Intel will reveal its next netbook chipset at CES 2011

CHIPMAKER Intel has told partners that its upcoming Chief River chipset will support 22nm Ivy Bridge processors and USB 3.0.

Digitimes also got wind that Chipzilla will reveal its Huron River chipset at CES 2011 in January and will have its laptop partners on hand to show off its handywork. Chief River, on the other hand, won't go into mass production until September 2011 with products expected in January 2012, presumably at CES.

For netbooks, Intel is looking to put its Ceder Trail-M chipset into production in the second quarter of 2011, while it is set to start manufacturing its Oak Trail chipset next month. Oak Trial is intended for thin-and-light notebooks and tablet PCs.

Intel is hoping that its Oak Trail chipset will keep it in the hunt as tablet manufacturers are clamouring for ARM-based chips. Recently Asus, HP and Viewsonic have kitted out tablets with Intel Atom processors, though the firm must be worried that products aimed at the mass market such as Apple's Ipad and Samsung's Galaxy Tab are powered by ARM chips.

In the notebook sector, though USB 3.0 support is welcome, Intel will be far more interested in producing its chips with its 22nm process. This should allow it not only to increase CPU frequencies and reduce power draws but also make the chips more profitable.

Intel will be hoping that CES 2011 will provide it with an opportunity to regenerate interest in netbooks after tablet devices stole much of 2010. µ