Intel ships 'Cedar Trail' Atom processors for netbooks

Intel has officially started shipping its next-generation low-power Atom processor for netbooks. Part of the Cedar Trail platform, which already saw two chips released in September for low-powered desktop solutions, the new Atom N2600 and N2800 processors are based on Intel's 32nm Cedarview architecture and will replace the existing N455 and N475 Pine Trail models on small and cheap laptops.

This third generation of Intel Atom processors reportedly offers double the graphics performance of its predecessor thanks to a new PowerVR SGX 545 engine sourced from Imagination Technologies. There's only mention of DirectX 9 support on the press presentation for the new chips, which seems to validate rumors that they failed Microsoft's certification for DirectX 10.1.

They do offer a dedicated media engine for hardware-accelerated decoding of motion video, including support for 1080p H.264, in addition to support for Intel Wireless Display technology -- though the latter will be available depending on the system and price point according to AnandTech.

The move to a 32nm process allows for reduced power consumption in spite of the more powerful GPU. The N2600 is clocked at 1.6GHz with a TDP of just 3.5 watts, while the N2800 is clocked at 1.86GHz and it has a TDP of 6.5W. Both are dual-core, four-thread parts and are meant to be paired with the company's pre-existing NM10 chipset. Intel claims netbooks based on the new chips will feature up to 10 hours of battery life.

Intel is expecting the vast majority of Cedar Trail netbooks to be sold in the $199 - $229 price point, while models featuring Intel's WiDi and potentially fanless designs could arrive later in 2012 for around $399.

Benchmarks for Intel's Cedar Trail netbook platform leaked

Earlier this month we heard that Intel would be delaying the launch of its next-generation netbook platform until Novemberdue to a graphics driver issues. Nevertheless those looking forward to Intel's upcoming 32nm Cedar Trail Atoms can now have a first look at their expected performance thanks to some leaked slides posted by VR-Zone.

Cedar Trail-M includes two new CPUs, a 32nm-based Atom N2800 operating at 1.86GHz and the N2600 at 1.6GHz. The core architecture remains unchanged, so clock for clock CPU performance should be the same as previous Atom processors, only with higher clock speeds and lower power consumption due to the die shrink.

According to the slides, this gives the N2800 only a slight advantage over the dual-core Atom N570 while the Atom N2600 is slightly slower. Compared to the Pine Trail Atom N450/455 both Cedar Trail chips will perform considerably faster, but of course that is to be expected, as the older Atoms are single-core parts.

In terms of graphics performance the lone 3DMark06 benchmark shows that both new chips are superior to their predecessors, though the N2800 is by far the more impressive. VR-Zone says the higher score is mostly a factor of GPU clock speed, as the Atom N2600 and N2800 will reportedly have GPU clocks 2-3 times higher than Pine Trail.

Unfortunately, there are no side-to-side comparisons with AMD's Brazos platform but it doesn't seem like Intel will catch up on the graphics front -- not to mention the 28nm Krishna and Wichita APUs should push AMD further ahead in this segment sometime next year. Where Intel's Atom should deliver is in its improved battery life and better power consumption; two key features for anyone considering a netbook.

Intel tweaks netbook hardware restrictions ahead of Cedar Trail

Intel plans to adjust its next-generation netbook hardware requirements, according to Fudzilla. The chipmaker has long enforced certain hardware restrictions for mini-notebooks to ensure small, Atom-powered notebooks remained in aseparate class from their full-sized counterparts -- both in terms of price and performance.

Those limitations are why it's always been tough to find a netbook with unique features -- most are outfitted with a 10.1-inch display, an Atom processor, 1GB or 2GB of DDR3 1066 RAM, and 160GB through 320GB of storage. You can find the occasional 11.6 or 12.1-inch model today, but the rest of the specs are still identical.

Intel reportedly plans to tweak those restrictions when its Cedar Trail platform arrives in the second half of this year. Netbooks armed with the dual-core 1.86GHz Atom N2800 (6.5W TDP) processor will be allowed to feature up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, though the 1.6GHz N2600 (3.5W TDP) will still be limited to 2GB of RAM.

Manufacturers will be limited to display sizes from 7 to 12.1 inches and 4 to 6-cell batteries. Intel will recommend a 32GB solid state drive or a 250GB hard drive preloaded with Windows 7 Starter/Home Basic, MeeGo or Chrome OS -- when that's released, anyway. Recommended pricing will range from $329 to $399.

The Cedar Trail platform in itself will bring another layer of functionality to netbooks. The graphics core inside Cedarview processors will support DirectX 10.1, Blu-ray playback, and dual-display output via HDMI and DisplayPort. Other noteworthy features include Intel Wireless Music, Wireless Display, PC Synch, and Fast Boot.

Fudzilla didn't cite sources, but noted that the changes are likely in response to tablets. Consumers are increasingly adopting slates as their mobile companion device and that has dipped into netbook sales -- though precisely how much is debated among experts. Microsoft recently said netbook sales fell 40% on-year.

Intel's Oak Trail platform launches, Cedar Trail to follow

Intel has announced that the Intel Atom platform, codenamed Oak Trail, is now available and will ship in devices starting next month. Mass production for the platform began in November 2009, and now Intel says it has racked up over 35 innovative tablet and hybrid designs from multiple companies, including Evolve III, Fujitsu Limited, Lenovo, Motion Computing, Razer, and Viliv.

Oak Trail includes support for 1080p video decode thanks to an integrated HD decode engine, HDMI, and Adobe Flash. The platform also packs integrated graphics and the memory controller directly onto the processor die. The processor is 60 percent smaller than previous generations with a lower-power design for fanless devices as well as all-day battery life, Intel claims. Additional features include Intel Enhanced Deeper Sleep that saves more power during periods of inactivity as well as optimized Intel SpeedStep technology.


The new Intel Atom processor Z670 (Android, MeeGo, and Windows), part of Oak Trail, delivers improved video playback, fast Internet browsing, and longer battery life, without sacrificing performance. Intel Atom Z670 processors come with the Intel SM35 Express Chipset, delivering a lead-free, halogen-free design with USB 2.0 (yeah, we were hoping for USB 3.0 too) and Intel High-Definition Audio. The Intel Atom processor Z650 (MeeGo and Windows) is for embedded devices with 7-year lifecycle support.

Furthermore, the company has confirmed it will give a sneak peak of its next-generation, 32nm Intel Atom platform, codenamed Cedar Trail, at the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing. The company is already touting it as a platform that "will help to enable a new wave of fanless, cool and quiet, sleek and innovative netbooks, entry-level desktops, and all-in-one designs."

Cedar Trail will feature improvements in graphics capabilities, Blu-ray 2.0 support, a dedicated media engine for full 1080p playback, and additional digital display options including HDMI output and DisplayPort. New features will include Intel Wireless Music, Intel Wireless Display, PC Synch, and Fast Boot. The enhancements made in power consumption and TDP will enable fanless designs with longer battery life. Intel is currently sampling Cedar Trail to all major OEMs and ODMs and is hoping to push mobile and desktop designs based on it in the second half of 2011.

"The new Intel Atom 'Oak Trail' platform, with 'Cedar Trail' to follow, are examples of our continued commitment to bring amazing personal and mobile experiences to netbook and tablet devices, delivering architectural enhancements for longer battery life and greater performance," Doug Davis, vice president and general manager of the Netbook and Tablet Group at Intel, said in a statement. "We are accelerating the Intel Atom product line to now move faster than Moore's law, bringing new products to market on three process technologies in the next 3 years."