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Intel Launches Next-Gen Atom N450 Processor

Posted by Soulskill on from the should-have-called-it-an-isotope dept.

MojoKid writes "Intel has unveiled its next-generation Atom N450 processor, and a review of the new Asus Eee PC 1005PE netbook that houses it shows decent gains in performance and lower power consumption. The Atom N450 has been re-architected similar to Intel's other notebook processors in that it now has an integrated memory controller and graphics core on the CPU itself. In addition, Intel's serial DMI (Direct Media Interface) now replaces the system bus to the Southbridge IO controller. From a performance standpoint, the Atom N450 single core chip offers a nice performance gain versus previous generation Atom CPUs and it appears Intel has dual-core variants of the chip on the horizon as well."

47 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. So... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is the new integrated graphics core a descendant of intel's much maligned; but well supported in linux, GMA950 line, or is it another take on the HD-media-accelerating-but-dear-god-the-drivers-oh-why-does-it-hurt GMA500 stuff?

    1. Re:So... by sznupi · · Score: 2, Informative

      It is, supposedly, X3150, so basically the same part that's in G31. 3100/X3100? Anyway, seems it's "proper" Intel GMA, with good Linux support.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    2. Re:So... by hairyfeet · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That was my first thought..No accelerated anything, crappy performance on anything more than rendering a basic webpage, totally lame. I also wonder if they could have picked WORSE timing with the FTC investigating and EU already fining them.

      I mean first the have to cut a 1.25 billion dollar check to AMD for rigging the game with OEMs through bribes and threats, they shut out Nvidia from the newer chipsets leaving them to rot on LGA775 and making themselves the only game in town for the new sockets, and now integrating their shitty GPU, which of course will make it even easier to cut Nvidia's ION out of that market as well. WTF Intel? Do you really want a MSFT antitrust bust added to your company?

      This seems to me to be the absolute WORST timing they could have come up with for this release. They should have waited until AMD came out with Bulldozer (which doesn't compete in the same market as Atom) and then popped out the new chips, so they could say "see? We are just doing what the other guys are doing!" but instead this looks more like trying to drive another nail into the independent chipset market, at least to me, and I wouldn't doubt the FTC and EU takes a close look as well. Stupid move Intel, stupid move.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
  2. Midnight Blue? by Yvan256 · · Score: 5, Funny

    (photo) Asus Eee PC 1005PE In Midnight Blue

    What Midnight Blue? Oh, you mean underneath all those stickers? Seriously, why do non-Apple laptops always look like Nascar, erm, cars?

    1. Re:Midnight Blue? by anss123 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      They get paid for the stickers. What annoy me more are the 1 million and 1 slightly different models; I would have preferred a slightly inferior but well supported (by the community as well as the company) model like the 700 was in the past.

    2. Re:Midnight Blue? by nine-times · · Score: 5, Insightful
      My guess is that it's a variety of factors:
      • Apple, having such a strong design culture, is the only manufacturer who realizes these stickers make your computer look cheap and stupid.
      • Apple's design culture is often about minimalism, and so they probably wouldn't put extra symbols or stickers on their computers even if it didn't look cheap and stupid.
      • Apple is just about the only laptop manufacturer who can't be bullied by Microsoft into putting any kind of "Microsoft certified" sticker on it.
      • Apple customers are less likely to be casual about their attachment to the brand. If you're a Dell customer, you might not think twice about buying an HP. If you're an Apple customer, buying an HP instead is a little more noteworthy. Therefore, they don't have to try to compete by advertising energy star compliance or the latest Intel chip. An awful lot of Apple customers couldn't care less about which Intel chip is in their computers.

      There are probably more, but that's off the top of my head.

    3. Re:Midnight Blue? by badboy_tw2002 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I just bought one of the new HP Envy laptop and was presently surprised at the lack of stickers. Its just an HP logo on the back, similar to apple. In fact, the entire thing pretty much was just ripped off from Apple - keyboard design, body construction, multi-touch mousepad, you name it. Even the packaging was slick and minimalist, just like an apple. (Pricier than a PC, but way more bang for your buck than a similarly priced macbook pro). And no, not a window's certified sticker in sight - oh snap, maybe its not actually windows certified!!!!

