AMD has a K8-based low-energy processor in the works. We've seen more than few traces of that from time to time, but everything still points to that this little being won't arrive until next year. In the mean time, it seems like AMD has created a new niche product by taking its existing K8 architecture and simply downclock it. THG has gotten their hands on an AMD Athlon 64 2000+, which operates at only 1GHz and draws a maximum of 8W, according to AMD.
The processor is based on the lesser known Lima core with G0 stepping. The HyperTransport bus has been reduced to only 1GHz. At 8W it is still twice as hungry as Intel's Atom processor, but AMD has the upper hand on the chipset side. In the review they compared AMD's critically acclaimed 780G chipset to Intel's 945G circuit and it's a technological knock-out.
AMD 780G uses a fraction of the power, while offering tons of features lacking in the 945G chipset. The only drawback so far is that there are few boards smaller than mATX with 780G, while Intel has Atom platforms at both miniITX and miniDTX standards. Unlike Atom, the AMD processor is not fused to the board which does make it a bit more flexible although the in the end it will end up costing you more.
Even though the AMD processor has a TDP of 8W and the Atom 4W, the AMD processor remained a lot cooler and worked just fine with passive cooling, which is not something you could say about the Atom platform. The actual power consumption also proved to be better with the AMD processor, just like the overall performance. It would have been nice to see how VIA Nano would measure up to AMD Athlon 64 2000+, but unfortunately the article focuses on Intel vs. AMD, VIA was left out.
:: Athlon Vs. Atom: Duel Of The Energy Savers
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AMD Athlon 64 2000+ 1GHz to compete with Intel Atom
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