AMD to release Atom killer netbook CPUs tomorrow?

We've been hearing rumors of AMD's Atom killer CPUs for over a year now. Unfortunately, vapor doesn't help the bottom line -- it does however explain AMD's conspicuous absence from the deluge of netbooks now trumping laptops for shelf-space. AMD's CEO, Dirk Meyer, has promised on a few occasions (as recently as the Q3 earnings call) to unveil "Bobcat" in November. So seeing the chips on display at tomorrow's analyst conference is pretty much a given. Check back then for all the details.

[Lance @ Nov 12th 2008 5:37AM]

Here's hoping they provide an alternative/distinct advantage to Intel's Atom

[Muhammed @ Nov 12th 2008 7:04AM]

AMD FTW!

[Erb @ Nov 12th 2008 5:42AM]

A little competition never hurt anyone, Here's to AMD for getting back in the game (Hopefully)

[ArcticFox @ Nov 12th 2008 5:42AM]

Hope so, i remember reading a few weeks ago some website did a test between Atom and 945 chipset and a low voltage single core Athlon 64 and 790 chipset and the Athlon used considerably less power than that Atom while being tons faster.

Interested to see what AMD can pull off.

[Meth @ Nov 12th 2008 6:31AM]

Thats cos the 945 chipset uses 10X the power of the Atom itself. If Intel were not trying to dump excess 945s on the market and used Poulsbo (SCH) then we'd see a different story and we'd see a new market for low power PCs not just netbooks.

[Macdelaney @ Nov 12th 2008 12:57PM]

@Meth
Also we wouldn't we able to use neither SATA drives (not that important) nor more than 1Gb of ram.

[fehu @ Nov 12th 2008 5:45AM]

It's the overly discussed Turion low-low power edition?

[dotAaron @ Nov 12th 2008 5:45AM]

Ooo will be interesting to see what they do :D

They could have the advantage for graphics in these netbooks, the on board ATI stuff they've been doing is top notch and would easily kill the GMA950 :)

[Cypher @ Nov 12th 2008 2:16PM]

Can you run OS X on an AMD?

[Ryback @ Nov 12th 2008 7:31AM]

No, you can't run OSX on an AMD plattform due to Apple's EULA. Apple ties the OSX to their own hardware and they don't put AMD processors in their PCs.

[Deathpony @ Nov 12th 2008 10:38AM]

@Ryback

the hackintosh comunity already ported os X leopard on my a great number of amd machines :P

http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.php/HCL_10.5.2/Desktops

[Ryback @ Nov 13th 2008 3:46AM]

@Deathpony

I am fully aware of the osx86 project. I think it is great and it is on my to do list. I am talkin about Apple not allowing people to run OSX on anything but Apple-branded hardware.

[Mikeo @ Nov 12th 2008 6:35AM]

They need to focus on the slightly more upclass netbook. You know, the future "Windows 7 compliant" one.

At low power/cost they have quite a disadvantage due to their OOO execution, but scale it up a little and they look perfect. (Yes this will probably use more power, but when the 2nd gen 45nm chip comes, I think the gap will close up considerably. It just needs to be cheap.)

[pfromg @ Nov 12th 2008 6:56AM]

I am looking for a low power, netbook type machine.But as a techhead , I can't bring myself to buy something takes me back 10 years speed wise.
If AMD really can do the same with the same (or less) power and double the speed of the 330 , im sold.

[loosely_coupled @ Nov 14th 2008 6:06AM]

"tech head".. god that is cringe worthy!

[Dan @ Nov 12th 2008 6:57AM]

With the official nehalem core i7 launch this coming Monday, I have to say, I couldn't care less about AMD right now.

[L @ Nov 12th 2008 7:06AM]

Yeah, with all those Nehalm-based netbooks around...wait, what?

[Dan @ Nov 12th 2008 7:16AM]

I wasn't implying nehalem is a netbook chip. With a technology leap as big as nehalem is, I don't see any reason to get excited over anything coming from a company that is at least 18 months behind the intel curve. Netbooks have their place (I guess), but when it comes to keeping your eyes on real innovation, I'll be watching intel and not...I'm sorry I already forgot the name of that other company.

[Ryback @ Nov 12th 2008 7:33AM]

What leap? You mean onchip memory controller or QuickPath Interconnect or maybe hyperthreading?

