Intel announced Sunday that is has chosen the name “Atom” for a new family of ultra-small chips. The “Atom” moniker will be applied to a family of chips with two members that are expected to be released later this quarter. One–previously know as Silverthorne–is a low-power mobile processor destined for the next generation of mobile Internet devices. It incorporates a new low-power state, allowing it to essentially shut down in between processing tasks and limit power consumption.
The other, code-named Diamondville, is a single-core processor for ultra-low-cost laptops. Intel refers to the low-cost notebook design as “netbook” and estimates the pricing for these devices will go as low as $250. Diamondville is a tiny 45-nanometer processor that employs a simpler design than standard Intel processors.
Intel also rebranded its Menlow chip as the Centrino Atom–a low-power companion chip with integrated graphics, a wireless radio, as well as thinner and lighter designs.