Intel Unveils Apollo Lake 'IoT Processor,' the Atom E3900

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Today, during IoT Solutions World Congress in Barcelona, Intel took the wraps off its new Intel Atom Processor E3900 Series processors, (codenamed “Apollo Lake”) for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Three models make up the Atom E3900 lineup (x5-E3930, x5-E3940 and x7-E3950 processor). Joining them is the companion A3900 series for automotive applications, including software-defined cockpits and driver assistance technologies.

Atom E3900 processors run at speeds of up to 1.6 GHz (2 Ghz burst), as is the case with the quad-core x7-E3950 chip. They also feature Intel’s Time Coordinated Computing (TCC) Technology, available in the embedded Linux Yocto operating system. Able to synchronize device close across a network to within 1 microsecond, Intel TCC can help organizations better orchestrate their industrial IoT deployments and provide responsive, low-latency application services.

Intel, IOT

The chips are compact, energy-sipping powerhouses, according to Ken Caviasca, vice president of the Internet of Things Group and general manager of Platform Engineering and Development at Intel.

“With more than 1.7 times more computing power over the previous generation1, the E3900 Series is designed to enable faster memory speeds and memory bandwidth to provide the efficient processing capability needed for edge to cloud network computing,” explained Caviasca in an Oct. 25 blog post. “Built into a compact flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) and featuring 14 nanometer silicon technology, the Intel Atom processor E3900 series is perfect for a wide range of IoT applications, where scalable performance, space and power are at a premium.”

In terms of visuals, the chips’ new graphics engine provides a 2.9x increase in 3D graphics performance, according to the company. Atom E3900 can decode up to 15 simultaneous high-definition video streams (1080p at 30 frames per second) and pump Ultra HD 4K at 60 Hz to three independent displays, according to the company.

All in all, the new chips pave the way for IoT devices that help lift some of the data processing burden from the cloud. “The Intel Atom processor E3900 series will make the edge and fog more intelligent – enabling many of the processing needs to take place at or near the data sensor and alleviating the need to push all processing to the data center,” said Caviasca.

Intel Atom A3900 series are currently available to select customers in sample quantities. Devices featuring the new chips should start showing up in the second quarter of 2017 after shipments begin in the first quarter.

Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at Datamation. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.