Intel talks about Silverthorne at ISSCC

Posted on Thursday, February 07 2008 @ 20:25 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
DailyTech has some more info about the Intel Silverthorne processor. This is an upcoming mobile chip that will operate at levels as low as 600mW.
Silverthorne takes advantage of Intel’s new 45nm technology. Justin Rattner, CTO of Intel said, “What has a lot of OEMs excited is the dynamic range of this processor. It can be active at less than 1 W, but when it has a workload in front of it--like interpreting some Java byte codes to render a Web page--it can really crank."

Silverthorne performance is said to be on par with the performance of the Intel Pentium M processors that powered the original Intel Centrino notebooks. Intel says that Silverthorne uses multiple power management techniques and can switch in and out of a new C6 deep-sleep-state in a mere 100 microseconds.

As efficient as Silverthorne is according to Intel, it still has a long way to go to compete with cellular based processors used in smartphones. Processors used in smart phones have total power budgets in the range of only 600 milliwatts whereas Silverthorne is in the 2 watt range.

That means that the first generation of Silverthorne devices will be considerably larger than current generation smart phones, though the processor will give the muscle needed to run full versions of Windows Vista. InformationWeek quotes Nathan Brookwood of Insight64 saying, “Silverthorne probably won't appear in anything much smaller than a paperback book. But a follow-on design with lower power consumption in 2009 could very well appear in smart phones.”


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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