Intel Atom processor for nettops

[Fragant]

Intel's Atom processor was in the recent past as a very energy efficient CPU to draw attention to themselves. While the CPU on the market for Mobile Internet Devices (MID) code-named Silverthorne already established, held, Intel released in early June, the two classes of devices netbook (subnotebook) and PC System (Mini PC) before, which are also based on an atom, but in this context, code-named Diamondville hear. The only significant difference from Silverthorne is merely a higher TDP of 2.5 watts is still good in the case of netbook (N270) and 4 watts in the case of Nettop (Atom 230).

Hoping that members will post more information.

[garfield1]

The Atom processor as the core of this platform rises a modern manufacturing process in 45 nm and can draw from not only its low power requirements, but is also relatively inexpensive to manufacture. The associated chip set based on the Intel 945G with ICH7 South Bridge , and can also be a relative veteran chipset have already been written works produced are very inexpensive. The clock frequency of Diamondville, ie the atom netbook and nettop is, in both cases at 1.6 GHz and that of the front side bus (FSB) at 533 MHz. The sector for sub-notebooks and ultra mobile PCs, stationary mini-boom. A character in this area began with the successful Asus Eee PC, whose name is now the brand was. From him there in future sub-notebooks and even compact desktops. MSI developed in line with the simple solutions to wind and other variables such as Gigabyte and Dell have already announced or shown concepts.

[Brunoz]

MSI developed in line with the simple solutions to wind and other variables such as Gigabyte and Dell have already announced or shown concepts.

But the moment seems to be only the tip of the iceberg to be - appropriate partnerships Intel still harbors many other manufacturers. Elitegroup Computer Systems, ECS is short, only one of those producers who jumps on the train of small Internet devices. The first product of ECS in the class of so-called net-tops will be the 3-liter PC. The interior of the typical platform nettop - consisting of the North Bridge Intel 945GC integrated graphics ( GMA 950), the ICH7 South Bridge and the Atom 230. All these devices in common as possible should be energy efficient and quieter operation. The field of application are basic applications such as listening to music, displaying photos and video, communications such as Voice over IP , instant messaging and e-mail and web-surfing and playing simple online games.

[T0tal L0$$]

With the Atom processor, Intel wants to offer the industry a solution that is used in the devices above or should be. Depending on the application is different Intel platforms for the netbook and nettop. Netbooks are small and reasonably priced mini-notebooks like the Eee PC. Nettops follow the same idea, but are designed for stationary use at home (such as the Eee PC desktop or the 3-liter PC from ECS). The possibilities for upgrading a PC System with a fixed soldered CPU and usually only one PCI slot is limited, but we will in this article using a GeForce 8500 GT from Sparkle for the PCI slot to determine how well the Intel Atom with even more can deal than just simple games. Connectivity and performance to meet this simple applications such as listening to music, view photos and video, communications such as Voice over IP, instant messaging and e-mail and web-surfing and playing simple online games.

[joel84]

The user receives a CPU (Atom 230), a chipset (i945GC and ICH7) with DX9 integrated graphics (GMA 950), as well as HD audio and USB ports. The systems can be equipped with up to two RAM banks, each of which a 512 or 1024 MB large, can accommodate up to DDR2-667 RAM-specified bar. The memory interface is, however, even with two benches in the "Dual-Channel Asynchronous Mode", which are single channel. Depending on memory configuration supports Nettop '08 major Linux and Microsoft operating systems Windows XP and Vista Basic.

[Chakradev]

In terms of form factor Intel invents the wheel is not new, but leaving manufacturers the choice of established standards. Above all, here offers Mini-ITX compact dimensions of 170 mm x 170 mm with. The only relevant alternative in this segment introduces Mini-DTX with 200 mm x 170 mm. Ironically, DTX over two years ago from rival AMD established. ECS has the 945GCT-D motherboard that is designed one, which according to a standard AMD and Intel is equipped with technology packaged. ECS great by Mini-DTX enough space to accommodate two PCI slots and also two RAM banks on the board. Since the ECS will get 945GCT-D only in 3-liter PC in the trade, it must not fight with the weak point of mini-DTX, namely the thin selection of appropriate cases. Mini-ITX enjoy here, not least due to the involvement of VIA in this segment a certain lobby.

