Processors designed for netbook generally use very little power but also tend to have limited performance. We can notice that all processors on netbooks are slower than the standard processor on laptops. This means that a netbook will be slower when running heavier programs. However, netbooks are perfect for light processes like web surfing, email, and word processing.
Below are common processors found in the netbook segment:
Intel Atom
Intel Atom is the most common processor available for the netbooks. On December 21, 2009, Intel announced the next generation of Atom processors, including the N450, with average power consumption down 20 percent over previous generation. Intel Atom processors provide long battery life so you can stay connected on the go longer, and the processors can enable more energy efficient designs as they are based on 45nm Hi-k next generation Intel Core microarchitecture. Plus, Intel Atom processors include integrated graphics, video, and memory controllers built directly into the CPU.
After the second half of 2010, Intel has released Pineview Atom chips (N455, N475, D425 and D525) that support DDR3 memory. On August 23, 2010 Intel has released Atom N550 (1.50GHz, 1MB L2 cache) – first dual-core processor designed for 10.1-inch netbooks.
On March 1, 2011, Intel has just released new versions of Pineview Atom N570 dual core chip, providing netbook users Internet access on the go and a more responsive experience in the same compact form factor and great battery life as single-core Intel Atom processors. Running at 1.66 GHz, these processors support four threads, with 1 MB of L2 cache, 8.5W TDP and DDR3, helping spur further innovation around netbooks and other devices requiring the low power goodness of Intel Atom architecture.
Intel has said that it will release a new Atom platform in the second half of 2011 for netbooks and nettops codenamed “Cedar Trail”, which will be fabricated on the 32 nm technology. Development of the new chip and platform will begin in late 2010. Intel claims that the chip will boast higher clock speeds and double performance as compared to “Pine Trail”, although details are scarce. The code name of the platform is Cedar View and is rumored to have double the graphical power as the GMA 3150 in the current Pineview platform.
Most 10-inch netbooks on the market today feature single-core Atom processors, but the next generation netbooks with faster dual-core Atom are becoming increasingly common.
| Processor Number | Code Name | Clock Speed | Bus Speed | Cache | Max TDP | Number of Cores | Instruction Set | Integrated Graphics | Memory | Launch Date |
Atom N2800 |
Cedar Trail (32 nm) |
1.86 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
6.5 W | Dual | 64-bit | Yes | DDR3 1066MHz | December 28,2011 |
| Atom N2600 |
Cedar Trail (32 nm) |
1.66 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
3.5 W | Dual | 64-bit | Yes | DDR3 800MHz | December 28, 2011 |
| Atom D2700 |
Cedar Trail (32 nm) |
2.13 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L3 Cache |
10 W | Dual | 64-bit | Yes | DDR3 800/1066MHz | December 28, 2011 |
| Atom D2500 |
Cedar Trail (32 nm) |
1.86 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
10 W | Dual | 64-bit | Yes | DDR3 800/1066MHz | December 28, 2011 |
| Atom N570 | Pineview (45 nm) |
1.66 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
8.5 W | Dual | 64-bit | Yes | DDR3 800MHz | March 1, 2011 |
| Atom N550 | Pineview (45 nm) |
1.50 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
8.5 W | Dual | 64-bit | Yes | DDR3 800MHz | August 23, 2010 |
| Atom D525 | Pineview (45 nm) |
1.80 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
13 W | Dual | 64-bit | Yes | DDR2/DDR3 800MHz | June 21, 2010 |
| Atom N475 | Pineview (45 nm) |
1.83 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 512 KB L2 Cache |
