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A big splash at the Intel Developer Forum in Shanghai was the unveiling of Intel's Atom chips and prototypes of devices that will use it. The chips are geared for Netbooks and MIDs, or Mobile Internet Devices, that are smaller than a notebook but bigger than a handheld.

The chips are expected to use between 0.65 watts and 2.4 watts compared with notebook chips that typically draw between 20 watts and 35 watts.

"This is as important to Intel as the launch of the Pentium in the mid-1990s", Intel Chief Executive Paul Otellini said in a video played during an IDF keynote speech.

Patrick wrote:I'm going to try get Dirk Hohndel from Intel on to discuss the impact of the new Atom CPUs.

The Atom N270 is quite different in this respect: It has a ready-made market. The N270 will go into an existing market segment--Netbooks--and will replace the popular Celeron in many cases, making this Atom potentially a high-volume chip. For example, currently, the Eee PC and Intel Classmate (technically Netbooks) use the Celeron. Versions of both these compact notebooks are slated to use the Atom. Based on Intel's description of the market, this category of Netbooks will use the N270 (see graphic).

Though the die (the actual processor inside the chip package) is the same for both the Atom Z5XX series and N270, the packaging and chipsets are different (see graphic). The N270 will use the 945GSE and 82801 (ICH7M) core logic. A version of this chipset (with 950 integrated graphics) is used in low-cost notebooks and desktops today. The Celeron has traditionally used the lower-end 915 chipset.

So, the way it shakes out is: the Atom Z5XX series for MIDs; the N270 (and upcoming processors) for Netbooks; the Celeron for low-cost notebooks. Note: the Atom Z5XX series includes a single-chip with integrated graphics called the Intel System Controller Hub.