At the Intel Developer Forum, Intel Corp. officially disclosed its plans concerning the future of Atom-branded system-on-chips and microprocessors aimed at smartphones and tablets. As Atom devices made using 22nm process technology are over a year away, the world's largest chipmaker plans to offer Clover Trail+ refresh for existing offerings, providing dual-core SoCs for smartphones and even higher-end solutions for tablets.

The first solution to be available from Intel shortly is the next-generation Intel Atom system-on-chip code-named "Clover Trail", which was architected specifically for Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 8. Clover Trail is made using Intel's 32nm process technology and will be based on Saltwell micro-architecture. In many ways, Cloverview processor will resemble Atom Z2460 "Medfield" and Atom Z2610 "Medfield" chips, but will feature two x86 cores, improved graphics adapter and 1.80GHz burst clock-speed. To make Clover Trail/Medfield more appealing to manufacturers, Intel plans to offer Penwell PoP [package-on-package] system-on-chip with up to 2GB of integrated LPDDR2 memory.

The first Intel Atom "Clover Trail" will power Microsoft Windows 8-based lightweight tablets and convertibles that Intel promises to provide "outstanding battery life and always-on technology in sleek designs. Intel articulates the advantages of Intel-based Windows 8 devices, noting that Intel Atom- and Intel Core-based tablets and convertibles will deliver a range of new features from enhanced media capabilities, security built for enterprise vertical market solutions, and support for the breadth of applications written for Intel processors, thus retaining the software investment of IT and consumers.

"We believe Windows 8 on Intel architecture will deliver the best experience, performance and compatibility across computing platforms," said David Perlmutter, chief product officer of Intel.

Sometime next year, Intel plans to reveal Atom Z2460 "Medfield" with up to 2.0GHz burst clock-speed as well as Atom Z2580 "Clover Trail+" platform for smartphones with two x86 cores as well as graphics performance improved by two times. The Cloverview+ system-on-chips for smartphones should provide significant performance boost for Intel-based smartphones and therefore will be used inside superphones with ultra-premium features.

As previously reported, in late 2013 Intel plans to release its Bay Trail platform with code-named Valleyview system-on-chip, which will be made using 22nm process technology and which will offer a lot of new technologies and new features.  

Tags: Intel, Atom, Clover Trail, Bay Trail, Clover Trail+, Medfield, Cloverview, ValleyView, 32nm, 22nm