    4. Re:Midnight Blue? by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 4, Informative

      Once you have removed the stickers, you are often left with difficult to remove adhesive gunk on the laptop. An easy way of removing the gunk without damaging or scratching the surface is to spray a little silicone based lubricant in the area and wipe with a paper towel. It quickly wipes off and the silicone lubricant won't damage plastic like petroleum based lubricants (like WD-40) sometimes do.

    5. Re:Midnight Blue? by Tetsujin · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because unlike pretentious Apple fanboys, most people care more about a computer being cost effective and able to do what is needed. Its the reason why PCs and not Macs own most of the market.

      Why does cost-effective, capable hardware imply a need for a billion stickers on the casing?

      --
      Bow-ties are cool.
    6. Re:Midnight Blue? by instantkamera · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I just checked the HP Envy out, it is EXACTLY like a macbook. They didnt even try to hide it.
      Still, I applaud the rip-off. It shows, at the very least, that they understand how ugly the rest of their lineup is.
      The guy who said "NASCAR" was right on the money. No other term quite embodies the black-hole-of-suck that is PC laptop design.

    7. Re:Midnight Blue? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      * PC customers are capable of removing the the stickers.

    8. Re:Midnight Blue? by rrohbeck · · Score: 2, Informative

      I prefer orange oil based cleaners. They are often marketed as label or gum removers.
      Not only do they smell good, they also don't damage plastics. Oh and they're also a great insecticide and will keep ants away because all insects hate the smell - after all the oil is the oranges' natural defense.

      --
      thegodmovie.com - watch it
  3. Finally proper platform by sznupi · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Now only few other pieces of the puzzle in the quest for ultimate ultraportable.

    Pixel Qi screen, for even longer battery life and legibility in sunlight.

    With lower temps & power draw of Pinetrail it might be also possible for netbooks to become routinely cooled passively.

    Also just for me and other faithful...uhm...clit ;p (plus preferably as close in overall form to original Lenovo S10 as possible, it was actually very nice) Can't help it, playing Diablo2 in a cathedral during organ concert, on a cemetery on 1 XI night (it looks like this here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wszystkich_swietych_cmentarz.jpg ) and in a train while sitting next to some nuns are things I simply must do. And with touchpad that's not really possible.

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
    1. Re:Finally proper platform by drinkypoo · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Clits have been deprecated because they wear out. They just can't take any abuse whatosever and you're always having to buy replacement covers for them. The glidepad, on the other hand, is only hard on your fingerprint, and those are a liability anyway. :)

      I've actually done a bit of point and click gaming with a glidepad, it's not too bad. A FPS, on the other hand, is basically a gigantic fail. If not a mouse, I need a trackball for that. I had the original marble, whose ergonomics better suited my bear paws, but the trackman wheel is pretty amazing. I've used mine resting on my leg while sitting on the couch, and it's quite workable in that configuration. Don't put it on the seat next to you though, you'll fuck up your wrist.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Finally proper platform by 0100010001010011 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Clits have been deprecated because they wear out. They just can't take any abuse what so ever...

      Just because your girlfriend isn't into S&M.

  4. Re:Still chokes on flash? by Yvan256 · · Score: 3, Informative

    If you think Flash sucks on Windows then obviously you've never seen it run on Mac OS X. Adobe is a complete disgrace on that OS.

  5. RTFA, please by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    RTFA: "The graphics core is a basic DX9 instantiation that is a kin to Intel's GMA500 graphics core in the previous generation Intel 945G chipset"

    1. Re:RTFA, please by nxtw · · Score: 3, Informative

      RTFA: "The graphics core is a basic DX9 instantiation that is a kin to Intel's GMA500 graphics core in the previous generation Intel 945G chipset"

      Makes no sense: the 945G and variants had a GMA 950.

