Silverthorne is a low-power consumption processor which will be used by Menlow, a new platform for Ultra Mobile PCs. These chips will have a power consumption of only 5W to 12W, DigiTimes reports.
As a result UMPC makers such as VIA could face competition in the future, pointed out sources at Taiwan-based IT makers. Additionally, if Intel makes a successful breakthrough in the ultra-mobile market, it could cause a serious off-balance in the future notebook, MID (mobile Internet device) and UMPC processor market, the sources commented.The first Menlow based consumer devices are expected in the first half of 2008.
McCaslin A100 and A110 processors, which will form the basis of Intel's ultra-mobile platform in 2007, are only a quarter of the size of the old UMPC processors that Intel announced at Fall 2006 IDF, while the Silverthorne processor, which is scheduled to launch in 2008, goes even further at only one-seventh of the size. This enables the CPU to lower power consumption to just one-tenth, noted sources at Intel.