2GHz ARM Cortex-A9 Chip coming to the Linux device near you

Last Wednesday, ARM Ltd announced that their 2GHz version of the Cortex-A9 microprocesor. This 2GHz ARM CPU is aimed at smartbooks and smartphones. The most exciting point to note is that this powerful CPU consumes just 0.5w even while running at its peak.

ARM actually wanted its speedy cortex CPU to battle against the Intel Atom CPU which are used in most of the netbooks. Sadly, Microsoft has no plans to port it to the ARM platform. Call it fortunate or unfortunate, you will be stucked with Linux powered smartbooks. Do not get us wrong. We love Linux, especially Ubuntu, but majority of the people find Windows OS more gratifying.

I feel acutely that Microsoft should consider porting Windows 7 (or atleast Windows XP) to ARM architecture. This would enable manufactures to make phones and ARM-based MIDs run desktop operating systems like Windows XP/7 or even Mac OS X.

Atom N470 (1.83GHz) to be launched in Q1 2010

Intel’s next generation processor for netbooks AKA Intel Pine Trail/Pine View will make its debut next year. Now, we have come to know that Atom N470 processor, a pineview CPU that runs at 1.83GHz clock speed is coming in Q1 2010.

Please note that this is still a single-core processor and we will wait for quite some time for Intel to announce dual core processors for its netbooks. The CPU itself has 6.5W TPD which is more than double more compared to N270 1.6GHz Atom, but you have to remember that Atom N470 has 200MHz IGP integrated and the TDP is now calculated for both chips

Nvidia Launches G210 – Another 40nm chip – DirectX 10.1 compatible

Nvidia has launched its second DirectX 10.1 compatible card, Geforce G210. The new graphic card is directed towards the OEM market. This new card uses a 40nm chip. G210 is an entry level graphic card. Its GT cards are meant for the mainstream market. The is easily able to play 1080p video under Windows Vista [...]

Shuttle VIA-powered nettop – ES series

Shuttle has announced two VIA-based nettops, XS92 and XS29 that will be showcased at Computex 2009. XS92 will come with faster VIA Nano L CPU and XS29F will come with more power efficient VIA Nano U CPU. Both of the CPU consume between 5W to 8W which is quite an achievement for a VIA-powered nettop.