    2. Re:RTFA, please by TeknoHog · · Score: 2, Informative

      RTFA: "The graphics core is a basic DX9 instantiation that is a kin to Intel's GMA500 graphics core in the previous generation Intel 945G chipset"

      I have a 945GM system whose graphics part is called GMA950. It uses the common opensource Intel drivers. On the contrary, GMA500 aka Poulsbo is the problematic one with closed drivers.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    3. Re:RTFA, please by MarcQuadra · · Score: 2, Informative

      That doesn't make any sense. The 945 chipset uses the GMA950, the GMA500 is actually a totally-outsourced PowerVR chip. The 'native' Intel chips (i810 through G45) are all tatally supported by Intel's open-source drivers, the GMA500 is almost impossible to get working in Linux.

      The new built-in N450, D410, and D510 graphics chips are based on the GMA3100, if I recall, they're even called 'GMA3150'. That means they're supported by open-source drivers (and possibly by Mac OS X!), but the performance is bad enough that even Google Earth will make you want to cry.

      They really should have used the G45 series of graphics for these things, instead of the G33. They're -worlds- apart in functionality and performance.

      --
      "Sometimes, I think Trent just needs a cup of hot chocolate and a blankie." -Tori Amos on Nine Inch Nails
  6. Re:Still chokes on flash? by drinkypoo · · Score: 3

    If you think Flash sucks on Windows then obviously you've never seen it run on Mac OS X. Adobe is a complete disgrace on that OS.

    That's okay, I can experience how much it blows on Linux. Using the 32 bit flash for Linux in a 32 bit firefox or in 64 bit firefox with a little help, on my Athlon 64 X2 4000+, was about like using it on my Acer Aspire D250 (1.6GHz Atom, old type.) Using the 64 bit flash on that machine was more like using it on a 1.4 GHz Thunderbird or something. Now I have a Phenom II 720 and I can just barely watch fullscreen flash video, and flash games perform worse than a Core Duo T2600 with Windows XP. Adobe hates Linux as much as they hate Mac OS.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  7. Re-Architecting English by dwm · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Atom N450 has been re-architected ...

    Wow -- I guess it was waaaaay too advanced to merely be "re-designed".

    1. Re:Re-Architecting English by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, the architecture changed: No more FSB, which also means no more alternative chipsets. The only chipset available for the new Atoms is Intel's one-chip NM-10. Other changes are not really architectural changes but would not have been possible without the abandonment of the FSB architecture: The analog video output is limited to 1440x1050 and the LVDS port for the LCD only drives up to 1366x768. Intel would not have dared crippling the chip so seriously if manufacturers could circumvent it by using a different chipset and a separate graphics core.

    2. Re:Re-Architecting English by digitalhermit · · Score: 2, Funny

      They're just trying to be more precise. Doing so incentivizes brand awareness action-takers with post-current paradigms and forward-looking product models. A mere "re-design" would incorporate less-than-best-practice message exposure methodologies whereas a "re-architect" or architecture secondary optimization message distribution implies ground-up re-envisioning.

    3. Re:Re-Architecting English by formfeed · · Score: 2, Funny

      But once they control the south bridge, who can stop them from destroying the Shire?

  8. Intel and Linux by Enderandrew · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Intel has been tearing apart their Linux graphics stack and rewritting it for the future. For a while, that meant poor performance during the rewrite, but it really is getting better. Intel is really helping push DRI2, GEM, TTM, UXA, etc.

    At least Intel does their development in the open. Didn't Intel also contribute code to Moblin to optimize Moblin performance on their hardware? I'd like to see some more general kernel enhancements for these processors. Any speed increase over Windows on the most common netbook processor is a huge win.

    Chrome OS is already fast. If Intel can help make it faster when comparing it side-by-side to 7, it only helps Linux adoption on the whole.

