Have you ever thought of overclocking your shiny little netbook, probably not, but here's what might happen if you're wondering. In my humble opinion this is ridiculous, but it's possible. Overclocking experts from Team Australia, using an ordinary MSI Wind U100 netbook and a single Kingston 2GB DDR2 667Mhz SO-DIMM, have done the unthinkable, overclock the hell out of an Intel Atom N270 netbook processor. If you remember, MSI recently released a v1.09 BIOS for the Wind that allows overclocking. That's exactly what Team AU have done, dismantle an MSI Wind netbook, put some LN2 cooling and use the latest BIOS to max the Intel Atom CPU frequency. The end result is pretty good, they've managed to push the poor 1.6GHz Atom N270 CPU to an amazing 2385MHz (FSB 199 x 12 multiplier) and take a CPU-Z snapshot. There's really no point in doing that, but it's pure fun. The full discussion thread for this insane experiment is posted over at XtremeSystems.

The launch of Core i7 processors may have kicked off in great fanfare, given that the industry has been preparing rigorously for its launch since the turn of Q2 2008, but sources at motherboard vendors tell DigiTimes that it might be as long as Q3 2009, by the time sales and shipments really pickup. Intel on its part, has already claimed to have shipped over 100,000 Core i7 units. The odd thing about Core i7's launch is its timing. It comes at a time when Intel's desktop processors are successful in the market, and that Intel didn't stall its related technology development to pave the way for it.

Now that Intel's Atom is on top of the netbook processor market, while VIA and AMD are trying to compete somehow, it appears that a fourth chip maker is going to enter the netbook business and try to give Intel's Atom architecture a run for its money. ARM and Canonical, the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu, are co-operating to make Ubuntu Desktop operating system that will run well with ARM's ARMv7 processor architecture. This will enable new Linux netbooks and hybrid computers to enter the market.
"The release of a full Ubuntu desktop distribution supporting latest ARM technology will enable rapid growth, with internet everywhere, connected ultra portable devices," said Ian Drew, vice president of Marketing, ARM. "The always-on experience available with mobile devices is rapidly expanding to new device categories such as netbooks, laptops and other internet connected products. Working with Canonical will pave the way for the development of new features and innovations to all connected platforms."
This version of the Ubuntu Desktop operating system will handle the ARM Cortex-A8 and Cortex-A9 processor-based systems. The final Ubuntu ARM distribution will debut in April 2009. Now we only need volunteers to choose ARM and Linux for their netbooks.

The Intel Atom processor saw the company create a new niche, that of netbooks (sub-notebooks) and nettops. It has become the de-facto choice of OEM builders who are themselves teething in this new market. Intel Atom finds direct competition in VIA Nano, which offers the same x86 embedded options, at nearly the same thermal footprints, although AMD has some catching up to do in this segment.

Industry observer, DigiTimes, notes that Acer could be eying non-Atom options for its upcoming nettop SKUs. These products could feature VIA Nano, or AMD Athlon low-power processors. The company is basing it on the issue, that it plans to sell around 12~13 million nettop units, and given the situation, sourcing all the processors from Intel doesn't seem feasible. The silicon giant is already dealing with massive back-orders, backlog and stock shortages for the amount of demand the Atom has created. Acer also has three OEM sources in mind to make the nettop: Quanta Computer, Wistron and Micro-Star International (MSI). The company is expected to reach a decision in December.

SiS today announced the SiSM671/968/307DV chipset supporting the latest Intel Atom 230 and series CPU has been adopted by Dell to develop the Thin-Client PC OptiPlex FX160 project. With low power consumption and without fan characteristic of SiS chipsets, the new launched Dell OptiPlex FX160 is designed for business users to experience the noiseless environment and to make a contribute to energy saving and carbon reduction.

As the photo shown below, the DELL OptiPlex FX160 has the quite exquisite outlook. The space-saving design is only one eighth of the regular ATX chassis with SiSM671-based chipset of Mini-iTX motherboard inside. On account of superiority of meshed aluminum material case, the DELL OptiPlex FX160 not only integrates all the modern PC functions thoroughly but also features small-sized, light-weighted, high radiation; easy-fixing and power-saving. We can foresee the cost-efficient and full functional DELL OptiPlex FX160 paired with Intel Atom series processors and DDR2 memory definitely becomes the tendency in the IT world.

