The Diamondville Processor

The Diamondville is targeted at Netbooks, what Intel calls Internet-centric computing devices. It appears to be rather similar to the Silverthorne, with the same specifications - a 45 nm processor with a 512KB L2 cache and a 533 MHz FSB.

No further details were forthcoming but it looks like it will be a lower-end version of the Atom processor with a higher TDP. Currently, the Diamondville has a maximum clock speed of 1.6 GHz with a TDP of 4W. That's significantly higher than the Silverthorne, which only hits 2.5W at 1.8 GHz.

Let's take a look at the market segments that Intel has designated for the new Atom processors. The Silverthorne processor will target the MID (Mobile Internet Device) market, while the lower-end Diamondville processor will focus on the Netbooks segment, which feature Internet-centric devices that cost around US$250.

Here's another way of looking at where the two Atom processors would fit in. The lower-power Silverthorne will be used in the smaller and more expensive Mobile Internet Devices or Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPC) while the Diamondville would be used in the larger Netbooks, which would come with larger batteries.

Although the new Intel Atom processors are not mainstream mobile processors, they will have a significant impact on the development of low-cost Netbooks as well as powerful new MIDs and UMPCs. The Atom processors would not only inject greater performance into those devices, they would also allow them to shave at least 12W of power consumption, improving their battery life.

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