    I also have a small tangental question. I always hear about huge performance gains that can come from properly writing code to take advantage of SSE2,3,4,etc instruction sets. I also hear that almost no one does write code to take advantage of these instruction sets. If Intel really wants to push their hardware, why not write such optimizations for the Linux kernel?

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    1. Re:Intel and Linux by TeknoHog · · Score: 2, Informative

      I also have a small tangental question. I always hear about huge performance gains that can come from properly writing code to take advantage of SSE2,3,4,etc instruction sets. I also hear that almost no one does write code to take advantage of these instruction sets. If Intel really wants to push their hardware, why not write such optimizations for the Linux kernel?

      The kernel doesn't do much CPU-bound processing. It is math and media libraries where these vector instructions would be actually useful. You can already have some of their advantages using a decent compiler. Basically, that means different binaries for processors with different capabilities, so your average binary distro is not going to have any fancy instructions. I suggest trying Gentoo if you actually want to use your modern CPU.

      --
      Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
    2. Re:Intel and Linux by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 3, Informative

      Your post completely missed the original poster's point - the Intel GMA500 is a major outlier in terms of Linux support.

      The GMA950 series is well supported by Linux (with the exception of the re-architecture issues that hurt Ubuntu 9.04 so badly).

      The GMA500 is simply minimally supported in Linux and all indications state that it will stay this way. The GMA500 graphics core was outsourced to another company, as was driver development.

      As to SSE2/3/4 - They only benefit for certain operation types. Most kernel ops won't benefit, and also, using SSE usually means hand-coding in assembler - compilers that generate good vector SIMD code are rare. The kernel developers tend to prefer to avoid hand-coded ASM whenever possible.

      However, I do recall that RAID checksumming code and memcpy() were once implemented using MMX to improve them, so these sections might benefit from SSE (and might already do so.)

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    3. Re:Intel and Linux by Virak · · Score: 2, Informative

      The various SSE instruction sets provide SIMD instructions, which is an acronym for "single instruction, multiple data". As the name suggests, they allow you to perform operations on multiple pieces of data with a single instruction. SIMD is great for media applications, where you often have to do the same mathematical operations over and over again to lots of data at once, however pretty much all of the stuff that happens in a kernel is logic-heavy tasks that only deal with single pieces of data at a time, and thus can't really take advantage of these instructions in any way.

    4. Re:Intel and Linux by FreonTrip · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Certainly not. No AMD CPUs prior to the Phenoms support SSE4.x; nor did any Intel chips prior to the 45nm switchover (later Core2 CPUs). MMX, i686, SSE, and SSE2 are the baseline for all AMD64-capable CPUs. Subsequent instruction sets have been added to various architectures in a willy-nilly fashion, and with varying levels of per-clock performance depending upon the chip being discussed. I can't really speak for the utility of putting SIMD code to work in non-multimedia related code, but it seems to be a trend across the board.

  9. Re:Still chokes on flash? by jo42 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Have you ever even considered that the problem isn't the hardware, but the [lousy, crappy pile of rancid sheep dip] software known as "Flash"?

  10. Re:Still chokes on flash? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you think Flash sucks on Mac OS X then obviously you've never seen it run in Linux. Adobe is a complete disgrace on that OS.

  11. Who actually needs this? by John+Betonschaar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you'd ask me: it's still a slow piece of crap that has no particular place in the market if it weren't for (consumer) Microsoft Windows being x86-only, and now it's even worse than the original Atom since you get a crappy Intel GPU for free.

    In the low-power segment: you are still better of with an ARM chip if you don't need Windows (it consumes less power), another x86 SoC if you absolutely need Windows but don't need anything else (which also consume less power) or a Via Nano if you are a consumer who likes Windows a lot but only do a little browsing and email (they are faster and comparable in terms of power consumption).

    In the HTPC/Media center segment: the Atom + Nvidia ION platform was great, low-power/low-performance CPU with a GPU that does all the video decoding and OpenGL. Now you get an Intel GPU that is *still* not able to do full video-pipeline accelerated GPU decoding. Better get yourself an old Atom, or hopefully in the future a Via Nano + decent GPU.

