Intel talks about platform plans at IDF - more performance for less power

Posted on Tuesday, August 23 2005 @ 23:02 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
Noting that high-tech companies are growing again as a result of delivering exciting new products, Intel Corporation CEO and President Paul S. Otellini said the industry is on a new "performance per watt" course that will deliver powerful Intel-based computers that are increasingly smaller, sleeker and more energy-efficient.

Describing Intel's role in driving innovation at the Intel Developer Forum, Otellini unveiled the company's next-generation, power-optimized micro-architecture for future digital home, enterprise, mobile and emerging market platforms -- and low-power products that will enable a new category of converged consumer devices.

Intel will introduce the micro-architecture in the second half of 2006, which combines the strength of the company's current Intel NetBurst and Pentium M micro-architectures and adds new features. The multicore foundation will help enable unique computer designs that will power the industry's most sophisticated and user-friendly digital home and office PCs. It will also help IT managers increase responsiveness and productivity while at the same time reducing real-estate and electricity burdens company's face as server data centers grow.

"You're going to see Intel combine its R&D innovation, manufacturing and technology leadership with energy-efficient micro-architectures and powerful multicore processors to deliver unique platforms best tailored to individual needs," Otellini said. "We will deliver 'factor of 10' breakthroughs to a variety of platforms that can reduce energy consumption tenfold or bring 10 times the performance of today's products. At the same time, Intel innovation will continue to deliver unique digital enterprise, home, office and mobile features, such as greater manageability, security and virtualization, along with an increasing capability to manage and view digital content."

Otellini showed the first public demonstration of Merom, Conroe and Woodcrest - processors for notebook, desktop and server platforms designed on Intel's advanced 65-nanometer technology manufacturing process. He also said Intel has more than 10 processor projects that contain four (quad-core) or more processor cores per chip.

Otellini also announced that forthcoming lower-power products will lead to a new category of ultra energy-efficient "Handtop PC" devices that provide a converged communication and PC-like experience but require less than a watt of processing power and weigh under a pound.

In an environment of rising global energy use and prices, Otellini said that significant decreases in a computer's wattage consumption could save billions of dollars in electricity as hundreds of millions of new PCs and servers are sold in the coming years. Intel and analysts predict that as many as 200 million computers may be sold this year alone.

Emphasizing Intel's strategy to deliver ground-breaking platforms tailored for the digital home, enterprise and developing countries, Otellini showcased Intel's concept "community computer" via video from a remote village in India. The emerging market-targeted computer has the ability to run for several hours on a car battery and withstand temperatures greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit -- and includes screens and filters to reduce the effect of wind storms, dust and bugs. The PC can provide Internet access through wireless networks such as WiMAX.

Otellini emphasized that WiMAX plays a key role in both delivering high-speed broadband and premium entertainment to digital homes, as well as Internet access to rural areas.

Intel's digital enterprise focus includes creating and rapidly adopting technology innovation focused on business needs, such as the company's "star technologies" (star)Ts as an example. The (star)Ts include manageability and virtualization that cover Intel's platforms portfolio -- from Intel-based clients to servers and networks -- and provide new consumer and IT benefits.

Intel and Lenovo demonstrated Intel VT, one such (star)T. Among other capabilities, virtualization will enable IT managers to "cordon off" a section of the platform for maintenance, to troubleshoot or download software without interrupting a PC's functions. The feature will be part of Intel's next-generation, stable image platform for office PCs.

Intel is also working closely with the emerging digital entertainment industry to spur innovation in the home, including PC and CE devices that work together effortlessly and deliver the latest online content services for anytime, anywhere access. Specifically, Intel is developing a platform and related technologies to power these PC and CE devices, as well as working with the entertainment and computing industries on interoperability standards and digitizing content.


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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