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Overview of all Atom derivatives

IntelUser2000

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Oct 14, 2003
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I'm going to do a summary of all available derivatives of Atom chips and do a sneak peak at some future ones.

First, here are the die pics to make it easier to relate to(Images hosted by ImageShack US):


1)Silverthorne/Diamondville 2)Pineview Single Core 3)Tunnel Creek 4)Sodaville

sw8t3a.png

5)Pineview Dual Core 6)Lincroft 7)Groveland 8)Stellarton 9)Penwell
 
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IntelUser2000

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jb5ohz.png


Brand-

Diamondville Nettop: Atom 230 single core and Atom 330 dual core + 945G + ICH7
Diamondville Netbook: Atom N270/N280 + 945GC + ICH7U
Menlow: Atom Z5xx + US15W/US15L/UL11L

Pine Trail Nettop: Atom D4x0 single core and Atom D5x0 dual core + NM10
Pine Trail Netbook: Atom N4xx single core and Atom N5xx dual core + NM10
Moorestown: Atom Z6xx + MP20
Sodaville: Atom CE41xx
Queens Bay: E6xx + EG20T(or any other companion chip, currently ST/Oki/Realtek)
Stellarton: E6xxC + Altera Arria II
Oak Trail: Z6xx + SM35
Groveland: Atom CE4200

Cedar Trail Netbook: Atom N26xx and Atom N28xx
Cedar Trail Nettop: Atom D25xx and D27xx
Medfield: Atom Z2xxx/Z24xx/Z25xx
Clover Trail: Atom Z27xx

Merrifield: Atom ????
Berryville: Atom CE5300
Valleyview: N/A

GPU-

Diamondville: GMA950 on 945G/GC Northbridge
Menlow: GMA500 based on PowerVR SGX535, max clock 200MHz

Pine Trail: Graphics on CPU, GMA3150, a derivative of GMA950
Moorestown: GMA600, higher clock version of GMA500, adds 720p decoding, up to 400MHz clock
Sodaville: Derivative of GMA600, 200-400MHz depending on SKU, best media capabilities
Queens Bay: Derivative of GMA600, 320-400MHz depending on SKU
Stellarton: Same as Queens Bay
Oak Trail: Derivative of GMA600, 400MHz clock
Groveland: Derivative of GMA600, clock speed unknown
Elk Rock: Likely a derivative of GMA600

Cedar Trail: GMA 3600/3650 based on PowerVR SGX 545. Low power = 400MHz, High performance = 640MHz. 1080p decoding and Blu Ray 2.0 available. Though the latter depends on the SKU
Medfield: GMA(?) based on PowerVR SGX540, supports 1080p decoding up to 50Mb/s. Hardware encoder also exist, clocks at 400MHz. Higher end version with SGX544MP2 @ 533MHz. Lower end version with SGX540 @ 320MHz.
Clover Trail: GMA(?) based on PowerVR SGX540?

Merrifield: ???
Berryville: ???
Valleyview: GMA(?) based on Ivy Bridge graphics
 
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IntelUser2000

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Diamondville/Silverthorne-

They share lot of the features. Mostly binning differences. All feature 2-issue wide, in-order core with 512KB L2 cache and 56KB L1 cache.

Silverthorne features the best power management. Has Enhanced Intel SpeedStep(EIST), Thermal Monitor 2(TM2), C-states C0 to C4, and adds C6 "Deep Power Down Technology".

Certain Silverthorne chips feature Burst Mode Technology, which is different from Turbo Mode that it only relies on temperature and power consumption, while Turbo Mode is mostly guaranteed and is based on number of cores active. Of course, Silverthorne only has 1 core.

Netbook Diamondville doesn't have C6, but everything else. Nettop Diamondville forgoes EIST and TM entirely.

Diamondville is a 3 chip solution consisting of CPU, GMCH and ICH, while Silverthorne has the GMCH and ICH combined as a companion chip called Poulsbo. Platform TDP is 33W+ on Nettop, on Netbook its ~9W for SC and 13W for DC for Diamondville. For Menlow it can be as low as 2.2W, and high as 4.7W. Most lie at 4.4W.

