Intel announced its new Atom processor for smartphones and tablets. The new dual-core CPU Atom Z3460 and Z3480 (Merrifield) and quad-core Atom Z3560 and Z3580 (Moorefield) are all based on 22nm architecture Silvermont and equipped with the new generation GPU PowerVR Series 6 Rogue. The Atom processor so far have not been quite competitive in the consumption / performance ratio compared to ARM-based counterparts. The situation may change because Atom processors will soon arrive in the market with the 22nm Airmont architecture SoC, with the two Atom Z3460 and Z3480 Merrifield and the two Atom Z3560 and Z3580 Moorefield presented for the first time at Mobile World Congress.
Intel introduces for the first time in the Atom type family out-of-order solutions with much higher performance at the same clock rate. The new Atom adopt even higher performance graphics processor, PowerVR, belonging to the series 6 Rogue. The two Merrifield dual core directed at entry-level smartphones and tablets, are distinguished only by the operating frequency, equal to 1.6 and 2.13 GHz (peak clock rate) respectively. Both support a maximum of 4 GB of RAM and up to 256 GB of internal memory and a GPU PowerVR G6400 with four cores with support for OpenCL API. The new Merrifield also integrate Intel’s latest generation Image Signal Processor, with support from the a 13 MP rear camera capable of capturing video at 1080p @ 60 FPS and 2.1 MP front webcam and a programmable video processor. The SoC Merrifield will support Google Android 4.4.2 KitKat.
The Moorefield Atom Z3560 and Z3580 are quad core counterparts but share all the technical specifications described above, with the exception of the operating frequency, amounting to 1.8 GHz and 2:33, and the PowerVR G6430 GPU model, with four more powerful cores. Since all four SoCs are based on x86 architecture, they support 64-bit OS and applications, as they are doing lately also the manufacturers of ARM solutions.