It has been known for some time that Intel is developing the next iteration of the Atom platform, but some leaked prices point to a thirst for more margin in the netbook market.

Code name Pine Trail, the next Atom platform promises to bring the graphics processor onto the CPU itself and improve overall power efficiency, maybe even performance a bit as well. However if a leaked report is accurate, the forthcoming Intel Atom N450 is expected to sell for about $64 per chip, which is about $20 more than the current version. Not only is this 45% more just in dollars, but integrating graphics into the CPU will yield not insignficant manufacturing efficiencies as well.

Intel has already been in the spotlight, and not the good kind, over pricing of their Atom platform that powers most netbooks today. And indeed, Intel may have its own regrets over the success of the Atom platform, due to the unexpectedly high sales of the low margin chips. With a fairly significantly revised platform, they have a leg to stand on when it asks for a 45% pay increase from PC OEM’s.

In fact, there have already been reports that some manufacturers aren’t in a hurry to build systems around the new platform. If it does basically the same thing on a system that isn’t designed to do much, why pay more for it? Oh, because Intel is wishing more people bought a Core 2 Duo.

Source: [Lilliputing]