AMD: We're Launching an Atom Killer in 2010
Nvidia’s Ion made a huge splash at Computex 2009 and it looks like AMD is trying to get in on some of the action. According to a report, the company is preparing an Atom rival, which will launch in 2010.
Digitimes this week reports that AMD CEO, Dirk Meyer has revealed the company is currently developing a platform that features lower-power, smaller-sizes, more complete functionality, and a cheaper price than Intel's Atom for netbooks, with an expected delivery date for samples set for 2010.
Nvidia last week announced a list of 20 ‘Ion Partners’ who would be debuting products running on the chip at Computex. With Tegra taking care of MIDs for Nvidia and Intel’s plans to bring the Atom to handheld devices, we can’t help but feel AMD is a tad behind the times with this one. That said, according to Digitimes, Meyer emphasized that products based on the company's newest platform will be notebooks as opposed to netbooks. Meyer says he believes the term "netbook" will soon become obsolete as the quality of ultra portable, low-end computers improve.
At Computex, Intel was all about mobility and Atom products, particularly in NAS products and home theater products. It will be interesting to see what Intel has on hand for the 2010 year.
Check out the full story here.
- Acer to Launch Ultra-Thin Timeline Series in June
- Microsoft Not Cool With Hybrid Storage Netbooks
- 5 Reasons Why New Macs and iPhone are Lacking
- Fusion-io Unviels PCI-e SSD for Gamers
- Apple Says Safari 4 is World's Fastest Browser
- Best Buy to Offer Free Windows 7 Upgrades
- New MacBook Pros are Cheaper, Faster, Pro-er
- Microsoft Shows Official Windows 7 Box Art
- Pirate Party Bags Seats on European Parliament
- 12 Booth Babe Pics We Never Posted
- Nvidia CEO on x86 Project: "Haven't Found It Yet"
- Rambus Drops Some Charges Against Nvidia
- Win a $400 Newegg Gift Card or an Eee PC
- Schmidt on Bing: MSFT Does This Every Year
- DOJ Steps Up Google Antitrust Probe
- Intel's Pine Trail Out Q4, Possibly October
- IBM and the Philipines Battle in Court
- Asus Vows to Make Products Better Than Apple
AMD should know by now that by the time they roll that out, Intel will already have something better to offer. But i hope they can deliver something that can top Intel for a while at least...
AMD always bringing good producs and cheaper but ALWAY a bit late.
AMD must be lagging ...
If they want it to be an Atom killer they should call it the particle accelerator
agreed, I think netbooks are just overpriced for what they do. They do less than a notebook, but cost just the same as a higher performing but lower-end laptop.
Netbooks to me are still a fad and I don't think AMD is really losing much out of this fad.
Well, the good thing for AMD is that Intel paired atom with a crappy chipset, though taking advantage of that means competing with ION. If AMD can offer a platform that has more GPU power, more CPU power, and uses less power overall than the NVIDIA ION platform, then they will have a winner.
Beating ION?
I think "780G" is all that needs to be said.
AMD is completely capable of making a chipset that can trash everyone else in the power
Via already released an Atom killer. Yet we've seen very little of it. I want a NANO paired with an ION chipset. Hopefully Zotac will release one soon.
Damn you, tom's. Damn your broken comment system.
Continuing, AMD is completely capable of making a chipset that can trash everyone else in the power saving/low cost/high performance market.
Didn't Toms do a review of a low powered AMD Semperon (sp?) and and atom?
Didn't the AMD device out perform at a slightly higher power cost? And didn't Toms decide the Atom only won because it was all integrated as apposed to being a mini mobo/cpu/video card combo saving on the power costs?
Sorry just remembering out loud here...
LOL, the title is a little comical... I hate when any company calls it's product a killer of another product. It's almost setting itself up for failure. First off; the atom is not exactly a powerhouse and secondly even if it is better then the atom for power consumption and performance who cares, it's been how long since intel released the atom?
It's like the guy that gets made fun of and then he comes back to you a day later with a good comeback... no one cares...
On the bright side, yes, competition is a good thing but i'm tired of hearing about iPhone killers and now intel atom killers ZOMG!!
An atom killer would be a seriously long lasting battery technology.
Pair some real hardware with a battery that will last 8-10 hours in a small form factor machine with an edge to edge screen, and you'll have the ultra portable everyone wants.
AMD's already proven they can take their athalon's to extremely low power levels. So you've got low heat, proven dual core tech, and almost no R&D. I think they already have an Atom Killer. They just need to find a great battery tech to pair it with, and then get it on the market.
AMD should know by now that by the time they roll that out, Intel will already have something better to offer. But i hope they can deliver something that can top Intel for a while at least...
