This & That

This & That

Core2 Duo for embedded

Intel has announced the 45-nm Intel Core2 Duo Processor E8400 with 7-year lifecycle support for embedded applications. The processor doubles transistor density and increases cache size up to 6 Mbytes. It includes a Super Shuffle Engine that enhances streaming algorithms and is optimized for graphics and multimedia processing.

To enhance security in embedded products, the chip supports Trusted Execution Technology, which guards data within tamper-resistant virtualized computing environments to protect against software attacks, viruses, and other threats.

One Atom = 47,000,000

Another series of 45-nm processors, the Intel Atom (previously known as Silverthorne) targets mobile Internet devices and packs 47 million transistors on a 25-mm2 chip, making the processors Intel’s smallest and lowest power. They feature a thermal design power ranging from subwatt to 2.5 W, and idle power of 30 to 100 mW. Based on an entirely new microarchitecture, the Atom yields new levels of performance and low power while maintaining full Intel Core2 instruction set compatibility. Some future Intel Atom versions will also feature multiple threads.

Using new manufacturing methods, the Atom is the first in Intel’s lineup to eliminate halogen and lead altogether.

Meanwhile …

Apple has bought up P.A. Semiconductor (a Product of the Year Award winner in January 2008) perhaps because they want to use the company’s award-winning processor (and not Intel’s Atom) for future handheld gizmos or maybe they just want the IP and engineering talent. We will wait and see.