The new Atom parts include the N270 for so-called netbooks and the N230 for what Intel calls net-tops. The chips run at up to 1.6 GHz, provide 512 Mbytes cache and a 533 MHz front-side bus. They come in a 22x22mm package and have average power consumption as low as 2.5 W.

Intel initially described the Atom x86 CPU as capable of running at up to 2 GHz and consuming just 2 W of power at a conference in February.

The portable netbooks should sell for about $250-300, while some net-tops may cost as little as $200, said Erik Reid, director of mobile platforms at Intel. The new price points could drive as many as 100 million new users to the Web by 2011, the company forecasts.

"These systems are really about simple Internet access for reading and responding to email, instant messaging, surfing the Web, watching a video or listening to MP3s," said Reid.

Graphics specialist Nvidia recently rolled out Tegra, its own integrated processor, claiming it has smaller size and lower power and aimed at driving similar systems.

Separately, Intel is debuting its new 4-series chip sets for traditional desktops. The chips bring to Intel's 45nm Core 2 Duo processors support for dual-channel DDR-3 memory running at up to 1,066 MHz.

The P45 is the first mainstream desktop chip set from Intel to support the new PCI Express 2.0 interface that runs at up to 5 GHz. The G45 is Intel's first to provide full hardware acceleration for H.264 playback for high-def content as well as the DisplayPort and HDMI interfaces.

The G45 can handle high def resolutions up to 1080-progressive. It also supports the Microsoft DirectX 10 APIs and handles some video [post-processing functions in hardware.

By: DocMemory
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