Diamondville clocks: 1.6GHz-1.86GHz
Silverthorne clocks: 800MHz-2.13GHz

Major products: Netbooks and Nettops for Diamondville, MID/UMPCs, and Netbooks for Silverthorne, mid-2008

Pineview-

Pineview integrates Graphics and Memory Controller Hub(GMCH) onto the CPU. The CPU talks to the GMCH via a low bandwidth internal bus, and to the I/O chip using DMI. Platform TDP is Netbook=7W SC/10W DC, Nettop=12.2W SC/15.2W DC. Supports DDR2, and DDR3 with updated SKUs. Single channel 64-bit.

Platform code name is Pine Trail. EIST/C4E supported.

Clocks: 1.5GHz-1.86GHz

Major products: Netbooks and Nettops, Dec 20, 2009

Lincroft-

Lincroft takes the GMCH from Poulsbo to the CPU. The Moorestown platform allows Smartphone and Tablet market entrance for Intel. There is also the Brierstown PMIC(Power Management IC), and the Evans Peak wireless chips. Lower power SKUs support 32-bit single channel LPDDR with 400MT/s while others feature LPDDR2 at 800MT/s. Lincroft+Langwell Platform level TDP is 1.8W(Add 0.3W for Hyperthreading), and 2.7W(Add 0.35W for Hyperthreading, 0.45W ODT) for Moorestown(non-Windows Smartphone/Tablet versions) and 3.5W for Oak Trail(Windows Tablets). PowerVR SGX535 @ 400MHz allows some HD video playback, though it doesn't seem to be too optimal at this point. Camera support is 5MP.

Uses OS Power Management(OSPM) to save power and manage performance. Burst Mode supported in most SKUs. Moorestown does not support desktop Windows because it lacks legacy components and ACPI/PCI/SATA. Oak Trail supports Windows.

Oak Trail Specific: Oak Trail is a very close cousin to Queens Bay/Tunnel Creek but has some similarities with Moorestown/Lincroft. It can be seen as Windows-capable version of Moorestown and a spiritual successor to Menlow platform. It uses DMI rather than PCI Express to save power. Legacy components means higher power than Moorestown.

Platform code name is Moorestown for the non Windows supporting version and Oak Trail for the Windows supporting one. EIST/C6 supported, S0ix on Moorestown.

Clocks: 600MHz to 1.9GHz(in Burst Mode) for Moorestown
1.5GHz for Oak Trail

Major products: Cisco Cius featured Moorestown, while few Windows Tablets used Oak Trail. Moorestown announced May 4, 2010. Oak Trail announced Apr 7, 2011

Sodaville-

This is a TRUE SoC, and only one at the moment. The single die has the Atom CPU, NAND controller, GMCH, Transport and Security processor, Dual Audio DSP, General and Audio/Video I/O. It can decode two 1080p video and audio streams. Platform TDP 7-9W. Sodaville does not feature EIST and most C/P states, even STR(Suspend to RAM), which is available in most modern CPUs(if not all).

Clocks: 1.2GHz

Major products: Google TV, Boxee Box, other Internet TV appliances, silicon availability late 2009, product available since 2010.

Tunnel Creek-

The platform consists of two chips. The Tunnel Creek features CPU core, GMCH, Audio and PCI Express controller.

Unlike the other Atom CPUs that use DMI, it uses the PCI Express link to talk to the companion chips. The companion chip can be a plain vanilla Intel chip, or can be substituted for 3rd party chip. Platform level TDP will be 4.2-5.4W.

Platform code name is Queens Bay. Same power management as Oak Trail.

Clocks: 600MHz to 1.6GHz

Major products: Embedded Atom for industrial applications needing low power. In-car infotainment from a company in China, and wireless infrastructure for China Mobile. Announced September 14, 2010, products shortly after.

Stellarton

This is a configurable Atom platform using Tunnel Creek CPU component and a FPGA from Altera in an MCM package. Launched November 22, 2010 as Atom E600C, products shortly after.