6.5 W | Single | 64-bit | Yes | DDR2/DDR3 800MHz | June 1, 2010 |
| Atom N455 | Pineview (45 nm) |
1.66 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 512 KB L2 Cache |
6.5 W | Single | 64-bit | Yes | DDR2/DDR3 800MHz | June 1, 2010 |
| Atom N470 | Pineview (45 nm) |
1.83 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 512 KB L2 Cache |
6.5 W | Single | 64-bit | Yes | DDR2 667MHz | March 1, 2010 |
| Atom N450 | Pineview (45 nm) |
1.66 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 512 KB L2 Cache |
5.5 W | Single | 64-bit | Yes | DDR2 667MHz | December 21, 2009 |
| Atom N280 | Diamondville (45 nm) |
1.66 GHz | 667 MHz FSB | 512 KB L2 Cache |
2.5 W | Single | 32-bit | No | February 6, 2009 | |
| Atom N270 | Diamondville (45 nm) |
1.60 GHz | 533 MHz FSB | 512 KB L2 Cache |
2.5 W | Single | 32-bit | No | June 3, 2008 | |
| Atom 330 | Diamondville (45 nm) |
1.60 GHz | 533 MHz FSB | 1 MB L2 Cache |
8 W | Dual | 64-bit | No | June 3, 2008 | |
| Atom Z530 | Silverthorne (45 nm) |
1.60 GHz | 533 MHz FSB | 512 KB L2 Cache |
2 W | Single | 32-bit | No | April 2, 2008 | |
| Atom Z520 | Silverthorne (45 nm) |
1.33 GHz | 533 MHz FSB | 512 KB L2 Cache |
2 W | Single | 32-bit | No | April 2, 2008 |
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Atom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Atom_microprocessors
http://www.intel.com/products/processor/atom/
Full Intel Atom Processors Comparisions
AMD Processors
The direct competitor of the Intel Atom processor line is the AMD Fusion C- and E-series. The C-series (C-30: single core, C-50: dual cores) has a TDP (9W) similar to the Atom, the higher clocked E-series (E-240: single core, E-350 and E-450: dual core) comes with a TDP of 18 Watts what corresponds more to an Atom including a dedicated GPU (e.g. ION2, ATI 5430). The processors include a single or dual core 64-bit CPU with out-of-order execution, DDR3 memory controller and an 80-core Radeon GPU. The performance of the E-series is significantly better – up to 326.5% better game performance.
| Processor Number | Code Name | Clock Speed | Bus Speed | Cache | Max TDP | Socket | Number of Cores | Instruction Set | Launch Date |
| E-Series E-450 |
Zacate (40 nm) |
1.65 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
18W | BGA-413 | Dual | 64-bit | August 22, 2011 |
| E-Series E-350 |
Zacate (40 nm) |
1.60 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
18W | BGA-413 | Dual | 64-bit | January 4, 2011 |
| C-Series C-60 |
Ontario (40 nm) |
1.00 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
9W | BGA-413 | Dual | 64-bit | August 22, 2011 |
| C-Series C-50 | Ontario (40 nm) |
1.00 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
9W | BGA-413 | Dual | 64-bit | January 4, 2011 |
| C-Series C-30 | Ontario (40 nm) |
1.20 GHz | 2.5 GT/s | 512 KB L2 Cache |
9W | BGA-413 | Single | January 4, 2011 | |
| Athlon II K325 | Geneva (45 nm) |
1.30 GHz | 2.0 GT/s | 2 MB L2 Cache |
12W | S1G4 | Dual | 64-bit | May 15, 2010 |
| Athlon II K125 | Geneva (45 nm) |
1.70 GHz | 2.0 GT/s | 1 MB L2 Cache |
12W | S1G4 | Single | 64-bit | May 12, 2010 |
| Athlon Neo X2 L335 | Congo (65 nm) |
1.60 GHz | 512 KB L2 Cache |
18 W | ASB1 | Dual | June, 2009 | ||
| Athlon Neo MV-40 | Huron (65 nm) |
1.60 GHz | 1.6 GT/s | 512 KB L2 Cache |
15 W | ASB1 | Single | January 9, 2009 |
More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AMD_mobile_microprocessors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Fusion
If you want your netbook as your primary computer, and you have a number of multimedia and gaming applications to be used then consider a dual-core netbook with the Intel Atom N550, Atom N570, Atom D525 or AMD E-350, E-450. You will lose some battery life, but get much better performance.
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