Intel Atom N450 – What You Need to Know Before Buying

May 6, 2010, 6:38 am PDT by admin
Filed under Featured Articles

Source : www.anandtech.com

Intel has made the biggest makeover for its Atom processor since it was introduced back in the spring of 2008. And PC makers have launched new netbook models during the mammoth 2010 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas two weeks ago. If you are planning to get one them here are some things you should know.

Until recently, most netbooks only used first-generation Atom codenamed Diamondville. You had an Atom processor and Intel’s 945GSE chipset. The memory controller was located on the chipset which was built on a 90nm process that ended up in very high heat dissipation. Netbooks based on Diamondville are barely powerful enough for the simplest applications and primitive Internet activity. HD video playback or fully-fledged use of graphics intensive technology turn out beyond the capacity of most contemporary netbooks.

That is why we are very excited about the recent launch of the new Atom processors from the next generation called Pineview. Moreover, at the same time they also introduced a new Pine Trail platform including Intel NM10 Express chipset. (Pine Trail is the name of the technology platform; Pineview is the name of the new Atom processor).

The integration of graphics and memory controller in the processor will help reduce the bill of materials cost to manufacturers by moving from a three-chip system to a two-chip configuration. So instead of having three chips (CPU, chipset, I/O controller hub), it’s now down to two (CPU and chipset). The transfer of memory controller and graphic core in the processor will allow to decrease the motherboard area and to simplify its design.This reduction in the footprint means that netbook manufacturers can now create thinner and lighter machines. Other benefits of the new Pine Trail processors include 20% less power consumption, more battery life and the chance for more fan-less devices.

Tests done by Anandtech and others haven’t seen a significant performance boost with the new processor. Those of you in the know will realize that unlike the higher-end Atom dual cores that Intel is shipping now, this is a Atom that has a monolithic graphics core that will drive cost and power consumption, down. In short, it’s not a performance boost we’re looking at here with this new processor and platform. This specific release is about about reaping the benefits of higher levels of integration between the CPU and graphics blocks in a lower power platform. Consumers should see netbooks becoming smaller and cheaper.

So if you want better graphics capability from your netbook, you’ll want to consider a video accelerator from Broadcom (available on the new ASUS Eee PC 1005PR-PU17). Systems equipped with Nvidia’s Ion graphics (such as the HP Mini 311) go further by allowing users to play mainstream 3D games and even edit video faster, but you’ll pay more for those systems.

CES 2010 Video-Intel Atom N450 Processor