Same power management as Tunnel Creek. Other than the Altera FPGA, its the same chip.

Groveland-

This is a successor to Sodaville. Adds STR, power gating, clock gating and other power management goodies. Includes power management IC and H.264 Encoder support. Products expected sometime in 2012.

Clocks: 1.2-1.6GHz

Cedarview-

32nm Successor to Pine Trail. Unlike the predecessor it supports C6 to lower power usage. It features PowerVR SGX545, with high clock of 400/640MHz depending on power levels. Improved 1080p decoding over Oak Trail. TDP is lot lower on the CPU side(especially the Netbook version), though it uses the same NM10 chipset as Pine Trail. 5W/8W platform TDP for Netbooks, 12.2W/15.2W for Nettops.

Clocks: 1.6-2.13GHz

Platform code name is Cedar Trail. Supports EIST/C6.

Major Products: Netbooks and Nettops. December 28, 2011 the product was announced. Product availability early 2012.

Penwell-

32nm successor to Moorestown. Said to integrate Lincroft and Langwell into one chip. First Intel chip with PoP(Package on Package) LPDDR2 memory. Avantele Passage SoC is for MSIC(Mixed Signal IC). Dual 32-bit memory interface with 800MT/s. Better 3D performance and video playback(1080p/Encoding). Features an Image Processing unit from Intel owned Silicon Hive. Features hardware security IP that might be collaboration from Intel owned McAfee. Supports Camera resolutions more than 3x Moorestown(16MP). SoC and platform level power usage seems to be less than half the power of the predecessor. Internal interconnect possibly made to easily add 3rd party IP. Medfield platform does not run Windows. Android is now the lead OS.

Mid-range Atom comes first with low end later in 2012 and dual core with updated graphics in 2013.

The fallout in the Intel-TSMC deal means that Intel will be allowing 3rd party vendors to add their IP to future Atom cores. The embedded versions and smartphone versions will be impacted the largest by this.

Cloverview/Clover Trail specific: This is the Windows supporting version of Medfield. Dual cores are expected, though it wouldn't be surprising if single cores are there too. Expected launch with Windows 8 late this year. Power usage will likely be higher than Medfield, though still very low power.

Platform code name Medfield. Supports EIST, C6, S0ix power management features. Platform code name is Clover Trail for Windows supporting version. Medfield does not support Windows.

Clocks: 1GHz-2GHz(Burst Mode included)

Major products: Smartphones and next generation Tablets. Nokia deal fell off and at CES 2012 Motorola and Lenovo announced partnerships. Products in mid 2012. Dual cores later.

Tangiere-

22nm successor to Penwell.

Berryville-

32nm successor to Groveland. Enables Hyperthreading and there are dual core variants. Adds a feature called PQE or Picture Quality engine. Better cost optimized with more integration than previous generation.

Clocks: 1.2-1.8GHz

Valleyview-

22nm successor to Cedarview. It's said to have a revised CPU architecture and the graphics is a derivative of Ivy Bridge.

Airmont-

No details on platform code name. Airmont is a 14nm Atom core.

Changelog

As of 9/19/2010

-Fixed grammar and spelling mistakes
-Added Groveland, Elk Rock and Stellarton products
-Updated Tunnel Creek and Pineview
-Updated the info that Pineview uses Intel's HP 45nm Hi-K process technology
-Changed image layout to save space

As of 1/12/2012

-Added information about 22nm and 14nm Silvermont and Airmont, along with Clover Trail
-Deleted Mapleview and Elk Rock. It might have been available only internally at Intel
-Updated Lincroft, Moorestown, Oak Trail, Tunnel Creek, and Medfield
-Minor changes in other parts for clarity

3/22/2012

-Chart has been fixed
-Added Berryville and Valleyview
-Update on Medfield and Penwell
 
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Idontcare

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This is awesome! :thumbsup:

Thanks for compiling and sharing all this information in such a nicely documented manner.
 
