VIA INTRODUCES MINI MOTHERBOARDS FOR NANO PROCESSORS

It is not everyday that you hear about a notebook running a VIA processor. And it is nothing unusual, because VIA occupies only a tiny share of the notebook CPU market. The company is now heavily focusing on the market for tiny PC chips.

VIA has introduced two new desktop motherboards for use in small-form factor desktop computers called nettops. These motherboards are deigned for use with VIA’s Nano processors which compete with Intel’s Atom in the netbook segment.

The new VIA EPIA-M800 Mini-ITX motherboard can use either a 1.2GHz Nano U2500 processor or a 1.3GHz U2250 processor. It comes with VIA VX800 media processor and supports dual gigabit Ethernet, DVI and HDMI.

The VIA EPIA-N800 Nano-ITX motherboard can use the 1.3GHz U2250 processor. It also comes with the VIA VX800 media processor and has 6 USB and 2 SATA II ports. Other features include VGA, Gigabit Ethernet.

LATEST SNOW LEOPARD UPDATE DOESN'T SUPPORT ATOM PROCESSORS

The latest Snow Leopard update (OS X 10.6.2) is out. While it does fix a number of bugs, it has introduced a major problem on its own. The new OS doesn’t seem to work with Intel Atom processors. It is not yet known whether this was intentional move by Apple or not.

Atom compatibility can’t be a huge priority for Apple simply because the company doesn’t have a product running on that processor. Another possible explanation for this incompatibility is that Apple wants to discourage the practice of installing their OS on netbooks using Atom processors.

There is still hope, though. Sooner or later a hacker is going to modify the OS so that it would support Atom powered netbooks. But for the time being, netbook users who have installed OS X on their device shouldn’t give into the temptation of downloading this new update.

VIA RELEASES UPDATED NANO PROCESSORS

VIA has updated its line of low power Nano processors. The new Nano 3000 chips come with a 64-bit architecture and run between 1GHz and 2GHz. VIA claims that the new chips are capable of decoding 1080p HD video content.

According to VIA, the new chips deliver 20% better performance than the previous versions in the PCMark 05 and 3Dmark 2006 benchmarks. In the same tests, the Nano 3000 processors also outperform the 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processors by about 40% to 50%. The new chips are also more power efficient: they consume 20% less power.

The VIA Nano 3000 series consists of 6 models. The chips are compatible with motherboards designed for VIA C7, C7-M, Eden, and earlier Nano processors.

INTEL TO SUSPEND THE SALE OF Z-SERIES ATOM PROCESSORS TO NETBOOK MAKERS

Intel may suspend the sale of Atom Z processors to netbook makers. Does this mean that Intel intends to stop the production of Z-series processors at all? Well, not really. The Z-series processors are used outside the netbook market too and Intel intends to keep it the same way at least for the time being.

The Intel Z-series processors run on the Menlow platform and Intel plans to continue this platform alongside the new Moorestown platform. The reason behind this decision is that Moorestown won’t initially support Windows products. The Windows-based ultra mobile market is growing rapidly and Intel wants to have an offering for this segment. It is, however, possible for the PineTrail platform to replace the Menlow platform as both are close in architecture, power requirements and size. In that case, PineTrail and not Menlow could be the platform used in Windows-based ultra mobile devices. Windows-capable Moorestown processors are also expected to arrive in 2010.

So will Intel do away with the Menlow platform? Well, it is still too early to predict but one can’t rule out the possibility either.

UBUNTU 9.10 UTILITY TO CONTROL CLOCK SPEED OF ATOM PROCESSORS

The Ubuntu 9.10 has been released with a number of netbook-friendly features including the optional Ubuntu Netbook Remix user interface. Ubuntu is a popular version of Linux specifically optimized for netbooks running on Intel Atom processors such as Asus Eee PC. The only major problem with this OS is that it doesn’t allow users to easily adjust the clock speed of Intel Atom processors. But the issue seems to have been solved by a third party utility.

Called eee-control, the application is optimized for Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala. It has been tested on Eee PC 901 and is expected to work with all Atom powered netbooks running on Ubuntu 9.10.

DELL ANNOUNCES CORE i7 PROCESSORS

Dell is one of the first notebook makers to announce products running on the Intel Core i7 quad core processors. Dell’s flagship device using this processor will be the Alienware M15x gaming laptop. Dell will also update its three other models – Studio 15, Studio 17 and Studio XPS 16 – with the Core i7.

Besides the change in the processor, the new Studio notebooks will also have better specifications. While the Studio 15 powered by Core i7 starts at $999, the Studio 17 Core i7 version carries a price tag of $1,099. The Core i7 version of the stylish Studio XPS 16 starts at $1249.

INTEL DEBUTS ITS CORE i7 PROCESSORS

Intel unveiled 3 of its Core i7 processors at the Intel Development Forum. The new chips are based on the recent Nehalem architecture. They are designed for use in laptops.

The three quad-core 45nm chips are the Core i7-720QM, the Core i7-820QM and the Intel Core i7 Extreme i7-920XM. While the 720QM has a clock speed of 1.6GHz with 6MB of cache, the 820QM clocks in at 1.73GHz and 8MB cache. The 920XM is the fastest among the three processors with a clock speed of 2.0GHz. It is designed for high performance gaming.

