[sorenjan]

Why doesn't Intel include an Atom core on their CPUs as a next level speed step, like ARMs big.little? It has to be much easier to keep both the high and low power parts the same architecture.

[5ilv3r]

That would probably be less power efficient than just running a single core alone at reduced clock.

[runjake]

Which is why the Atom was discontinued, IIRC: the mainline chips power efficiency had been reduced enough to make the Atom much less viable.

[wmf]

Atom hasn't been discontinued; low-end "Celeron" and "Pentium" chips are actually Atoms.

[throwawayish]

Both Pentium and Celeron are used for standard mainstream dual-core chips and for Atom chips (eg. J4205, Celeron G3900, Pentium G4400)... so in a way they are Intel's trash-can brand.

[sundvor]

I think you meant the mainline's efficiency increased. :)