As long as the Intel Atom line of CPUs has been around there has been a screen size limit attached to the CPUs. Intel would only officially allow the Atom line to go into netbooks with screens up to 10.2-inches.
Intel has a new Atom CPU set to launch in the second half of 2010 that is called the Atom N550. The CPU is a dual core unit and will be allowed to go into machines with screens of 11.6-inches and 12.1-inches. That will certainly allow users who can live with Atom performance to get a larger screen, making the Atom platform more appealing to some.
Machines that use the new N550 CPU will have to be fitted with at least 1GB of DDR3 RAM and at least a 32GB SSD or 250GB HDD. The easing of restrictions on the CPU use should help Intel increase sales of its Atom line.
via DigiTimes
Filed Under: Hardware, Laptops