ASUSTeK Computer released today its newest and most expensive Eee PC netbook, the Eee PC S101. Designed to attract users with its style and premium finish (available in three colors - brown, champagne or graphite), the S class Eee PC also offer the latest hardware that a netbook can integrate. Measuring 264 (W) x 180.5 (D) x 18 ~ 25 (H) mm, the Eee PC S101 will be available in 3 different models. The first one has a 16GB SSD + 16GB SD card (32GB total storage space), Windows XP OS and a retail price of around $699. The second version comes with a 32GB SSD, Linux OS and will retail for around $699 as well. Finally, there's the 64GB SSD model with Linux which will have a price tag of around $799. Feature-wise all three Eee PC S101 models have a 10.2-inch wide active matrix LED backlit screen (1024x600 resolution), 1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, 1GB RAM, 10/100/1000 Mbps ethernet controller, WLAN support, Bluetooth, 4-in-1 MMC reader and a 0.3MB integrated webcam. For more information, please visit the Eee PC - Blog.

It looks like Samsung has finally decided to take the dip into the ULPC market with the announcement of a netbook slated for October. Pictures of this unnamed netbook have emerged that shows a milky-white, slightly Apple-ish chassis with a 10.2" screen. Only the most essential keys make it to the keyboard, omitting special multimedia keys.

This netbook is said to ship with the Windows XP operating system, it is driven by a Intel Atom N270 processor with 1 GB of memory. Storage configurations could have 80 or 120 GB HDD as standard. It comes with a 6-cell battery for a rated operation time of roughly 5 hours.

A spy-shot of the dual-core Intel Atom processor has surfaced. The picture reveals an important bit about the design of the processor. Dual-core Atom isn't about two processor cores integrated onto one die, but two dies sharing a package and front-side bus, much in the same way its distant ancestor, the Pentium D was built. This design allows modularity and helps Intel cut manufacturing costs. They don't have to build separate wafers of dual-core dice but rather use two single core dice and integrate them onto one package. The Atom 330 will be the first product based on this design. Early performance tests with arithmetic and memory bandwidth reveal a good level of scaling, close to 100% that of the N270, a single-core 1.6 GHz part:

Following several companies coming up with nettop embedded platform boards based on the Intel Atom processor, Galaxy seems to have taken the initiative to build a ATX size board. This board features an Atom 230 processor aided by the i945GC + ICH7 chipset. It features a PCI-Express x16 slot along with five PCI slots. The i945GC provides integrated Graphics Media Accerator 950 to handle display, while the ICH7 provides four SATA ports. The board provides two DDR2 slots for 533 MHz or 667 MHz modules. The provision of a fan connector near the CPU suggests active cooling for the CPU.

The board provides only a D-Sub connector for display output though, several smaller form-factor boards even include DVI connectors, something that's lacking here. There's 8-channel audio provided, and the PCI-Express x16 provides the option of upgrading the graphics sub-system though don't expect to build a gaming machine out of this, it uses only an Atom 230 that isn't top of the line for Atom series either. Besides, Galaxy seems to building this for the OEMs, indications are this won't hit the retail market.

Fujitsu's LifeBook FMV Biblo U/B50 will be its latest feature-rich UMPC offering. It offers a stylish, eye-catching chassis that holds a 5.6" display. This pushes it into the netbook domain but is quickly pulled back by its set of features at a point of portability. To begin with, the screen swivels like that of a tablet PC, just that it isn't a touch-screen. The screen offers a 1280 x 800 px native resolution, there is a fixed webcam too.

It is powered by the Intel Atom Z530 clocked at 1.60 GHz and 1 GB of DDR2 memory. Fujitsu claims it should suffice for Windows Vista, the OS it ships with. On to the connectivity front, There's 802.11n Wi-Fi, 3G, and Bluetooth to provide connectivity. Options with storage include 60GB, 100GB or 120GB HDD, or a 64GB SSD. Display outputs include the HDMI port facing its front to let you connect it to larger screens. Prepare to shell out ¥123,800 (that's US $ 1,128) if you want one in Japan.

Offering more choice to entry-level desktop PC users, Intel Corporation today showcased a new desktop motherboard that packs a powerful price-performance value proposition. Running on the newly released 45nm dual-core Intel Atom Processor 330, the Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2 Essential Series is the second generation of Intel's most affordable and differentiated motherboard that integrates a single unit of compute with a microprocessor, chipset, motherboard and heat sink.

Designed to specifically build nettops - a family of affordable desktops purpose built for Internet-centric usage models - the Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF2 targets entry-level computer users in the emerging markets, as second or basic home PCs for mature markets, or customized for unique vertical usage models such as Internet kiosks, thin clients or POS (point-of-sale) systems.

Ryan "Opie" Shrout, live blogger for PC Perspective took these snaps of slides pertaining to the next generation Atom processor that were on display at IDF.

According to the first slide, the next generation of Atom CPU, codenamed Moorestown planned for 2009 ~ '10 could reduce the idle power draw by greater than 10 times that of its predecessor. Intel also seems to be working on getting rid of the core-logic (chipset) the current implementations of the Atom processor are based on, the i945, which not many in the computing world seem to have appreciated owing to its power-draw. The second slide talks about a newer Langwell processor and Lincroft chipset which have been presented in a size comparison. If that plan materializes, expect a x86 PC module to be smaller in size than your credit card, fit for deployment into much smaller portable devices.

