Intel targets mobile market with new Silvermont architecture

Manufactured using its 22nm SoC process and boasting its 3d Tri-Gate transistors, Intel says the microarchitecture provides three times the peak performance of current generation Atom processors, or the same performance using a fifth of the power. As well as being targeted at mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, entry level laptops and in-vehicle infotainment systems, Silvermont is being aimed at microservers and network and communication infrastructure devices. The microarchitecture boasts a new out of order execution engine, a new multi-core system that is scalable up to eight cores, support for power sharing between cpu cores and gpus, and hardware management of burst frequency based on thermal, electrical and power delivery constraints. "Through our design and process technology co-optimisation we exceeded our goals for Silvermont," said Intel fellow and chief architect, Belli Kuttanna. "By taking advantage of our strengths in microarchitecture development and leading edge process technology, we delivered a technology package that enables significantly improved performance and power efficiency – all while delivering higher frequencies." The first Silvermont based products are expected in the second half of 2013. Going forward, Intel says it will accelerate future generations of the low power microarchitecture on a yearly cadence.