Intel announces 22nm Atom Merrifield, Moorefield 64-bit mobile SoCs and new LTE modem XMM 7260

Intel has announced two 64-bit chips in its Atom line of processors at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new chips include the 22nm dual-core Z3460 / Z3480 and quad-core Z3560 / Z3580 SoCs which are code-named Merrifield and Moorefield respectively. These chips are based on Intel’s Silvermont micro-architecture which is targetted at smartphones and tablets. Moorefield SoC is targetted at Android-based mobile devices.   The Intel Atom Z3480 is clocked at 2.13GHz whereas the Atom Z3460 is clocked at 1.6GHz. Both these SoCs will have a dual-core processors. It will be seen in devices in the second quarter this year. It features support for up to 4GB of LPDDR RAM running at 533MHz, support for Android 4.4.2 KitKat and a dedicated video signal processor. The Intel Atom Z3480/Z3460 will also sport Imagination Technology’s PowerVR Series 6 GPU with quad-cluster 3D graphics. This SoC will be paired with Intel’s XMM 7160LTE platform.   Merrifield is the first Intel Atom SoC to feature the new Intel Integrated Sensor Solution, which efficiently manages sensor data to keep applications smart and contextually aware even when the device is in a low-power state. This can be used for motion, gesture, location, audio sensing on a low power mode, thereby helping save battery life.   The Intel Atom Z3560 and Z3580, or Moorefield, are clocked at 1.8GHz and 2.3GHz respectively. Both SoCs will have a quad-core processor and they will be seen on mobile devices in the second half of the year. It will come with Intel’s second generation LTE platform which was also announced today - the XMM 7260. [caption id=“attachment_218863” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”]  Features of the XMM 7260 LTE-Advanced[/caption]   The XMM 7260 supports ‘category 6’ speeds which translate to 300 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink. It also has support for TDD LTE and TD SCDMA. It is also certified to run almost 70 per cent of the LTE networks globally.   “We are entering 2014 with a very competitive mobile portfolio spanning application processors and communications platforms that will only get stronger,” said Hermann Eul, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Mobile and Communications Group, during the press conference. “Our new Atom processors for Android smartphones and tablets offer leading 64-bit performance and battery life, and the new 7260 platform gives the ecosystem a compelling LTE-Advanced experience.”   According to Intel, the new Atom chips outperform Apple’s A7 and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 800 processors. These claims can only be proved when we test out devices with these platforms.   Intel has announced multi-year agreements with brands such as Lenovo, ASUS, Dell and Foxconn to build tablets and smartphones with Intel Atom SoCs. It sure looks like Intel is going all out to ensure many devices with an Intel SoC inside this year. Let us wait and watch how things pan out.