The new chipset consists of dual AR5416 MAC/baseband ICs, AR2133 and AR5133 radios and a new AR7161 wireless network processor. The solution is based on Atheros' 3x3 (three complete RF transmit and receive chains) MIMO XSPAN with "Signal-Sustain Technology" architecture.

The AR7161 processor features dual 10/100/1000 gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 ports. It uses a MIPS32 24K processor core clocked at 600 MHz and sports 33/66 MHz PCI, PCM and I2S interfaces.

Other members of the new AR7100 WNPU family include the AR7141, essentially a 400 MHz version of the AR7161 for dual-band 3x3 MIMO applications and the AR7130, which is clocked at 300 MHz, has 10/100 Ethernet support and is aimed at 2x2 MIMO applications.

The AR5008AP-3NX2 chipset is currently sampling to key customers. Pricing was not announced. Atheros will be demonstrating the chipset at next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.