn't show a significant increase in performance. In fact, it even failed to complete some tests and constantly crashed during testing. However, it did show a significant reduction in power consumption, and if you're after low electric bills, I'm sure you'll find that to be very good news.

There's a lot more information to be digested about the new Pineview Atom desktop processor, so head on to Tom's Hardware for the full test results.

Source: [Tom's Hardware]

ECS intros TIGT-I motherboard with Intel Atom D510 CPU and GMA3150 graphics

Your next nettop/SFF PC motherboard has just arrived, courtesy of ECS. Pictured above, the ECS TIGT-I motherboard features an integrated Intel Atom D510 processor (clocked at 1.66GHz) with GMA3150 graphics, the standard configuration for Intel's recently announced Pinetrail platform. Built in a Mini-ITX form factor, the ECS TIGT-I motherboard offers a built-in Ethernet port, high definition audio, 2 x SATA3.0 Gb/s, 1 x PATA, 4 x USB 2.0, 2 x DDR2 800, and 1 x PCIe x1 expansion slot. ECS's press release boasts that this mobo saves 50% power but increases up to 20% performance than the previous generation. Plus it will be perfect for fan-less systems, small form factor PCs or other portable devices. Hard to argue with that.

Source: [ECS]