Intel to Reveal Details About Next-Gen Atom in April.

Intel Corp. will reveal details about its next-generation Atom "Cedarview" central processing unit (CPU) at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) that will take next month in Beijing, China. The information will partly reveal peculiarities of next-generation netbooks, nettops and other ultra low-cost personal computers (ULCPCs).

"This track delivers the system design information and selected technical details needed to develop the next generation of Intel Atom processor-based devices. Intel experts will reveal both the market research data and the technical underpinnings of system definitions for netbooks - including the classmate PC, tablets, and entry-level desktops," a description of an IDF session at Intel's web-site reads.

Besides revealing details about the new chip and ULCPC platform, Intel will likely show concept systems and performance estimations at the show that will take place from April 12 to April 13, 2011. Actual manufacturers will likely showcase their prototypes of the forthcoming netbooks and nettops a little later at Computex Taipei in June, 2011.



Intel plans to release its new platform for netbooks and nettops code-named Cedar Trail based on code-named Atom "Cedarview" processor in Q4 2011, according to information revealed earlier. Intel Cedarview system-on-chip with a new Atom core will feature DirectX 10.1-capable graphics engine that will have integrated high-definition video decoder (in order to enable Blu-ray disc playback on all Atom-based systems), will support higher clock-speeds, will have improved DDR3 memory controller and will feature digital interfaces for displays. The document by Intel also claims that the new chip will consume lower amount of power, perhaps, because it will be made using 32nm fabrication process. The new Cedarview processor will continue to utilize the NM10 input/output controller, which should make it easier for manufacturers to transit to the new Cedar Trail platform.

Thanks to integration of high-definition video decoder into the new Atom SoC, all systems powered by the new chip will be able to playback Blu-ray video. Unfortunately, since the new Atom SoC has outdated DirectX 10.1-class graphics core, it will be unable to use it for general purpose computing. As a result, even the forthcoming platform for ULCPCs from Intel will not be able to match AMD's Brazos in terms of functionality in many terms.

The new platform for ultra low-cost personal computers will be Intel's second major updats for the Atom family since the introduction in 2008.