Atom N280 leaked

INTEL IS PREPPING the next small step in netbook computing, according to a report at Dodgytimes.

The release of a tweaked Atom processor, dubbed the N280, will bring along a small speed upgrade, 1.66GHz, and a higher 667MHz FSB. The processor will remain single core but will gain a companion chipset to replace the rather inadequate 945GSE, the GN40. We'll go out on a limb and say it's a stripped-down G4x class chipset/graphics core capable of some 1080p video decode, because that's what Intel really needs.

Already the netbook makers in Taiwan have been confronted with the BOM for this part reporting the new platform will fetch a 30% price premium over the current generation of Atom processors, says Dodgy. A higher >10W TDP is to be expected, but then there's no such thing as a free lunch.

Launch date is said to be 1H09, which isn't too far away. That's likely to get pulled-in depending on how many design wins AMD and Nvidia score this quarter. Knowing the way Intel specs these things up, a 2GHz part is likely to follow close behind.

Intel looks like it's tackling two challenges at the same time: a slight performance bump to counter AMD's Neo and a semi-decent graphics part with HD decode to counter Nvidia's Ion, somewhat. It's been a one-horse race so far, you see.

Asus, Gigabyte and Acer seem to be the early adopters, although Gigabyte has been relatively netbook-shy until now. µ