Intel's new motherboard, from Axiz, takes connectivity into the future

The Intel Desktop Board D945GCLF, from Axiz, is designed to support Internet-centric computing, delivering incredible capabilities for the new flexible Mini-ITX form factor.

Glenn Ferreira, Product Manager: Chassis and Motherboards at Axiz, says the Desktop Board features the integrated 45nm Intel Atom Processor and the Intel 945GC Express Chipset, making it an energy-efficient solution for home users as well as for unique vertical market needs.

"Designed with Intel's leading-edge 45nm Hi-k metal gate processor, this board delivers incredible opportunities to communicate, listen, watch, play, and learn via Internet connectivity."

The Intel Atom processor is Intel's smallest processor built with the world's smallest transistors. Based on an entirely new design, the processor is built for low power and designed specifically for a new wave of mobile Internet devices (MIDs) and simple, low-cost PCs.

Ferreira says with personal computing increasingly going mobile and the computer industry rapidly developing new classes of products to connect the next billion people to the Internet, the Intel Atom processor offers customers the unique ability to innovate around the new low-power design.

"In addition to the MID opportunity, Intel believes the demand for a new category of low-cost, Internet-centric mobile computing devices dubbed 'netbooks', and basic Internet-centric desktop PCs dubbed 'nettops', will grow substantially over the next several years. The Intel Atom processor is perfectly suited to meet these new market segments."

Based on an entirely new micro-architecture, the Intel Atom processor was developed specifically for targeted performance and low power, while maintaining full Intel Core micro-architecture instruction set compatibility. Atom processors also feature multiple threads for better performance and increased system responsiveness.

The actual Atom processor is, with a die size of just 25 mm^2, absolutely tiny when compared to a Core 2 Duo at 143 mm^2. And the number of transistors - 47 million - is low compared to the Core 2 Duo, which has 291 million. But, this is the only way the Atom CPU is able to manage the sensationally low energy consumption of just four watts. The chip yield during manufacturing is also very high, thanks to the tiny format; Intel can theoretically get up to 2 500 Atom processors from a single 300mm wafer.

"This processor is a fundamental new shift in design; small yet powerful enough to enable a big Internet experience on new mobile devices. They will undoubtedly be the catalyst of much innovation across the industry."