[Savannah87]

To reduce the nettop platform in a block diagram, the functions of the Intel-trio consisting of CPU, Northbridge and Southbridge significantly. There are major differences from a conventional PC is not there. The two-chip Intel 945GC and ICH7 are not unknown, but rather constitute a veteran chipset, adds cost to the Intel platform. Traditionally, specified in a PC, the CPU with the overall highest TDP, but in the case of Nettop the chipset with a TDP of 22 watts for the North Bridge and 3 watts for the South Bridge the Atom 230 exceeds a TDP of only 4 watts is many times . Too bad, because Intel was with the mobile platform sister netbook that there is another way, because there are offshoots of the chip set consisting of 945GSE and ICH7M for mobile devices used, which are specified with only 5.5 watts. Interesting in this connection, the item appears on an alternative chipset from SiS for nettops, which would be consistent with a TDP of 8 watts at a much better relationship with the TDP of the CPU.

[Laramie]

The fact that the Intel chipset is no longer the youngest, can also be seen well on its size. It is made in a nm feature size of 130, while the atom in the modern 45 nm from the tape is running. The size comparison is therefore the same as for the TDP-data: The processor is the smallest in the trio. How small is actually an Intel Atom, Intel likes to show the basis of various shots. One of the photos shows a nuclear-wafer in a close-up of the relation of a structure in widths of 45 nm fabricated atom-can recognize a bottleneck. The entire package of the Atom 230 is 22 mm x 22 mm and moves to the order of a 2-euro coin.

[Tylerrr]

What are the CPU-Z edge, namely at the bottom right of the picture, said: With the Atom Intel's celebrated adaptation of Simultaneous Multi-Threading, called Hyper-Threading, a resurrection. This technique did formerly the Pentium 4 to inspire in benevolent applications and can now appear the atom as a dual-core CPU. Physical remains of the Atom 230 while a single-core CPU, but with Hyper-Threading, the CPU usage to increase "over the full utilization of time." In the usual waiting cycles waiting command units, and thus addressed two threads are executed simultaneously. This works only if a command unit is actually available - a problem which has a native dual-core CPU does not have. What benefit can Hyper-Threading, a large L2 cache, what of the 512 kb of the atom given.

[Acalapati]

The ECS 945GCT-D carries two of push-pins installed aluminum radiator to ensure tougher thermal pads using the heat transfer. The silver radiator is 36 mm x 37 mm x 28 mm (W x D x H) and sits on a TDP of 22.2 watts specified North Bridge (Intel 945GC). The surface temperature of the North Bridge can reach up to 99°C. The black cooler measures 28 mm x 28 mm x 25 mm (W x D x H) and sits on the 230th with a TDP of 4W specified atom The surface temperature of the processor must not exceed 85.2 C · Achieving. The South Bridge ICH7 requires a TDP of around 3 watts cooler no more. You can reach without a cooler up to 109°C at the surface. The external connections of the ECS 945GCT-D are reduced to the essentials: There are PS / 2 ports for keyboard and mouse, a COM port, a VGA output, four USB 2.0 ports, an RJ45 socket (100 Mbps) and three audio outputs for 5.1 sound.

[little-Jacqueline]

Except for a 3-pin fan connector at the top of the board next to the RAM banks and the 24-pin ATX power supply are all internal connections at the bottom of the board beneath the PCI slots. This allows two Serial ATA II drives and connect via a common IDE port for up to two Parallel ATA drives. Secondary front audio and SPDIF-Out, there are still USB 2.0 header for four ports and a second 3-pin fan connector. Other headers provide the housing front with the typical options such as power-on reset, power LED and HDD LED and a connector for a speaker system. The only striking layout error in our view the installed vertically CMOS battery. Unfortunately, it is calculated at the height of the 1x PCIe slots and could thus provide a collision with the cards. In our case, the battery initially prevented the installation of a PCI graphics card in the slot above it, as their passive cooler collided with the battery. More in this section Sparkle GeForce 8500 GT (PCI).