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Intel cracks open Atom-based MID

An Intel mobile guy does a superficial teardown of an Atom-processor-based mobile Internet device.

Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
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Brooke Crothers
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Intel Atom-based MID cracked open
Intel Atom-based MID cracked open Intel

Intel has posted a video showing the inside of a device using the Atom processor as it rolls out five new Atom chips at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai.

Video here.

Intel Ultra Mobile guru, Uday Keshavdas, cracked open the back of a mobile Internet device (MID) to show where the Atom processor fits in--literally. (No teardown here. Cracking open the back of the device doesn't qualify.)

The low-cost Atom processor is a technology centerpiece at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai.

Intel Atom processor SKUs
Intel Atom processor SKUs Intel Corp.

The chipmaker on Wednesday introduced five new Atom processors and Intel Centrino Atom processor technology for MIDs and embedded computing solutions. The Z500, Z510, Z520, Z530, and Z540 chips draw between 0.65 and 2.4 watts (compared to notebook chips that typically draw between 20 with 35 watts). Speeds range from 800MHz to 1.86GHz, with list prices ranging from $45 to $160.

All Atom chips come with 512K of L2 cache memory and have die sizes of 7.8mm x 3.1mm.

Atom technology includes a single-chip with integrated graphics called the Intel System Controller Hub, Intel said Wednesday. Device manufacturers are planning to ship MIDs beginning this summer, Intel said.

Atom will find its way into fit-in-your-pocket MIDs from Gigabyte, Toshiba, LG Electronics, Lenovo, and BenQ, among others. Netbooks (inexpensive, Internet-centric ultra-small notebook PCs) such as Asus's popular Intel-based Eee PC, MSI's Wind PC, and Clevo will also use the chip.

Atom will also be employed in low-cost desktops called Nettops.

Though some computer makers will opt for Windows, many MIDs, Netbooks, and even Nettops will use the Linux OS.

Click here for more stories on IDF Shanghai.