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yalanand
@sylvie, thanks for the article. Since Microsoft already has the largest ...
Sanjib.Acharya
There were many news on Intel in 2011 including "leaks" but did not see any of ...
Intel's Medfield benchmarks leaked
Sylvie Barak
12/27/2011 5:36 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO--Purported specifications and benchmarks of Intel Corp.’s upcoming 32nm Medfield platform have been leaked online, detailing performance figures set to rival if not beat current chip market leaders in the tablet space.
According to tech site and forum TR-Zone, the Medfield tablet platform will sport a 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, FM radios and a GPU. A source with inside knowledge of the platform confirmed that the specifications were accurate and added that the GPU was a top of the line offering from its partner Imagination Technologies ltd.
Imagination’s current fastest GPU is the PowerVR SGX543MP2 dual core graphic processor, used by Apple Inc. in the latest iteration of the iPhone. Analysts agree that Imagination currently has the most sophisticated graphics core on the market, outpacing both Qualcomm’s Adreno and Nvidia Corp.’s Tegra offerings.
Initial benchmarks on the Medfield chip, using Java-based CaffeineMark 3, purportedly give Intel’s upcoming tablet platform a score of 10,500, significantly higher than the 7500 scored by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 chip, the 8000 scored by Qualcomm Inc.’s Snapdragon MSM8260 or the 8500 chalked up by Samsung’s Exynos chip. It’s important to note, however, that the aforementioned competitive platforms have all been out for the best part of a year already, while Intel’s is still a powerpoint slide.
Critics have long been skeptical of Intel’s abilities to reduce power sufficiently to be a viable mobile contender, but VR-Zone is reporting the Medfield tablet platform should have an idle TDP of 2.6-watts, with a peak TDP of 3.6W when playing 720p video. An Intel source confirmed that the numbers sounded accurate. If the figures prove to be correct, they would place Intel firmly within ARM’s comfort zone.
In addition, with Intel and Google working closely on Android Ice Cream Sandwich optimization together, the chip firm could finally find itself standing a real chance in the tablet market in 2012.
According to tech site and forum TR-Zone, the Medfield tablet platform will sport a 1.6GHz CPU, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, WiFi, Bluetooth, FM radios and a GPU. A source with inside knowledge of the platform confirmed that the specifications were accurate and added that the GPU was a top of the line offering from its partner Imagination Technologies ltd.
Imagination’s current fastest GPU is the PowerVR SGX543MP2 dual core graphic processor, used by Apple Inc. in the latest iteration of the iPhone. Analysts agree that Imagination currently has the most sophisticated graphics core on the market, outpacing both Qualcomm’s Adreno and Nvidia Corp.’s Tegra offerings.
Initial benchmarks on the Medfield chip, using Java-based CaffeineMark 3, purportedly give Intel’s upcoming tablet platform a score of 10,500, significantly higher than the 7500 scored by Nvidia’s Tegra 2 chip, the 8000 scored by Qualcomm Inc.’s Snapdragon MSM8260 or the 8500 chalked up by Samsung’s Exynos chip. It’s important to note, however, that the aforementioned competitive platforms have all been out for the best part of a year already, while Intel’s is still a powerpoint slide.
Critics have long been skeptical of Intel’s abilities to reduce power sufficiently to be a viable mobile contender, but VR-Zone is reporting the Medfield tablet platform should have an idle TDP of 2.6-watts, with a peak TDP of 3.6W when playing 720p video. An Intel source confirmed that the numbers sounded accurate. If the figures prove to be correct, they would place Intel firmly within ARM’s comfort zone.
In addition, with Intel and Google working closely on Android Ice Cream Sandwich optimization together, the chip firm could finally find itself standing a real chance in the tablet market in 2012.
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ReneCardenas
12/27/2011 6:50 PM EST
Yet to be seen, is this another form of marketing guerilla? tryuing to win converts? ;-)
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Jeanshack
12/27/2011 6:54 PM EST
How are they priced?
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Jay_EE
12/27/2011 11:24 PM EST
Numbers are very disappointing. Intel won't be able to compete in mobile SOC next year again. In mobile SOCs, normal idle power is around a few mW. Even with 40~45nm node dual core configuration, maximum power consumption doesn't exceed 1W, while this single core Medfield consumes more than 3W. With 2W idle power, in standby mode, Medfield will drain 1500mAh battery in 3hours. Early next year other competitors will roll out APs fabricated using 28~32nm technology node and are expected to be at least 30% faster. This Medfield will win only a few design wins in tablets.
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rick.merritt
12/29/2011 3:14 PM EST
I agree. Intel has been offering more performance at the cost of blowing the power and thermal budgets for most smartphones and tablets. They keep saying this will change, but we haven't seen it yet. Maybe at 22 nm.
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abraxalito
12/27/2011 11:34 PM EST
"...the chip firm could finally find itself standing a real chance in the tablet market in 2012." call me skeptical but nothing in this article is at all suggestive of that. There's no compelling reason (so far) to jump ship.
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timoftelaur
12/28/2011 3:22 AM EST
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chanj
12/28/2011 2:08 PM EST
The power consumption might sound like a breakthrough to Intel. Yet, mobile devices require a far low power consumption. In 2012, improvement of battery life of any mobile device will likely be one of the many features for which consumers are looking.
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eewiz
12/29/2011 8:53 AM EST
the power numbers are disappointing. why didnt intel use the 22nm 3d transistors for this platform?
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Jay_EE
12/29/2011 9:46 AM EST
It's because their 22nm technology is only complete for high power logic process (more restrictions on design rules). Normally low leakage SOC technology takes longer time to develop (IP reuse issues/ support for various devices/ tight control on leakage/ low price ...).
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t.alex
12/29/2011 9:56 AM EST
Any leak is normally a good leak :)
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seaEE
12/29/2011 11:09 PM EST
"It’s important to note, however, that the aforementioned competitive platforms have all been out for the best part of a year already, while Intel’s is still a powerpoint slide."
LOL!
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Sanjib.Acharya
12/30/2011 1:52 PM EST
There were many news on Intel in 2011 including "leaks" but did not see any of these getting realized this year. Will it work better for Intel in 2012? I'm hopeful,...only if the scores on the "powerpoint slide" are real numbers.
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yalanand
1/2/2012 5:12 AM EST
@sylvie, thanks for the article. Since Microsoft already has the largest relationship with Intel, do you think Windows Phone will be the first to use it?
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