[Gregg @ Nov 12th 2008 7:11AM]

Is this the same AMD who's VP said

"Every year there's something new, some shiny new thing that captures the attention of everybody. Sometimes it takes hold, sometimes it doesn't. If you remember last year, it was all about UMPCs. I don't know about you but I haven't seen a ton of UMPCs out there in the marketplace, really selling in volume. This year, there's been a ton of discussions about netbooks. It's a potential market. AMD is taking a wait and see attitude on it", says Moorhead.

Video here http://www.uberpulse.com/us/2008/08/netbooks_or_full_size_notebooks_same_price_says_amd_prefers_to_wait_and_see_video.php

[Ian @ Nov 12th 2008 9:10AM]

And.....they did, and they decided to release something after observing the market.

Did you have a point?

[Terry @ Nov 12th 2008 7:17AM]

The consumer is so suckered by all these new tech toys. Netbooks on the low end are pure shit! They are too small and underpowered. They are nothing but a repackaged umpc. Period.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 12th 2008 7:20AM]

I would like to see you prove that 100% of activities that you use a computer for are incapable of being run on a netbook. If somebody just wants simple functions then a full size notebook is too big and overpowered, thus the draw of something that is too small and underpowered.

[changturkey @ Nov 12th 2008 7:31AM]

Think of the children!

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 12th 2008 9:26AM]

It sounds like a heavy flow day for you.

[scape @ Nov 12th 2008 8:59AM]

AMD rocks, and has great and fantastic ideas for the lower budgets. I for one use turion in my laptop, it's fantastic and does the job fine. i also think it's safe to say atom is a big waste when it's bridged with the behemoth controller...i have a feeling amd has a better idea :)

[htd @ Nov 12th 2008 9:19AM]

is the product released to the market? it sounds more like a press release...

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 12th 2008 9:25AM]

It might be better, but will it be better ENOUGH?

[Ryan Hamilton @ Nov 12th 2008 9:27AM]

Need to give props to my Alma Mater, Ohio University for stealing their Bobcats logo!

[jen @ Nov 12th 2008 9:57AM]

Go Bobcats!

Man, I miss Athens...

[Nick @ Nov 12th 2008 11:15AM]

DUDE! There ARE other people who recognized that logo! I completely freaked when I saw the OU Bobcat staring at me from Engadget until i read the article and realized it was just a clever ploy to sucker in people like us...
I'm still in Athens Jen... Don't miss it. It's changing. I'm getting my BSS in March and starting Grad in the fall, but it's going too many different places away from Old Athens. Bobs IGA is now a freaking parking lot!

[Thomas Ricker @ Nov 12th 2008 12:49PM]

yo, I'm the author, I went to OU. Burrito buggy for the win.

Thomas

[DJ SlipStream @ Nov 12th 2008 3:34PM]

I'm here doing my first quarter and its flipping awesome!!

GO BOBCATS!

btw Goodfella's on a Natturday night is sooooo goood

[Madison @ Nov 13th 2008 8:29AM]

OU Bobcat FTW?!

[chris @ Nov 12th 2008 9:53AM]

They stole my the logo from my Alma Mater.

GO BOBCATS!

[csnoke @ Nov 12th 2008 10:21AM]

Hahah.. I thought the same, thing... GO BOBCATS!

[Allen @ Nov 12th 2008 6:07PM]

I'm in Athens now too!
Go Bobcats!

[chris r @ Nov 12th 2008 8:35PM]

I love that all the comments here are OU Bobcat related... screw AMD and their dumb processors. GO BOBCATS!

[EK @ Nov 12th 2008 9:34PM]

Just another lame attempt by AMD. I love how they title this article with "Atom Killer" Sorry AMD it is too late, and you are going down in flames. I am glad INTEL FOR LIFE!!!

[SPOKE @ Nov 12th 2008 9:38PM]

the problem is, intel has a good year over OEMs for putting their chip inside every [notable] netbook out there. Unless you call the via or geode a cpu... (baw ahw haw) I dont.

[RVin @ Nov 12th 2008 10:39PM]

God, I miss the CI and the Burrito Buggy. Back the 'Cats!

[Nick @ Nov 12th 2008 11:16AM]

Dude, you need a Mikes Dog Shack $2 chili-cheese dog.
Fan-damn-tastic after a night of peanuts at the CI!

[Ian @ Nov 13th 2008 3:33AM]

It's tomorrow. Where are the chips?