ARM processors have been built into single-chip SOCs for donkeys years with all kinds of peripherals on board. The fact that Intel have integrated their north bridge is nothing special - it's a necessity in order to reduce the footprint and power of their chipset. This is the only way to put it on any kind of footing with the countless ARM chipsets available. They still have a long way to go, in my opinion, before they can compete with the countless offerings out there.

NVIDIA need not worry. As processors other than Intel become more pervasive in the netbook/sub-desktop space, this whole north/south bridge chipset nonsense will fade away as new form factors and standards emerge.

All I say is watch out for Intel when they start getting desperate.

I would like to see two CPUs in a desktop PC, one without fan like Pineview, and another one operating with the fan turned off in standby mode, something like a modified i7, which kicks in whenever some serious CPU power is needed. Almost all daily tasks can be done with an Intel Atom, except for compiling large software project, simulations, games etc.. With this concept my computer in my office would be quiet while I focus on my work, and my computer at home would be quiet while I watch a movie - until I start a game (in the office:-).

Intel, do you hear me?

What I find funny is that if they move the northbridge functions onto the CPU (grpahics core + memory controller etc) then there will be chipset business to be had by nVidia. Kiss bye bye to Ion, I bet Intel wont allow it to be used with a discreet graphics controller either. Clever, very clever.