Intel Launches FPGA-equipped Atom Processor

Intel has just launched what is believed to be the first configurable Intel Atom-based processor, known as the Atom E600C series, which combines an Intel Atom Tunnel Creek chip with an Altera Field Programmable Gate Array.

The processor series will give significantly more flexibility for ODMs and OEMs, because they will be able to use the FPGA to be able to make fundamental changes in the hardware level, without having to go through a hardware revision cycle, thus lowering the overall development cost and also decreasing the time the product is released to the market.

During the launch, Intel's vice president Doug Davis claimed,"Our customers needs are continually evolving and they look to Intel to provide leading-edge products and technologies that will help them differentiate and compete in the markets they serve. Our new configurable Atom series helps to address these customer needs and provides greater flexibility with a simplified product choice, through one vendor."

One implication of this is that the customers are free to license one of the competitor ARM's chip designs and combine it with an FPGA. The problem is that then you will have to deal with two different companies and Intel is hoping that a majority of the ODMs and OEMs would rather prefer to stick with a single company. ARM has been an industry leader in the embedded computing market since a long time and Intel is trying to claim a place on that turf.

It must be noted that the Intel Atom E600C series, which was previously codenamed Stellarton , will consist of the E665CT, E645CT, E665C and E645C chips. Pricing per processor in batches of 1000 is fixed between $61 and $106. Two more processors E625CT and E625C will be launched in the series in the first quarter of 2011.