I disagree that Intel will have something better. Intels next product will be their Pineview/Pinetrail (whichever it is) integrated Atom+GPU, which is expected in the fourth-quarter of this year. If AMD can introduce a similar Fusion chip (CPU+GPU), with faster CPU and GPU specs, and a lower power envelope, they can easily surpass Intel. AMDs only mistake would be to not release a Fusion product, but rather a CPU + chipset, although the chipset will easily surpass anything Intel makes.
If AMD and NVidia were smart, they'd partner whatever ULV processor has up their sleeve with the Ion platform. Seeing that Intel is doing their best to force Ion into obsolescence already, taking what will be a mature platform and accommodating a new processor would be a nice US vs. THEM fight worth fighting. Double teaming works... if they were smart.
Beating ION?I think "780G" is all that needs to be said.AMD is completely capable of making a chipset that can trash everyone else in the power
Agreed. The integrated 3200 on the 780G is amazing. I'm sure AMD can figure out a way to pair that chipset with a low power CPU and stick it inside a "netbook."
agreed, I think netbooks are just overpriced for what they do. They do less than a notebook, but cost just the same as a higher performing but lower-end laptop.Netbooks to me are still a fad and I don't think AMD is really losing much out of this fad.
You sir are wise. I feel like netbooks do not fulfill a good niche. They are too big to carry in your pocket easily but they are too small to use comfortably as a real computer. If you want mobile internet, get a iPhone or Pre, if you want a computer, get something with at least a 12inch screen. I think people will start to realize that and you will see this fad wind down. Or at least you wont see an article about "Netbooks!" on Tomshardware every darn day.
You sir are wise. I feel like netbooks do not fulfill a good niche. They are too big to carry in your pocket easily but they are too small to use comfortably as a real computer. If you want mobile internet, get a iPhone or Pre, if you want a computer, get something with at least a 12inch screen. I think people will start to realize that and you will see this fad wind down. Or at least you wont see an article about "Netbooks!" on Tomshardware every darn day.
They're inexpensive, small, lightweight and last forever on a battery charge (compared to most other laptops on the market.)
People are buying these things because all they care about is internet and viewing some digital pictures. People like my parents are buying netbooks and making them the fad because they spend like 20 minutes a day on the computer. I mean seriously, take the inner geek out of the equation and why do you care if a full size laptop is more comforable?
You sir are wise. I feel like netbooks do not fulfill a good niche. They are too big to carry in your pocket easily but they are too small to use comfortably as a real computer. If you want mobile internet, get a iPhone or Pre, if you want a computer, get something with at least a 12inch screen. I think people will start to realize that and you will see this fad wind down. Or at least you wont see an article about "Netbooks!" on Tomshardware every darn day.
Additionally, I have an iPhone and trust me, even if it did do Flash, it is not fun to cruise the net on.
An atom killer would be a seriously long lasting battery technology. Pair some real hardware with a battery that will last 8-10 hours in a small form factor machine with an edge to edge screen, and you'll have the ultra portable everyone wants. AMD's already proven they can take their athalon's to extremely low power levels. So you've got low heat, proven dual core tech, and almost no R&D. I think they already have an Atom Killer. They just need to find a great battery tech to pair it with, and then get it on the market.
There, I think you've got it. Atom only makes sense for people who require long battery life. Remove that requirement, and anything else is better; [much] faster. Meet it another way, e.g. with battery tech, and Atom will dry up and blow away.
Barcelona was supposed to blow away the Core 2 CPUs as well.
I disagree that Intel will have something better. Intels next product will be their Pineview/Pinetrail (whichever it is) integrated Atom+GPU, which is expected in the fourth-quarter of this year. If AMD can introduce a similar Fusion chip (CPU+GPU), with faster CPU and GPU specs, and a lower power envelope, they can easily surpass Intel. AMDs only mistake would be to not release a Fusion product, but rather a CPU + chipset, although the chipset will easily surpass anything Intel makes.
While it may be possible I doubt AMD would befocusing Fusion at the ULV market right away. Even Intel plans on a CPU+GPU for the desktops first (lower end Core i5).
Either way all this is is talk. And talk is cheap. Last time AMD did talk of this manner it kinda flopped in their face. I hope they have learned more to shut up and put up than talk and flop.
BTW, never underestimate Intel. They are capable of more than people think, hence Nehalem. It blows away most other things when it comes to server products.
Agreed. The integrated 3200 on the 780G is amazing. I'm sure AMD can figure out a way to pair that chipset with a low power CPU and stick it inside a "netbook."
While that would be great I doubt it would be low power enough. With a ULV they need something that literally sips the watts, like Atom does. But if they can do it it would be a sight to see.
Statements are nice, bbbbbbbut where is the roadmap from AMD that shows the release date of the product and its specification. It usually takes minimum of three years to develop a CPU, so if they are claiming samples in 2010 than they should have it in their roadmap already.
AMD should know by now that by the time they roll that out, Intel will already have something better to offer. But i hope they can deliver something that can top Intel for a while at least...