    In the Netbook segment: with the performance of the original Atom being nothing but abysmal unless you only use Notepad, you really want a Celeron ULV anyway. It's a much better design, in a whole different performance class than the Atom, and you don't get any of the stupid restrictions Intel puts on using the Atom.

    In the embedded segment: you don't need x86 compatibility at all, so ARM would be your 1st choice.

    Maybe I'm missing something, but I really don't see the point of a crippled and slow x86 CPU with a design based on 10-year old technology, which is forcibly coupled to an IGP that isn't able doing much more than rendering your desktop...

    1. Re:Who actually needs this? by TheKidWho · · Score: 2, Insightful

      They're cheap, that's the point behind them.

      Also, it seems like ION will still be usable, but in a slightly revised form for the Pinetrails.

      Don't exaggerate, the Atom isn't THAT bad.

    2. Re:Who actually needs this? by LWATCDR · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think Intel is crippling it to keep from killing higher margin notebook sales.
      From AnandTech
      "The integrated GMA 3150 graphics hasn’t been used by Intel before, it’s a 45nm shrink of the GMA 3100. It’s technically a DX9 GPU running at 400MHz, however as you’ll soon see - you can’t really play any games on this platform. The GPU only offers hardware acceleration for MPEG-2 video, H.264 and VC-1 aren’t accelerated."

      No H.264 or VC-1 hardware support means poor performance.
      Then add this.
      "Max output resolution is also limited. The best you can get over a digital connection (HDMI/DVI) is 1366 x 768, over analog VGA you can do 2048 x 1536 (only 1400 x 1050 on the N450). It’s a curious coincidence, Poulsbo also had a 1366 x 768 digital output limitation. "
      What??? No 1080p support over HDMI?
      Well so much for a media PC.

      AMD/ATI or Via+Nvidia really need to start pushing Intel in this market. I would love to see a good ARM solution because I do think it is a better platform for Netbooks and Nettops than Intel. The big problem is getting full Flash performance out of it and that is only a software issue.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    3. Re:Who actually needs this? by b0bby · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I have read that there's also the possibility of adding a Broadcom decoder chip to offload the work of video decoding, which might allow 1080p video while keeping power consumption low. That's what I'd like to see in my next netbook.

    4. Re:Who actually needs this? by Kjella · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Sometimes I get the impression you're just trying to find fault, if it's so "abysmal unless you only use Notepad", why do you care about the "stupid restrictions"? The Atom is about two things really, price and battery life. The Atom it's a much smaller, much less handpicked chip than any of Intel's very highly priced ULV editions. And sure you can get better workhorses for your money, but not lower power than the N450 having a 5.5W TDP for CPU+memory controller+GPU with a sub-watt additional chipset.

      It's horrible as a gaming machine. It's horrible as a HTPC. But it's a solid improvement over itself on the things it was already doing, by which I mean the two above and not performance. Even more so on the nettop side where the 90nm 945GC GMCH and 130nm ICH7 was a complete joke bringing the total up to a 45W TDP, with the new chip you see a 40% reduction to 25W going from a 330 to a N510. Though I'd still go with a 330 + Ion for that since it'll be a better HTPC, they're at least getting there.

      I have a 330 + Ion and it still sucks for gaming, bringing up the frame rate from "frozen" to "pathetic" on lowest settings doesn't change that. What these new processors lack is H.264 decoding, but there is supposed to be a third party chip for that still there'll be no 1080p output so I guess it's pass as a HTPC, but that'll solve it for netbooks that want to see it on the included display. I think this is a solid release that'll dominate the netbook market.

      ARM? Yeah, if you don't need Windows, don't need WINE, don't need virtualbox (who cares if it's dog slow on an Atom if it solves your one outstanding must-have, rarely used app?), w32codecs, dual boot or any other application who nobody bothered to test/fix on ARM. For example I don't think there's the nVidia blob that makes my Atom 330 / Ion such a nice HTPC, so one argument you use really kills the other. I see that this one doesn't fit my use case, but I can see it fitting many other people's...

