According to some, Intel is trying to focus its future business on their Atom processor, vying to get it included in anything that needs a CPU. Not servers, of course: Intel will keep pushing its Xeon CPUs for servers. Except for those instances where an Atom processor actually makes sense in a server…
A number of companies, including Microsoft, are experimenting with the use of the energy-efficient Atom CPU in servers. As long as the server isn’t doing a lot of computation — say encryption, or scientific analyses — an Atom CPU may work just fine. It seems like an attractive choice for machines running Windows Home Server.
This is, in many ways, history repeating. Anyone remember the power-saving 486SL series of chips from the early 90s?
Via PC World.
Intel might be avoiding the downfalls described in The Innovator’s Dilemma. For those who don’t know, the first chapter talks about the shift from 14 to 8 inch hard drives, then 8 to 5.25, and then to laptop size. The companies that had the largest revenues couldn’t get themselves to adopt the smaller sizes because the MB/$ ratio didn’t make sense, market share didn’t exist, and a load of other reasons. At each shift, most all of the companies died out shortly, and some lingered for a little while before dieing off.
Intel might be avoiding this downfall and taking advantage of a trend that could increase daily “consumption” of electronics for society, kind of like how Coca Cola did. (Incomes increased 1:7, price of coke increase 1:2 depending on volumes purchased) The Atom is a lower revenue per unit item, and at least initially, I bet their profit margins won’t be so nice on it. What they do have potential of getting is volume.
Here’s my concern – why don’t I see the Atom in devices like the iPhone? Netbooks are a great use and could be, but I want to see these things everywhere, in our cars, in our phones, ebook readers, etc. Maybe even someday finding their way into kitchen appliances?
In my opinion, the way of the future involves a lot of independent devices that serve certain functions. Intel has a chance at getting it, I just wonder if the Atom is tailored too much to netbooks.
Anyone have some more insight? If I’m wrong about things like the Atom not being used in phones and other devices, let me know.
I believe phones and other devices aren’t using Atom processors because they don’t need x86 architecture.
I think Atoms are typically using 3-5 watts and that would destroy a small cellphone battery.
Instead they use ARM processors and custom OSes.
Yes, the current Atom processors consume more power. However, Intel is racing to produce its next generation of Atom chips called “Moorestown” which is supposed to consume 1/10th of the power of current Atom chips. BTW, Intel recently announced a design win with LG Electronics for high-end devices (Smart Phones).
Shankar, thanks for the response and good point.
I dug around a bit more and Moorestown is something we should see in the 2010-2011 timeframe. Arm processors will be moving to a 45nm process around that time while Intel will be moving to a 32nm process.