Intel’s newest platform for the Atom aims to make it the chip of choice for home server manufacturers.
So you thought that Intel’s peppy Atom processor was just for netbooks and low-cost all-in-one desktops? That’s possibly what Intel thought, too, until a number of manufacturers started to build compact home server boxes around the chip.
In recognition of this small but growing market segment, Intel has now launched an Atom platform designed specially for home servers running either Microsoft’s Windows Home Server OS or Linux.
The recipe includes a choice between the single-ore Atom D410 and the dual-core D510 processor (both of which clock at 1.66GHz), allied to a controller which supports six PCI Express lanes, 12 USB 2.0 ports and eSATA ports.
The blueprint is based on the compact ‘
Little Butte’ systems revealed late last year and designed around the footprint of a 3.5 inch hard drive so as to cut down on the unused space in the Mini-ITX form factor. LaCie, LG Electronics and QNAP are listed among the platform partners.