      --
      Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
  12. Re:Still chokes on flash? by Big+Boss · · Score: 3, Funny

    Doesn't Firefox need more than 4GB these days?? :D

  13. Did you bother reading the article? by Joce640k · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Look again at the bit where it says "battery life"....

    In the real world outside Slashdot not everybody is hung up on their 3dMark scores. In fact very few people are, judging by the fact that Intel GPUs outsell both NVIDIA and ATI combined.

    --
    No sig today...
  14. Re:I knew I should have waited! by Joce640k · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you buy this one there's another one waiting in the wings to piss you off after you buy it.

    --
    No sig today...
  15. Re:Still chokes on flash? by dunkelfalke · · Score: 2, Informative

    On the other hand Flash Player for linux is the only x64 flash player out there.

    --
    "It's such a fine line between stupid and clever" -- David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
  16. Linux Back in the Netbooks? by Stregano · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So do we finally get Linux and Unix distros back in the netbooks instead of XP? Oh God do I hope so.

    --
    The world is how you make it
  17. Re:meanwhile, where are the ARMs? by jabjoe · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Dude you are being an idiot.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snapdragon_(processor)
    First line:
    "Snapdragon is a name of an architecture of a family of chipsets with an ARM-based CPU."

  18. historically it went like this! by nimbius · · Score: 2, Insightful

    asus: we have a great new product called the 'netbook' that will revolutionize the way people use laptops, and it runs linux!

    Microsoft: we can fix that.

    asus: oh...well, it still revolutionizes the way people connect to the internet and some day it will support googles os!

    intel: we can fix that...

    --
    Good people go to bed earlier.
  19. Re:meanwhile, where are the ARMs? by jabjoe · · Score: 3, Informative

    Fine:
    http://www.arm.com/markets/embedded_solutions/armpp/25333.html

    Doesn't take much looking.

  20. Re:Power use? by bhtooefr · · Score: 3, Informative

    Even the original Atoms used less power than the most power-efficient single-core AMD platform.

    Platform TDP for the Yukon platform (RS690E northbridge, SB600 southbridge) ranges from 19 watts with a 1 GHz Sempron, to 26 for a 1.6 GHz Athlon. (29 for a dual-core 1.6 GHz Turion.) The most efficient Athlon-based Yukon is 1.2 GHz, and platform power consumption is 24 watts.

    Platform TDP for the typical N270+945GSE+ICH7M is 11.8 watts, N450+NM10 is 7 watts. Granted, the Yukon stuff doesn't really compete with the Atom, it competes with Intel CULV.

    CULV has a 14.5 watt chipset (GS45, ICH9M) TDP, add 5.5 watts for single-core, 10 watts for dual-core CPUs.

    Oh, and I'll toss the VIA Nano in, it fits somewhere between the Atom and the CULV and Yukon platforms in performance.

    The fastest current Nanos for netbooks are the U2225 and U2250, both at 1.3 GHz (the U2250 is at "1.3+ GHz") and 8 W TDP. (IIRC, though, the Nano is significantly faster than Atom.) The matching VX800U chipset has a 3.5 W TDP, so 11.5 W total platform TDP - less than the old Atom platform.

    The upcoming U3200 is at 1.4 GHz (and even faster than the clockspeed implies, apparently,) possibly 5 W TDP, and 2.3 W for the VX855, so 7.3 W platform TDP.

  21. Re:meanwhile, where are the ARMs? by jabjoe · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wikipedia is worth more trust than you give it. I've never actually found Wikipedia to be wrong. It's always seams to be the person stating Wikipedia is wrong, that is wrong. Stats seam to bear that out comparing it with other more established encyclopedias. When I have found it to be lacking, I've added to it, but not actually found it wrong, yet.