Intel recently detailed its post-Medfield plans for the lucrative smartphone market.
As TG Daily previously reported, the 22nm Merrifield processor – slated for higher-end smartphones in 2013 – boasts a new chip design and a retooled graphics core designed to offer a more “immersive experience” compared to current handsets.
Meanwhile, lower-end x86 smartphones will be powered by a 22-nm integrated chip that is the successor to the Atom Z2000 chip (6331).
“The high end 22nm Atom for phones is of course the new core architecture, but how much of the current uncore gets pulled over is unclear,” Silicon Valley tech guru Charlie Demerjian explained in an article posted on SemiAccurate.
“In any case, it is likely a dual core, and will do the obligatory performance increase with an attendant power decrease. The interesting bits, the uncore, are yet unnamed and capabilities unrevealed. If you take a large chunk out of clock speeds, then lose a core, you get to the ultra sexy 6331.”
In other related Intel news, Santa Clara is reportedly slated to begin fabbing 14nm chips in 2014 and has already begun working on 7nm and 5nm process technologies.
“Our research and development is quite deep, I talk about ten years. The invention continues. We will continue to deliver value to [our investors] and partners through our silicon technology,” Intel CEO Paul Otellini stated during a recent press conference.
“[Essentially], our job is to ensure our silicon is so compelling, in terms of running the Mac better or being a better iPad device, that as they make those decisions [about chips competitors] can’t ignore us. We’re increasingly bringing the best of Intel technology to mobile devices – phones and tablets.”
Otellini also seemed bullish about Santa Clara’s prospects in the hyper-competitive smartphone market, with Intel-powered (Medfield) smartphones recently hitting the streets of India.
“A year ago there was no one who was not an Intel employee who thought Intel stood a chance in this business… And now you’re asking what our market share goals are.”
