With the arrival of the Intel® Atom™ processor N2000 and D2000 series (formerly codenamed “Cedar Trail”), developers have an intriguing new option for high-performance, low-power designs. The new parts are the first Intel® Atom™ processors to be fabricated in a 32 nm process, enabling significant improvements in power consumption along with the addition of major new features. Most notably, the graphics engine has been heavily upgraded, giving the new processo...Read More

As competition grows, embedded designers must pack increased performance, real-time connectivity, and interactive graphics features into each new design while reducing power requirements to eliminate fans or extend battery life. Some of the latest specifications in critical applications such as healthcare also call for always-on, always-connected embedded devices to eliminate delays due to startup and data updates. The current generation of consumers that grew up with computers and smart phones...Read More

In a December 14th, 2010 E-cast entitled "Take your Design to the Next Level with Intel® Atom™” sponsored by the Intel® Embedded Alliance, experts from Advantech and Adeneo presented hardware and software details on the first Intel® architecture processor created specifically for embedded designs.   Curt Schwaderer, Technology Editor, moderated the event for OpenSystems Media. Speakers  were Charlie Wu, Product Manager for Advantech’s Embedded Single B...Read More

The new Intel® Atom™ processor E6x5C series includes an FPGA in the same package as the processor, enabling developers to couple custom I/O and hardware accelerators to the popular Intel® architecture.  (As shown in Figure 1, the processor and FPGA reside in the same package but use separate dies.)  This new processor, previously known under the code name “Stellarton,” targets applications in the transportation, energy, industrial control, medical, and ...Read More

Newcomers to Intel® Architecture (IA) processors and chip sets will find highly-integrated support for a plethora of I/O options in every platform. Indeed, no other processor architecture enjoys the same level of I/O integration that’s been driven by a combination of high-volume applications including PCs, workstations, servers, netbooks, notebooks, and embedded applications. The result is support for any I/O or connectivity needed by a design team and availability of that robust I/O...Read More

If you’re an embedded geek like me, this year’s Intel Developer Forum (IDF) was a great place to be.  I saw a ton of cool products and demos that got me excited about the future of embedded.  The launch of the new Intel® Atom™ processor E6xx series was at the top of my list.  I think this new processor—which is the first Intel® architecture chip designed specifically for embedded—will enable for a whole new generation of highly connected, h...Read More

This Monday startup SeaMicro launched a server that packs 512 Intel® Atom™ processors in a 10U chassis. According to the company, this remarkable piece of hardware can deliver the same performance as conventional server while using only 1/4 the power and space. I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed by this server. It really shows the potential of the Intel Atom, and it demonstrates the value of questioning your assumptions—lessons that directly apply to embedded system...Read More