Dec 30, 2004
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Since Intel won't give us hyperthreaded dual cores in netbooks, and owning a gutted (so it's faster) netbook myself, my recommendation is to just stick with the ULV 1.3ghz Pentium dual cores. In order Core 2 architecture on 45nm; the one I picked out for my friend weighs 4lbs and lasts about 8.5-9.5h on battery.
Not that you all asked my opinion but this is the conclusion I've come to-- I like browsing too many tabs in Chrome to be happy with my netbook.
 

IntelUser2000

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Oct 14, 2003
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They will in Q3, its called Atom N550.

This is awesome!

Thanks for compiling and sharing all this information in such a nicely documented manner.

Thanks, this also gives me a reference guide of my own to go back to, so don't think that I'm being all nice. :D
 
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Ben90

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Jun 14, 2009
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Nice compilation of information. If I cared about Atom, this would be a good thread. Hopefully it helps someone out.
 

cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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Nice compilation of information. If I cared about Atom, this would be a good thread. Hopefully it helps someone out.

I haven't been interested in atom till lately, but products like this seem really interesting. (IntelUser2000 mentioned he had one of these in the other thread).
 
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Zap

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Oct 13, 1999
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Great compilation!

I love the idea of the Atom, but am disappointed in the end performance in my (1st gen) netbook.

That hasn't stopped me from buying two netbooks, a nettop, an ITX board and an ION ITX board all with Atoms (only netbooks are single core). I apparently can't get enough disappointment in my life.

Actually, after my vacation I'll probably sell off my netbooks. I've discovered something better, and it isn't an Intel CULV. I'll post about it in the appropriate forum.
 

IntelUser2000

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Did some updates-grammar/spelling mistakes and added some omitted info. I forgot to add Pine Trail on the Brand section, hah! The most popular Atom platform.

Cedar Trail - The Pinetrail should have been bundled together with the GMA 4500, the GMA 3150 is rather slow.

Anyone remember the GN40 chipset? That's what Atom N280 was supposed to be bundled with, but it got cancelled due to what I recall as "little benefits" over the current platform. GN40 is a derivative of the GL40, which is a low end GM45. If that got passed through, we might have seen Pine Trail with the GMA 4500 instead.
 
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cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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The Sandy Bridge Overclocking thread got me thinking about possible Intel product consolidation.

With Cedar trail being built on 32nm high power and fully capable of 1080p playback will Intel still see a good market for the 32nm CULV Laptop processors?

Two smaller cores (atom)+ Power VR SGX GPU built on high power vs Two larger "turbo capable" cores (Arrandale/Sandy Bridge) + Intel GPU built on low power?
 
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IntelUser2000

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Cedarview will highly likely integrate a derivative of Intel GPU cores. TDP figures suggest it, and the driver support there is much better than on their PowerVR versions.
 

IntelUser2000

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I'm not sure if people will appreciate me resurrecting a 2 months old thread, but I think the information on it justifies it. :)

Added a changelog and new code names after they announced it at IDF 2010 San Francisco. Oh, and it also seems Tunnel Creek got a brand and datasheets.
 
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cbn

Lifer
Mar 27, 2009
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Cedarview will highly likely integrate a derivative of Intel GPU cores. TDP figures suggest it, and the driver support there is much better than on their PowerVR versions.

I have seen many people comment that Intel GMA 500 (aka Power VR SGX 535) drivers are not as well polished as they should be? Does anyone know why this is?

Is there a reason why Intel couldn't use Genuine Imagination Tech drivers with their products?
 
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IntelUser2000

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It's because PowerVR does not disclose everything required I heard. And in order for IMG to deliver GMA500 compatible drivers, they would have to rewrite it for the OS AND the particular implementation Intel uses. For Linux they hire a team called Tungsten Graphics to write the graphics driver.
 

tangey

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Jul 25, 2011
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The 2nd post in this thread needs to be updated regarding Cedartrail graphics, which is PowerVr (GMA3600/3650) and NOT Intel's inhouse graphics. Also 1080p decoding is no longer a rumour, but fact, and release is Q3 2011.
 
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