We’ve heard not once, but twice that Intel is working on a ULV processor for ultra-thin netbooks in order to compete with AMD’s Yukon platform. Digitimes is now reporting that a new single-core Z280 Atom processor is coming later this year as well.
The Z280 series will power a number of 10-inch netbooks expected to be manufactured by ASUS (Eee PC 1004DN series), Acer, and Gateway, and released between the second and third quarters of 2009.
The Z280 is not only faster than the current Z270 released in June 2008, but it’s also more expensive. The new processor will have a GN240 chipset, clock 1.66 GHz, sport a front side bus (FSB) clock frequency of 667 MHz, and cost somewhere between $60 and $65 American. The Intel Atom Z270 costs US$45, but only clocks 1.6 GHz with an FSB of 533 MHz.
