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Intel Atom N470 Will Allow Double the Memory of Most Other Netbooks

Posted 10/26/09 at 09:30:26 PM  by Ryan Whitwam

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There’s very little to differentiate one netbook from another these days. Manufacturers are basically just putting different enclosures around the same hardware. That’s largely a result of restrictions placed on netbook specs by Intel and Microsoft. With the upcoming Atom N470 (Pineview), the spec requirements will be lifted a bit, but they’ll still be there.

Currently, netbooks are limited to 1GB of RAM in most instances. When the N470 is released around March 2010 that limit will be raised to 2GB. Manufacturers will also be able to include a 32GB solid state drive if they so choose. Intel boldly pointed out that they could totally put Intel’s Moblin OS on them too… no pressure though.

While it’s nice to see some movement here, is it anywhere near enough? Don’t most users that want more RAM just add it anyway? So, good news, or just plain depressing?

int
COMMENTS:5
TAGS: intel, microsoft, hardware, Intel Atom, netbooks, Pineview, N470
COMMENTS
avataryeah but

Submitted by xchrissypoox on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 9:37am

@bart3385

you had to put in that memory yourself though, they put restrictions on what can be sold with the atom. Intel wants netbooks weak so that people will buy more exspensive laptops and desktops. Thats why intel doesn't like the ion and won't support it, because if a netbook is powerful enough for most people, then people won't go out and buy a computer that isn't $400.

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avatar...agree In the pre

Submitted by win7fanboi on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 10:26am

...agree

In the pre netbookera if people wanted a light weight laptop they would have to shell out top $ for it... netbook has eroded a big chunk of that market. Btw I didn't know Intel is not going to support nVidia's Ion... 

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avatar2GB

Submitted by bart3385 on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 7:45am

I've been using 2GB ram from the start (2008). So what's new?

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avatarSay What?

Submitted by tkddan87 on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 8:22pm

ya i dropped a 2GB DIMM into my netbook about a week after i got it, and reformatted it to dual boot xp and ubuntu.  What would be really nice is if they redesigned the layout of the motherboard in the netbooks to allow a second RAM DIMM so we can take advantage of the dual channel ability of DDR2.

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avatarBut is it fast enough?

Submitted by Peanut Fox on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 7:27am

That's not a bad idea, but you have to ask.  Is it worth the added cost that customers will be paying?  More importantly, is a Intel Atom 420 going to be fast enough to benifit from dual channel memory?  Just look at trichannel memory in the home market.  It barely has any effect on performance.

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