Intel announces Atom Z2420 processor for affordable smartphones

One of Intel announcements is the Atom Z2420 1.2 GHz processor (codenamed Lexington) that comes with PowerVR SGX540 GPU, 1080p video decoder & encoder, and features hyper-threading technology. This processor manufactured with 32nm process technology targets low cost smartphones for emerging markets.

Atom Z2420 1.2 GHz processor (codenamed Lexington)
Here are the key specifications of Intel Atom Z2420:
  •     Process technology – 32nm HKMG
  •     Co-Pop Package – 12x12mm, 617 balls, 0.4mm pitch, LPDDR2 PoP package
  •     Intel Atom Architecture – 512KN Intel Smart Cache, Enhanced Deeper Sleep, C6/Low Power Audio State, Smart Idle Technology and Digital Thermal Sensor (DTS)
  •     3D Graphics Engine – PowerVR Sgx540 with 2000 MPPS peak fil rate, 40 MTSm with support for Open VG 1.1, OpenGL ES 1.1 and 2.0
  •     Hardware Accelerated Video – 1080p30 video encode and decode
  •     Display Controller – Supports up to 4 DSI lanes at 800 Mbps per lane
  •     Memory Interface – Dual channel 32-bit LPDDR2 interface up to 1GB, 800 MT/s data rate.
  •     Image Signal Processor – 320 Mhz support up to 8MP primary camera and 1.3MP secondary camera.
  •     6x I2C Controllers
  •     SPI Controllers – 2 master and 1 master/slave ports
  •     Keypad Controller – Up o 4 direct key inputs
  •     Intel Smart Sound Technology – Low-power programmable codec to decode/encode popular audio formats
  •     Flexible GPIO Configuration – Up to 89 GPIO

As was the case with Atom Z2460 processor last year, Intel also designed a reference smartphone for Z2420 in order to speed up time to market. The key features of this reference design include a 3.5? display (480×320), full 1080p30 video encode and decode, XMM6265 HSPA+ modem (Up to 21Mbps), dual SIM card support, FM radio, microSD slot and Wireless Display (WiDi) support. They already have 3 partners (Acer, SafariCom and Lava) who will release a phone in Q1 2013.
Intel Atom Z2420 Block Diagram
Atom Z2420 Block Diagram
Later this year, Clover Trail+ should be available for performance smartphones, and 22nm processors will come soon after for both performance and value smartphones.

In the rest of the mobile part of the keynote, they talked a little bit about Z2760 atom processor currently used in Windows RT tablet, and gave some info about “Bay Trail” a 22nm quad core processor for tablet, that should be available in Tablet for Q4 2013.
Atom Z2420 1.2 GHz for Smartphones

The other half of the presentation switched to Core processors, and later this year we should be able to get convertible ultrabooks with low power Core processors (Haswell 7W TDP) providing similar performance to current i3 to i7 processors. They showed some prototypes which can last 13 hours on a charge (Batteries in keyboard and screen), or about 10 hours when the screen is detached. The tablets are just about 1cm thick like ARM based tablets we are accustomed to.
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