Intel’s Atom processors all have a few things in common. They’re low power, low cost chips designed for low cost, low power devices. Intel recently rolled out its “Pine Trail” Atom N450 and N470 chips which replace the N270 and N280 processors that had been powering netbooks for much of 2008 and 2009. But Japanese web site PC Watch reports that Intel might also have a new Atom platform code-named “Oak Trail” up its sleeve.
The idea is that Oak Trail would replace the Atom Z5xx series processors found in a handful of mobile devices including the Sony Vaio P mini-laptop and Asus Eee PC T91MT touchscreen tablet. The Z520, Z530 and other Z-series processors tend to use less power than the Intel Atom N-series processors, and have GMA 500 graphics, which offers HD video acceleration, but overall more sluggish performance.
According to PC Watch, Oak Trail chips would consume less energy than Pine Trail processors. But unlike the Intel Atom Moorestown platform which is designed only for tablets and smartphones such as the OpenTablet 7 and LG GW990, Oak Trail chips could power netbooks running Windows.
At least, I think that’s what PC Watch is saying. Google Translate is no substitute for lessons in Japanese.
