Intel prepping x86-based system-on-a-chip

Intel may have sold its mobile chip unit to Marvell, but it seems that the company hasn't entirely given up on the mobile biz, with the company recently detailing plans for an x86-based system-on-a-chip. According to HKEPC Hardware, the so-called 'Tolapai' unit will be based on Pentium M architecture, and pack 256KB of L2 cache and support for DDR 2 memory, along with a full compliment of integrated connectivity options, including PCI Express, USB, SATA, Gigabit Ethernet, RS-232 and a cellular link, among other goodies. The initial lineup will apparently come in 600, 1,066 and 1,200MHz varieties to start with, boasting a power consumption of 13-22W, and support for Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows XP Embedded on the OS front. While Intel will first be aiming the system-on-a-chip at embedded applications, as Reg Hardware speculates, it would seem to be just as applicable to handhelds and other mobile devices in need of a little more power. What's not so clear, unfortunately, is when we might actually see a device running on the thing, although the system-on-a-chip itself will supposedly be ready by the end of the year.

[Via Reg Hardware]

[Evan @ Feb 7th 2007 9:31AM]

From a programmer's point of view: we do not need another mobile architecture to support. It's bad enough that API support is not enforced (I'm looking at you, brew) and every handset model must be tested. At least we could launch a successful product while only working with one compiler, and optimizing for one CPU architecture (ARM). And Intel wants to add more variability? Intel just made mobile programmer's jobs even more difficult.

[Jack @ Feb 7th 2007 10:31AM]

13-22W hardly makes it applicable to mobile apps.

[SweBen @ Feb 7th 2007 10:27AM]

22W power consumption in a handheld device? Well, that could work...if you have a laptop battery strapped to your back!

[Jonathan Sundy @ Feb 7th 2007 10:38AM]

I'm pretty sure this is aimed at UMPCs.

I wonder how it compares to the c7 in power consumption and performance/watt.

I can't wait for UMPCs to actually be all they were promised to be.

[futurepastnow @ Feb 7th 2007 11:26PM]

"I'm pretty sure this is aimed at UMPCs."

Definitely. This should really reduce the cost and complexity of UMPCs.

[Jonathan Sundy @ Feb 7th 2007 10:40AM]

Oh, and car computer like devices would also be a good place for this kind of tech.

[telepheedian @ Feb 7th 2007 12:05PM]

Isn't this being used in the apple tv?

[Jonathan Sundy @ Feb 8th 2007 6:58AM]

I wish I could believe it would reduce the cost, but via has a system on a chip solution, atleast thats what I thought the c7 platform was, and although it's cheaper than intel it's still not the price point these things need to hit ($500 so every student can have one).

It's a great start off in the right direction though since Intel may not bring price to the game, but it sure will bring performance.

[xbillybobx @ Feb 8th 2007 6:12PM]

Evan,
Intel is not trying to add complexity to mobile programmer's lives, but just the opposite. The goal is to be able to leverage existing IA (Intel Architechture) but on the mobile platform. ARM has limited functionality, especially on the multimedia side of things. Being able to shrink the existing Core2Duo in both power and size (and combine it with north and southbridge functionality) would allow the HUGE amount of existing applications for x86 to be used in the UMPC market. Intel is trying to make things easier based on existing standards.