The chips possess Hyper-Threading capabilities and support DDR3 1333MHz memory. They also offer Intel Turbo Boost technology which is expected to improve the CPU clock speed.

Asus, Toshiba, Dell and HP are among the manufacturers expected to release laptops featuring Core i7 chips.

SWORDFISH LAUNCHES NETBOOK WITH TWO PROCESSORS

Swordfish has launched a concept netbook powered by two processors. Dubbed Swordfish Net Dual Netbook, the tiny machine packs two Intel Atom based processors inside.

Many PCs these days feature dual core processors which have two processing cores running in one single chip. But the Swordfish Net Dual netbook has two separate Intel Atom N270 1.60GHz processors. The dual processor concept is attracting a lot of attention. It is true having two processors will result in improved performance. On the flip side, they will consume a lot of power making the device not very power efficient.

Other features of the Swordfish netbook include 2GB of RAM, 160GB hard disk, 10.2 inch display, 3G WCDMA card, Wi-Fi, dual-Bluetooth, 4-in-1 card reader and 1.3 MP webcam. The device will run on the Windows XP Home Operating system. The 3-cell battery is expected to give 2-3hours of uptime.

INTEL'S PINEVIEW PROCESSORS TO BE RELEASED IN Q4 OF 2009

Intel’s next-generation Atom processors, dubbed Pineview, will be released in the last quarter of this year. Netbooks running on these processors are expected to hit the stores during Q1 2010.

The Pineview processors are based on the Pine Trail two-chip platform. These processors have a CPU, GPU and memory controller on the same chip. They are also integrated with Intel’s Tiger Pint I/O. Moving from a 3 chip design to a 2 chip design will make the netbooks more power efficient and even enable fanless netbook designs. Another advantage of a 2 chip platform is that it helps in lowering the costs.

INTEL TO ADD DUAL-CORE PROCESSORS TO THE CULV PLATFORM

Intel plans to add more dual-core processors into its Consumer Ultra Low Voltage (CULV) platform. Notebook makers often term devices running on these processors as ‘ultra thin’.

Sources claim that Intel will replace the Core 2 Solo SU3000 with the Core 2 Duo SU7000; Pentium SU2000 with Core 2 Duo SU4000 and single-core Celeron with dual-core Celeron SU3000.

The single-core Celeron 700 will be retained for use in entry-level notebooks. Similarly, the SU9000 will continue to be used in high-end notebooks. Intel also plans to release its netbook-specific Pine Trail-M platform in December, but products based on these processors are unlikely to hit the market until the first quarter of 2010.

DELL ANNOUNCES Z-SERIES LAPTOPS WITH CULV PROCESSORS

Dell has announced the launch of two Z series notebooks – the 14z and 15z. They will be powered by ultra low power Core 2 Duo processors which will improve their battery life.

Both notebooks are based on Intel 4-series chipset with GMA X4500MHD onboard graphics. The highest configuration on these notebooks will have an Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 1.40 GHz CPU. Up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM can be installed. The maximum hard disk capacity is 500 GB.

Other features include Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, 1.3 MP Webcam, and a 7-in-1 card reader. Two battery options are available – 4-cell and 6-cell. The 4-cell battery is expected to give 4 hours of uptime whereas the expected battery life with the 6-cell battery is 8 hours. Dell also provides the option of express charge batteries with these notebooks. These batteries can charge up to 80% of their capacity within one hour. Prices start at $599 with the highest configuration reaching as high as $1,034.

PINEVIEW ATOM PROCESSORS DON'T COME CHEAP

Intel is expected to release the official details of its next generation Pineview Atom processors at the Intel Developer Forum scheduled to be held on September 22. The Pineview platform has chips aimed at the netbook/mobile devices.

Unoffical sources claim that the N450 Atom clocking at 1.66GHz will carry a price tag of $64. The faster N470 Atom having a clock speed of 1.83GHz will cost around $75.

Currently the most popular processor for netbooks is the 1.6GHz N270 Atom. It costs just $44. Compared to this the new processors are expensive and will make netbooks costlier. The inclusion of Windows 7 will further push the prices up.

INTEL TO DISCONTINUE Z-SERIES ATOM PROCESSORS FOR NETBOOKS

According to media reports, Intel has stopped accepting orders for its Z-series Atom processors. Originally meant for use in the Mobile Internet Devices (MID), the Z-series processors are now commonly used in netbooks like Eee PC T91, Sony VAIO P and Dell Mini 12.

Intel plans to completely stop the supply of Z-series chips to netbook manufacturers by the end of this year. The chipmaker will still fulfill orders already placed by Acer, Asustek and MSI. Meanwhile, Intel’s new generation of Atom chips are scheduled for release later this year. These new chips are part of the Pine Trail platform.

PENRYN PROCESSORS NOW WITH TOSHIBA’S X205 AND U305 LAPTOPS

Now you can have Toshiba’s Satellite X205 and U305 Notebooks with Intel’s recent Penryn Core 2 Duo Processors. Satellite X205-SLi is one among the most leading gaming laptops for people that require high-performance without a nonsensically high rate tag. Intel’s new Penryn 45nm stand creates the market hot with its faster, more controlling CPU for greater gaming routine. The Penryn modernize to the X205 and as well integrates NVIDIA's SLI graphics with double NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics cards for flowing frame rates at a very high-definition resolutions. Consumers would certainly like the level of performance offered by the latest generation of Intel Penryn Processor.