Next-Gen Intel

Intel unveils latest offerings for 2013

In keeping with Moore’s Law, Intel is on track to rollout its new range of Core CPUs and accompanying innovations this month. This not only includes the highly anticipated Haswell platform, but also the surprise announcement of new and revolutionary Intel integrated graphics, which was recently revealed as Iris, and the Silvermont microarchitecture. 

While Iris and Silvermont were introduced in early May, Haswell, which is the codename for Intel’s 4th-generation Core processor, was launched in early June with desktop PCs, notebooks, and hybrid PCs being made available right after the products were introduced. 

“Based on what we had observed, it can be said that the processing performance of the upcoming 4th-generation Core CPUs are expected to be well above what current systems can offer. With 3DMark11 scores showing at a 50% increase with a 40% decrease in power consumption, it means creating a better user experience that promises lower power requirements,” says John Webb, Product Line Manager at Intel Corporation. 

Details of Haswell, along with updates about the new Core’s power saving capabilities and Iris graphic accelerators, were revealed during a recent conference call briefing that Intel organised with the Asia Pacific (APAC) technology media. It was at this session that Webb discussed about Intel’s plans to offer multiple CPU variations for the Haswell platform, all of which correspond to different power requirements and graphics performance. 

The big news that Webb had for the media during that briefing is Intel’s plan to step into the graphics arena in a big way. According to the benchmarks that the chip maker shared, the new Iris platforms are supposed to offer a 2.5x to 3x performance boost from the current generation of Cores. 

Intel claims that such performance ratings are achievable even with the lowered energy consumption rate, thanks to the new architecture and advance designs that will be used on the Haswell platform, which includes the embedded Dynamic RAM, which is wholly dedicated to both the processor and graphic accelerator. 

“Architectural and processes changes now come in every generation as it helps improve both CPUs and graphics performances. We’re also working to drive up our display innovations now sine 4K monitors are currently commercially available. In fact, Intel has made extensive investments into this,” Webb adds. 

Intel’s introduction of its Iris graphics platform has two objectives: to start a new age of graphic processing for the traditional CPU maker and stamp its mark as a serious contender in the graphics space with its re- definition of its line-up offerings. 

All of these innovations will be immediately available during the launch of Intel’s 4th-generation Core processors. 

Similar advances are also present in the Silvermont platform that Intel will be introducing later this year as well. Using a new 22nm Tri-Gate System-on-Chip (SoC), it is suppose to deliver 3x more peak performance or even the same processing capabilities at 5x lower the power consumption over current generation Intel Atom Cores. According to Intel, this new micro-architecture will be the foundation for many of its 22nm products targeted at tablets, smartphones, micro-servers, network infrastructure, storage and other market segments, including entry laptops and in-vehicle infotainment.

 

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