That's low end. It could be enough to shrink a 4 years old Athlon on newer process to make it much better than what Atom is. I'm not implying that shrinking of a processor is trivial but I'm writing this just to give an idea. Atom is nothing impressive really.
BTW there is one thing that AMD does much better than Intel - GPUs! Eat that Intel!
There, I think you've got it. Atom only makes sense for people who require long battery life. Remove that requirement, and anything else is better; [much] faster. Meet it another way, e.g. with battery tech, and Atom will dry up and blow away.
I'm going to opt for the EEE Keyboard for all my office needs if it offers enough power and the price is good enough. Battery life does not concern me in that case. 20-30 GB of free storage \excluding the OS\ is perfect, wireless and an built in optical driver of some sort if possible but not necessary. And if it offers the performance of Penitum M or Pentium 4 that's all I need for the office. Well for my personal use I'd buy the latest quad core gaming capable notebook but for the chick that writes the invoices - some sort of EEE Keyboard would be more than enough.
agreed, I think netbooks are just overpriced for what they do. They do less than a notebook, but cost just the same as a higher performing but lower-end laptop.Netbooks to me are still a fad and I don't think AMD is really losing much out of this fad.
I'm going to disagree. What is the origin of the netbook? One Laptop Per Child (OLPC). This small, inexpensive, and portable netbook was meant for "undeveloped" nations (sorry, I hate that term, but its what most people recognize), yet consumers from other regions were intrigued by the concept and wondered why they couldn't have one.
Considering UMPCs were the $1000+ range and underpowered compared to laptops of less price, the notion of an equal or lesser priced netbook was very appealing.
Personally, my 4G + tekkeon battery is a lot lighter to carry around all day than a full laptop. It is inexpensive enough that I will be able to buy a replacement if stolen. Vacationing to my wife's grandmother's house, the fact that it uses a 2-prong plug was a lifesaver (grandma's electrical is so old that there was only 1 available 3-prong outlet).
IF Microsoft would stop pulling a Tonya Harding on the netbook market, then I think you would see it is far more than a fad - it would be what they wanted the UMPC market to be.
Is the atom killer going to be released 5 years too late just like the core 2 duo killer and core 2 quad killer were?
I like AMD but they sure are getting behind in the processor wars. I hope they catch up soon.
im thinking K7 @ 45nm
AMd mentioned it would not get involved with netbooks and the Atom.
This shows how big liars they all are... Just like Sony with their newer PSP. Instead of saying they don't know or will get involved later, they said 6 months ago they where not going interfere with the netbook market!
They have some of the most energy efficient graphics cards. So if they could build a very basic Atom processor, with an integrated Radeon (IGP) on chip (like what Intel is trying to do with the G40 chipset), we might see some great gaming netbooks!
The GPU of a netbook doesn't need to be too great, since it only needs to support 1024x600 resolution at max; meaning even a Radeon 4650 or 4770 could play crysis at playable framerates.
AMd mentioned it would not get involved with netbooks and the Atom.This shows how big liars they all are... Just like Sony with their newer PSP. Instead of saying they don't know or will get involved later, they said 6 months ago they where not going interfere with the netbook market!They have some of the most energy efficient graphics cards. So if they could build a very basic Atom processor, with an integrated Radeon (IGP) on chip (like what Intel is trying to do with the G40 chipset), we might see some great gaming netbooks!The GPU of a netbook doesn't need to be too great, since it only needs to support 1024x600 resolution at max; meaning even a Radeon 4650 or 4770 could play crysis at playable framerates.
Keep dreaming. Single core on a crysis workload? The CPU would self destruct with a big plume of smoke in the image of a raised middle finger telling you to sit and spin for even thinking about it.
Keep dreaming. Single core on a crysis workload? The CPU would self destruct with a big plume of smoke in the image of a raised middle finger telling you to sit and spin for even thinking about it.
On minimum settings and 1024x600 resolution, a 2GHz+ solo core and a 4650 would be enough...
I love AMD motherboards.
I was going to buy a 780g, but my finances fell through.
They also make some nice discreet laptop cards.
Please follow through with this and make a kickass product AMD, your ass in the CPU market depends on it.
Great. AMD is building products for the future that can defeat products Intel currently has on the market. They just aren't competitive performance wise in the CPU market right now and I can't figure out why. Thought they were get their act together after ATI was all settled in, much like ATI is currently doing with their competitive chips, but they haven't done so. Their chips are a full release behind Intel chips and I don't even think they are TRYING to innovate for the future and they are just contempt with trying to best whatever Intel currently has on the market and conceding defeat to whatever they have down the pipe. How about some innovation? How about something that will catch Intel completely by surprise and embarrass their architecture like Athlon and Athlon X2 did to Pentium 4 and Pentium D.