Taipei (Taiwan) – Intel demonstrated the successor of the current Menlow platform, which is based on the Atom processor with Silverthorne core, at Developer Forum currently held in Taiwan. Other than Menlow, the upcoming Moorestown will come in an integrated package with substantially lower power consumption which will allow Intel to support x86-powered handheld devices with an iPhone-like form factor.
Moorestown is Intel’s the second-generation MID (mobile Internet devices) platform that is opening the doors to markets that were denied to the current Atom product line. Whereas Atom is a tiny 45 nm processor, it is tied to a comparably huge 130 nm chipset (SCH, based on the i915) that is an appropriate choice for mobile devices in the 7” screen class, but is too large and too power-hungry for smartphones and the template for future MIDs – Apple’s iPhone.
Moorestown, in a certain way, is the Atom platform Intel should have rolled out to begin with and represents a much more interesting product for many more markets. It is a SoC that includes the 45 nm Lincroft processor, memory controller, graphics capability for and video encoding/decoding as well as and an I/O hub codenamed "Langwell", which supports a range of I/O ports to connect with wireless, storage, and display components in addition to incorporating several board level functions. Those wireless components – Wi-Fi, WiMax and 3G remain external components.
Intel executive Anand Chandrasekher, who demonstrated the CPU in Taiwan, announced a collaboration with Ericsson for HSPA data modules optimized for the Moorestown platform. He also announced that Option is extending its collaboration for HSPA modules to the Moorestown platform. These 3G modules come in 25x30x2.x mm small size, are optimized for Moorestown power requirements and will help provide MID users with more powerful, always connected Internet-based experiences, the executive said.
Chandrasekher showed off images of MIDs Intel has been showing for some time now, and not about the performance of Moorestown, but focused on the power consumption of the chip, which should enable MIDS with 10x less than the combined components of the Atom/SCH platform. There were no detailed numbers, but Intel said before that Atom/SCH require substantial battery power that just does not make sense in an iPhone-like form factor. Moorestown may come much closer to the goal of running a full day (mostly in idle mode) on one battery charge.
Moorestown should debut late in 2009 or early 2010, which would mean that we could see commercial Moorestown devices in mid- to late 2010.
The big question, of course, is will Apple adopt Moorestown, given the fact that Intel does not make a secret out of its desire to supply the SoC to Apple’s smartphone. However, Apple has been rumored to be developing its own iPhone processor through the acquisition of the chip design team from PA Semi. But there is no clear information if that chip will actually end up in a future iPhone and whether Intel has still a shot at convincing Apple to use Moorestown.
Moorestown is Intel’s the second-generation MID (mobile Internet devices) platform that is opening the doors to markets that were denied to the current Atom product line. Whereas Atom is a tiny 45 nm processor, it is tied to a comparably huge 130 nm chipset (SCH, based on the i915) that is an appropriate choice for mobile devices in the 7” screen class, but is too large and too power-hungry for smartphones and the template for future MIDs – Apple’s iPhone.
Moorestown, in a certain way, is the Atom platform Intel should have rolled out to begin with and represents a much more interesting product for many more markets. It is a SoC that includes the 45 nm Lincroft processor, memory controller, graphics capability for and video encoding/decoding as well as and an I/O hub codenamed "Langwell", which supports a range of I/O ports to connect with wireless, storage, and display components in addition to incorporating several board level functions. Those wireless components – Wi-Fi, WiMax and 3G remain external components.
Intel executive Anand Chandrasekher, who demonstrated the CPU in Taiwan, announced a collaboration with Ericsson for HSPA data modules optimized for the Moorestown platform. He also announced that Option is extending its collaboration for HSPA modules to the Moorestown platform. These 3G modules come in 25x30x2.x mm small size, are optimized for Moorestown power requirements and will help provide MID users with more powerful, always connected Internet-based experiences, the executive said.
Chandrasekher showed off images of MIDs Intel has been showing for some time now, and not about the performance of Moorestown, but focused on the power consumption of the chip, which should enable MIDS with 10x less than the combined components of the Atom/SCH platform. There were no detailed numbers, but Intel said before that Atom/SCH require substantial battery power that just does not make sense in an iPhone-like form factor. Moorestown may come much closer to the goal of running a full day (mostly in idle mode) on one battery charge.
Moorestown should debut late in 2009 or early 2010, which would mean that we could see commercial Moorestown devices in mid- to late 2010.
The big question, of course, is will Apple adopt Moorestown, given the fact that Intel does not make a secret out of its desire to supply the SoC to Apple’s smartphone. However, Apple has been rumored to be developing its own iPhone processor through the acquisition of the chip design team from PA Semi. But there is no clear information if that chip will actually end up in a future iPhone and whether Intel has still a shot at convincing Apple to use Moorestown.
Shop Keywords: MID, tablet, Intel, Atom, Moorestown, Silverthorne