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Not sure why Intel just doesn't release a full system in package for a basic laptop system, with 16GB or 32GB main memory and 256GB or 512GB of NVMe flash? I t

Not sure why Intel just doesn't release a full system in package for a basic laptop system, with 16GB or 32GB main memory and 256GB or 512GB of NVMe flash? I think Intel still makes flash chips and they originally started out as a DRAM manufacturer as well..

stonogo 9y ago
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/compute-card.html https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits... You can ask them, I guess.
chx 9y ago
While the main business of Intel around 1980s was certainly DRAM, their first product was SRAM.
raverbashing 9y ago
I think all the x86 complexity prevents them from doing that
mrweasel 9y ago
Because that would mean discarding an entire package if just one component failed or is damaged during production. It would also mean that manufacturers would have to order different parts for two systems that are identical, expect from memory or storage. In your example, with 16 or 32GB of RAM and 256 or 512GB of storage, you'd end up having to order four different SKUs from Intel, and Intel would have to manufacture four different SKUs, plus one without memory and storage. Logistically I don't think it makes sense to add storage and memory to the package, it just adds inflexibility and more SKUs.
- nnq 9y ago
  yeah, it would be harder to make and sell "handicaped" configurations to users for high prices, forcing them to prematurely upgrade... hence everybody would milk less money from the end-users. also, some still sell 5400 RPM HDDs (!!!) in some versions of current-gen machines and some people actually buy them! all systems you see today with like 6-8GB of RAM and <500 GB SSD storage will practically force their users to upgrade in <3 years, whereas if you sell to the average home user a system with >=16GB RAM and >500GB SSD, he could keep using it for up to 6 years with no chance of it feeling underpowered... so very bad for business!
  - pjc50 9y ago
    .. but it costs twice as much?
pjc50 9y ago
That's a pretty massive "package", more like a small motherboard. You'd want to spread them out a bit for thermal reasons.
maxsilver 9y ago
They make something similar. An Intel NUC is basically a full system laptop, with the laptop-specific bits missing (no screen, keyboard, battery, etc). You can buy it barebones, but you can also buy some of them with everything pre-installed (including RAM and flash storage and licensed Windows OS)

stonogo 9y ago

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits/compute-card.html https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/boards-kits... You can ask them, I guess.

chx 9y ago

While the main business of Intel around 1980s was certainly DRAM, their first product was SRAM.

raverbashing 9y ago

I think all the x86 complexity prevents them from doing that

mrweasel 9y ago

Because that would mean discarding an entire package if just one component failed or is damaged during production. It would also mean that manufacturers would have to order different parts for two systems that are identical, expect from memory or storage. In your example, with 16 or 32GB of RAM and 256 or 512GB of storage, you'd end up having to order four different SKUs from Intel, and Intel would have to manufacture four different SKUs, plus one without memory and storage. Logistically I don't think it makes sense to add storage and memory to the package, it just adds inflexibility and more SKUs.

nnq 9y ago
yeah, it would be harder to make and sell "handicaped" configurations to users for high prices, forcing them to prematurely upgrade... hence everybody would milk less money from the end-users. also, some still sell 5400 RPM HDDs (!!!) in some versions of current-gen machines and some people actually buy them! all systems you see today with like 6-8GB of RAM and <500 GB SSD storage will practically force their users to upgrade in <3 years, whereas if you sell to the average home user a system with >=16GB RAM and >500GB SSD, he could keep using it for up to 6 years with no chance of it feeling underpowered... so very bad for business!
- pjc50 9y ago
  .. but it costs twice as much?

pjc50 9y ago

That's a pretty massive "package", more like a small motherboard. You'd want to spread them out a bit for thermal reasons.

maxsilver 9y ago

They make something similar. An Intel NUC is basically a full system laptop, with the laptop-specific bits missing (no screen, keyboard, battery, etc). You can buy it barebones, but you can also buy some of them with everything pre-installed (including RAM and flash storage and licensed Windows OS)