While AMD touted the Bobcat as a definitive competitor to Intel Atom, being a low-power K8 based part with the same design advantages its ancestors had over competing Intel parts when they made up for higher performing alternatives, this part won't make it until next year, enough time for the Atom to gain a stronger foothold in the market. As immediate competition to the Atom, AMD seems to have set an Athlon 64 2000+ single core processor as its ULPC / UMPC processor part. This processor is single core, features a 1.00 GHz clock-speed and 256 KB of L2 cache, which should still give it a performance edge over a 1.50 GHz Atom judging purely by the fact that the Atom isn't based on the Core micro-architecture (yet) and uses an older design.

This processor is based on the Lima core, what's most surprising is that it is found to operate at 8 W at its 1.00 GHz frequency which brings it into the Atom platform's energy domain. The second most surprising point is that this processor will be aided by the powerful AMD 780G core logic (chipset), as opposed to current Atom platforms using a i945G adaptation that has significantly higher thermal envelope as opposed the AMD 780G while being a lot slower (in terms of graphics performance and features). Tom's Hardware conducted a comparison between the two and found that the Athlon-780G combo "knocks-out" Atom-i945G technologically.

Five months into using 'Centrino Atom' to name its ULPC platform, Intel decided to drop the name. The first release of Centrino Atom codenamed Menlow consisted of the Intel Atom processor, a single-package core-logic (chipset), and was meant to serve as a unified branding much like the rest of the Centrino brand.

A company spokesperson for the company, Nick Jacobs has been quoted saying "Basically, we are simplifying and coalescing our efforts around 'Atom' as the single brand for Internet devices,".

It was believed that use of 'Centrino' was confusing and in a way even diluted the brand since Centrino Atom served into UMPC / ULPC netbooks. Part of the reason also was that netbooks that made it to the marked brandished Centrino Atom while using a chipset outside its specifications, in many cases a two-chip i945 + ICH7.

Fujitsu has announced an Intel Atom-based UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC), not to be confused with ULPC. This ultra-portable will focus on the high-end market with a US $1000 to $1200 price tag. It has a 5.6-inch LCD screen, 3.5G data connectivity and GPS and tips the scales at 610g. Specifications can be summarized as:

• Intel Centrino Atom Z530
• SCH US15W (Poulsbo) Chipset
• Touch Screen, 5.6 inches diagonally, 1280 x 800 pixels (WXGA)
• 1 GB DDR2 533 MHz memory
• 60 GB conventional HDD
• Wireless interfaces - Wi-Fi 8021.11n and Bluetooth
• Other - fingerprinting sensor, web-camera, kartovod SD format and CF
• 20wh 2-cell battery

This notebook will be available in three colour models: U2010BU (Ocean Black), U2010GU (Pink Gold), U2010RU (Fuchsia Red).

Intel Atom, the 'small wonder' of the computing industry, may have been making a mark with ULPC notebooks and inexpensive ITX solutions, but the UK-based web-hosting company Bytemark found a new application of this chip, dedicated servers. The Atom processors have sufficient computing power to handle web server processes. In Bytemark's words, they're "pushing the boundaries of what Intel Atom was intended to do". Although for now the design is simplistic, ITX based, Bytemark plans to take this concept to a large-scale, making inexpensive, energy-efficient servers. A dedicated server with a 1.60 GHz Atom, 2 GB memory, 2x 100 GB HDDs in RAID 1 (that's 100 GB of available storage), for £495 (US $992) per annum.

Relations between NVIDIA and Intel have not been at their best of late, with each trying to take every opportunity to take pot-shots at each other. There is still uncertainty about NVIDIA getting the technology assistance to devise a motherboard chipset for Intel's next generation desktop processors.

However, the Ultra Low-Cost PC (ULPC) market has been an overnight success for several companies, be the likes of ASUS and their dozens and dozens of laptops and upcoming desktops for the ULPC market or others like MSI and ECS trying to bring ULPC to the desktop with their motherboard solutions.

Gigabyte announced that a new low-priced tablet PC, the M912V. This ultra-portable and affordable tablet PC has a 8.9" frame has a screen that swivels 180 degrees. It has a screen resolution of 1280 x 768 px. The LCD is backlit to enhance battery life. At the heart of this is a 1.60 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of DDR2 memory, a 160GB SATA HDD, 802.11b/g wireless, Bluetooth, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. Connectivity includes 3 USB 2.0 ports, 56k modem, NIC, an ExpressCard slot, and an internal expansion slot for HSDPA.

