Consumer Electronics Show 2005: AT's Coverage
by Anand Lal Shimpi on January 10, 2005 3:49 AM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
Intel's Sonoma Platform
Intel's Sonoma Platform, the codename for the soon to be released Centrino update, was also talked about quite a bit at Intel and the show.
Sonoma incorporates the following:
- Intel's Alviso chipset (mobile 915 chipset)
- 533MHz FSB Pentium-M processors
With the new chipset comes improved integrated graphics (thanks to the 915G's integrated graphics core), dual channel DDR1/DDR2 support, 533MHz FSB support, PCI Express support and HD Audio support.
The chipset offers both PCI Express x16 and x1 support for graphics and peripherals, identical to the desktop 915.
The inclusion of dual channel DDR1/DDR2 support is tremendous for performance as the previous generation 855GME chipset was still only a single channel platform for Centrino. Intel stated that going forward the split between DDR1 and DDR2 Sonoma designs is about 50/50, given that the power requirements of mobile DDR2 and mobile DDR1 are quite similar. The platform supports up to DDR2-533, but we'd expect that fewer companies would use the speed just yet. We asked some memory manufacturers and they seemed to think that a 50/50 split between DDR1 and DDR2 Sonoma platforms (based on their shipments of DDR2 to Intel's customers) would be definitely possible by this summer.
Intel will also be releasing a smaller form factor version of the Alviso chipset with a much smaller package for use in very tiny ultra portable laptops. The smaller version of the chipset will lack a PCI Express x16 interface to reduce pin count and may only be single channel.
None of the Sonoma platforms on display were too impressive, but we did see units from ASUS and ECS among the usual suspects.
ASUS' Sonoma platform
ECS had a large footprint but cool-looking Sonoma notebook:
Reasonably thin considering its footprint
...and interestingly textured
Battery life is expected to be similar to current Centrino designs.
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Cat - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
What does the phrase '10 ft UI optimized' mean when talking about Prince of Persia?oupei - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
#3, #4 you may not like the image but I don't see any plasmas hitting 1080p. Personally, I don't care for RPTVs of any type, but I'm sure hoping that the xHD3 makes it to front projectors without incidence.zeroreality - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
from page 14:"the Taiwanese motherboard manufacturers are quite happy with nForce4 on the AMD side and they'd rather not produce any more Intel motherboards that won't sell, so ATI loses out."
the Xpress200 isn't an intel chipset...?
did any of the manufacturers say anything about the Xpress200 southbridge?
danidentity - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
I really like those MGE cases. I can't seem to find their website though, anyone got a link?Koing - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
#3 Shabby some people just like the 'image' of the dlp's. Some don't and I am in that category. I don't like exactly the things you have mentioned also. Also I am in England and they don't make any decent dlp's anyway :PHopefully I'll be getting a Pioneer 43XDE plasma in mid March sometime :D
Koing
shabby - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
Meh whats the big deal with dlp's?We had a 46" samsung and gave it right back, viewing from the side looks dark, samething if your a bit above the set or below.
And when you're staring at it dead on it blinds you with its bright lamp.
So we settled for a pioneer plasma set and its perfect, much richer colors then the dlp we had.
bmetzger - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
any video coverage i can download? interested in that media center PC.KeithDust2000 - Monday, January 10, 2005 - link
Anand, "We also asked Intel if they had any tricks up their sleeve for regaining the definitive performance crown next year - unfortunately their answer was no."You probably meant to say "this year" (2005), and not next.