Intel Ivy Bridge: ground-breaking 22nm quad-core 3-D processors have arrived

Intel announced today the release of its Ivy Bridge line of processors, the latest and greatest iteration of Intel’s multi-core CPU technology. The third generation of the Intel Core Processor family, the Ivy Bridge debuts the 22 nm manufacturing process (compared to 32 nm in Sandy Bridge) and the innovative 3-D tri-gate transistor technology. It delivers up to 15% increase in CPU performance and up to 68% increase in integrated GPU performance over its predecessor, the second generation Intel Sandy Bridge processor.

In addition to performance increases, Intel Ivy Bridge comes with a number of interface improvements, such as support for PCI Express 3.0, DirectX 11 support, multiple 4K video playback, integrated security with Intel Anti-Theft technology and Intel Identity Protection, and a lot more. While these “bells and whistles” may seem minor compared to processing power, they are by no means insignificant. In real world usage a lot of these come into play and contribute to the overall experience, and this is where the speed difference becomes noticeable.

Graphics professionals will be pleased to know that the Intel HD 4000 graphics processor has been greatly enhanced. This results in a very noticeable difference in the most common visually-intensive tasks such as graphic design, video editing, 3D animation and computer-aided design (CAD). Perhaps the feature that many would surely find most useful is native support for multiple monitors, allowing consumers to easily extend the desktop across multiple monitors without having to purchase separate video cards.

Intel boasts that its HD 4000 graphics processor will delight gaming fans by delivering smooth performance on the latest and greatest games available on the market. At the press conference held in Makati, Intel had Batman: Arkham Asylum running smoothly on what seemed like 1080×720 resolution from an Ultrabook. This kind of gaming power a big plus for notebook computers, where mobility usually meant the sacrificing powerful graphics processing usually found on desktops.

Intel Ultrabook machines are also outfitted with the latest Intel Ivy Bridge 3rd generation processor. Sleek, thin, and light, Intel Ultrabooks offer ultimate portability and power in a non-mobile device. Among the Ultrabook brands available are Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, LG, Samsung, and Toshiba.

Intel is also working closely with hardware and software manufacturers to deliver the best experience on next-generation touch screens and tablets.

Always at the forefront of technology, Intel is already working on its next generation processors with codename “Haswell”. According to Intel Asia-Pacific Director for Product Management Pricing Leighton Phillips, Haswell will feature system on a chip (SoC) technology.

Intel Ivy Bridge: 3rd generation Intel Core processor photos

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