With so much packed, the M912V tipps the scales at only 2.86 lbs. Gigabyte's new netbook will be available for purchase later this month with a price tag of $699.

The competition heats up with compact-computing. MSI has released a special motherboard which could compete with the VIA Pico-ITX board. This compact motherboard has a hardwired Intel Atom N230 processor clocked at 1.60 GHz that is passively cooled by an aluminum heatsink, it shares this heatsink with a Intel 945GC northbridge that's the core-logic used accompnied with a ICH7 southbridge. It features an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 and Realtek ALC 888HD audio.

While the board doesn't feature an onboard PSU unlike the offering from VIA, it features two DDR2 slots for DDR2 667/533 MHz, two SATA II ports, an IDE connector, ports arranged in the standard ATX fashion. A PCI slot is provided. The board features onboard ethernet along with 6-channel audio. This board has started selling in Japan, where it's priced at approx. US $95 and measures 19cm x 17cm.

ASUS is planning to launch two new Eee PC variants, the 904 and 905, which have an 8.9-inch display panel but use a similar chassis and keyboard as the company's 10.2-inch models, according to sources at channel vendors.

The Eee PC 904 and 905 will incorporate Intel Atom processors and the major difference between the two and the previous 901 model is that they feature a bigger keyboard. ASUS is still evaluating whether to make changes to the two variants' battery and storage capacity.

ASUS expects the Eee PC 904 and 905 to come out at a similar price band as the current 900 and 901, and will eventually replace them. The company also considers whether to drop prices for the 900 and 901 to flush its inventory or leave them in the market to defend against Acer's Aspire One, noted the sources.

Two 45nm Phenom X4 and an Ultra-Mobile CPU Slated for Q4

NordicHardware reports that in Q4 2008, Advanced Micro Devices is slating two models of 45nm Phenom X4 quad-core chips along with a cheap ultra-mobile CPU aimed to compete with the Intel Atom and VIA Nano processors for release. The two new Phenom parts would be based on the new Denreb core to be succeeded by Propus based CPU's in Q1 2009.

Apart from retail models, AMD plans to release a CPU targeted for the ultra-mobile consumer electronics market. The CPU would be derived from the tested K8 architecture that is supposed to give it a design advantage over competing products from Intel and VIA. A major design advantage is of the memory controller being integrated on die that effectively eliminates the northbridge, saving on power consumption. The CPU has a rated TDP of 8W.

AMD is possibly developing a low-power processor to compete with Intel's "Atom" in the emerging Mobile Internet Device (MID) market. The new processor to counter the Atom will be a low-power AMD64-based design according to leaked slides obtained by Hexus. The processor will feature an integrated memory controller, 16-lane 800MHz HyperTransport link, 256KB of L2 cache, and a 1GHz core clock. The new rumored processor with its integrated northbridge and memory controller is expected to have a TDP of 8W compared to the 1.6GHz Atom N270's 6.5W TDP (2.5 W for the processor and 4W for the Northbridge).

In addition to Intel's highly anticipated single-core Atom (Diamondville) processors, according to unnamed sources the company is also in the works for a dual-core version of the chips in Q3 2008. The first dual-core Atom processor to see light is believed to be named the Atom N330. It will feature two HT (Hyper-Threading) capable cores, 1.6GHz clock speed, 533MHz FSB, 1MB of L2 cache and a TDP rating of 8W. The chip will be aimed at Netbooks, low-cost laptops and desktops.

Intel has confirmed that it is facing production problems with its still unreleased Intel Atom chips, prompted by demands that exceed initial expectations. "We are working closely with our customers to meet their needs," said Intel spokesman Bill Calder. "We're just seeing better-than-anticipated demand." he added. The 45nm single core Intel Atom processor is based on an entirely new design, built for low power and designed specifically for ultra low-cost portable devices such as laptops. The official launch of the Atom chips is scheduled for release in June 2008. Mini-laptops powered by them will be available shortly after. More than 10 PC makers have already placed orders with Intel for Atom chips. However, initial reports suggest that Intel will be able to meet only 40% of these orders and expect the short supply of Atom chips to continue until the third quarter of 2008. Most affected by the shortage are companies like: Acer, Dell, MSI and GIGABYTE.

In a brief conversation Helen Ling, an ASUS representative from the company's UK office, told TechRadar that Intel Atom based Eee PC systems are also going to debut soon. When asked about the arrival of Intel Atom inside the Eee PC she said that the new machine will arrive by the "end of June in [the] UK, I would have thought." Later in the session Ling also added: "I think it should be after Computex". Atom will debut during the 28th Taipei International Information Technology Show (Computex 2008) which will run from June 3 to June 7, 2008. Current ASUS Eee PC 900 low-cost laptops are still powered by a Celeron M processor.