The age of underpowered integrated notebook graphics is over. Prepare your eyes for awesome. Intel announced Wednesday that its fourth-gen Intel Core Haswell processors will include its new Iris Graphics technology. What this means in something other than marketing-speak is …
Intel has announced Iris, its latest generation of graphics processing architecture that will be included in the Intel Core 4th generation processors (CPUs). We haven’t been able to run our own benchmarks with the new chip yet, but according to Intel’s own measurements, the new Intel Iris graphics architecture is 2X to 3X faster than Intel’s previous graphics architecture. This is a huge and unexpected jump, especially considering that in time (but not right now), every Intel CPUs will be equipped with a variant of Iris. (more…)
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Many already believe that the real highlight of Intel’s 4th-generation Core processor lineup would be a giant graphics update. Today, Intel is revealing that they’re right — and, importantly, that there’s an equally large shift in naming strategy. Where 3rd-generation Core graphics were divided into two tiers, the new generation is focused on three, two of which are built for performance over efficiency. Ultrabooks with 15W U-series processors will use comparatively ordinary (if still faster) HD 5000 graphics. Thin-and-light laptops with 28W U-series chips get a new tier, Iris, that Intel claims is up to twice as fast in 3D as last year’s HD Graphics. Power-hungry parts see even more of a boost: they can carry Iris Pro graphics with embedded DRAM, which should double the 3D speed on H-series mobile chips (47-55W of typical power) and triple it for the R-series (around 65-84W) on the desktop. We also know that M-series laptop and K-series desktop CPUs will have Iris Pro options.
The feature set for the graphics trio is slightly more familiar to us, although there are a few tricks up Intel’s sleeve. All three can draw DirectX 11.1 and OpenGL 4 visuals, as well as take on OpenCL 1.2 computing and faster media processing. We’re almost more interested in the display modes, though. Along with receiving “enhanced” 4K output, the new Core graphics can handle a 3-screen collage mode — we won’t need dedicated video for a large, multi-monitor canvas. Sadly, Intel isn’t providing more than incidental details about the processors themselves, although it has already teased that we’ll get the full story around the Computex show in early June.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Intel
Source: Intel
One of the staples of Intel’s upcoming Haswell processor architecture is its support for lower-power idle states that can rival tablet chips in power consumption, even on the desktop. However, that may come with a big caveat for budget and custom-built PCs: certain power supplies might not cut it. VR-Zone claims that those idle states require as little as 0.05 amps of current, which could be too nuanced for older or cut-rate supplies that deliver power in bigger clumps. That might not be a problem for companies building complete PCs, but Corsair’s Robert Pearce tells The Tech Report that it may lead to a lot of motherboard builders playing it safe by disabling those specific modes by default. Many of us, in turn, would either have to buy a fresh supply or toggle the power-saving options ourselves. We’ve reached out to Intel to verify the truth, but it may be wisest to make a cleaner break from the past with any near-term upgrades.
Via: TechSpot
Source: VR-Zone, The Tech Report
At CeBIT last month, we managed to get a hands on of the Intel Haswell prototype, and here we are with additional information concerning this computing device. This Haswell-powered North Cape prototype from Intel is able to pull one rabbit from its seemingly bottomless proverbial hat, that is, to have its 13” 1080p display adjust itself to a 11.6” display whenever it is detached from the keyboard base, as you use it like a tablet device.
Fret not, this prototype is not that advanced where it is capable of changing the molecular structure within to shrink to the desired 11.6” size, but rather, the display will introduce letterboxes by adding a virtual bezel to expand the current one. Whatever touch input in this expanded area would be disabled too, to keep in line with the overall feel of the device. While this would result in less viewing and touching real estate, it ought not be too much of a bother with Windows 8 apps that have been specially optimized for situations such as this. Would you be interested in this Haswell prototype when it finally rolls out officially to the masses?
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We’ve just spotted a familiar friend at Intel’s Innovation Future Showcase in London — its Haswell-powered North Cape laptop / tablet hybrid. As a quick reminder, alongside that fourth-generation Intel Core processor there’s a 13-inch 1080p display that detaches from the keyboard, and now we’ve been given a few important updates on the reference device, battery performance on Haswell and how Intel’s reference design will transfer between tablet and Ultrabook mode. All that and more after the break.
On the earnings call after Intel released its Q1 numbers, its executives faced many questions from analysts, including some asking what to expect from the company in Q4. According to CEO Paul Otellini and CFO / EVP Stacy Smith, among the reasons for investors to be optimistic are the prospects of cheaper touch screen computers powered by its upcoming Bay Trail (quad-core Atom) and Haswell processors. Just how cheap you ask? According to Otellini, as transcribed by SeekingAlpha:
We have a certain spec for ultrabooks, and that is the product that Stacy said is going to be centered at as low as $599 with some [diverse] SKUs to $499. If you look at touch-enabled Intel based notebooks that are ultrathin and light using non-core processors, those prices are going to be down to as low as $200 probably.
We’d put more weight in those figures if they were price tags attached to products or at least from the OEMs that will build them, but at least there’s a target. Whatever happens, there’s sure to be a flood of new ultrabooks, tablets, convertibles and detachables hitting the streets later this year, and if the price is right (along with some Windows 8 tweaks) maybe they’ll be worth the wait.
Filed under: Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Intel
Source: Seeking Alpha
Truth be told, not much has been announced on the consumer end at IDF Beijing earlier today, but Intel did tease us with upcoming refreshes of its Xeon E7, E5 and E3 families for the enterprise space. In chronological order we have the Haswell-based E3 with TDP as low as 13W, and it’s coming in mid-2013. This is followed by the “Ivy Bridge-EP” E5 in Q3 and then the “Ivy Bridge-EX” E7 series in Q4, the latter of which boasting three times the memory capacity of its predecessor, along with Intel’s Run Sure reliability feature. More details in the press release after the break if you’re into these flavors of chips.
Also mentioned at the keynote were the now-available Atom S12x9 family for storage systems, as well as a couple of upcoming 22nm 64-bit Atom SoCs codenamed “Avoton” and “Rangeley,” both of which are sampling now and are expected to launch in the second half of this year. We’ve actually already heard of the microserver-friendly Avoton from Facebook’s Open Compute Project, whereas Rangeley for network infrastructures was also detailed around the same time; so again, hit up the press release for more details.
According to a new report Intel has started shipping its latest Haswell chip to PC manufacturers. Though it has not officially been confirmed yet by Intel, the chips have reportedly started reaching major manufacturers and products based on it are expected to launch this quarter. It is expected that Intel will make an announcement regarding Haswell chips at the IDF conference, due to take place next week in Beijing. Haswell, Intel’s most power efficient mainstream processor, was touted by CEO Paul Otellini as the single largest generation-to-generation battery life improvement in Intel history.
A range of ultrabooks and tablet/laptop hybrids will be powered by the Haswell processor. According to the latest media note from Intel, the 4th generation Haswell core is on track for a mid-year launch. The Haswell processors retain a 22nm process similar to that of Ivy Bridge processors, though there’a new microarchitechture for improved performance. There will reportedly be 14 new CPUs across the Core i5 and Core i7 brands which will use an entirely new CPU socket called LGA 1150 on Lynx Point chipset motherboards, split in to six standard power SKUs and eight low power SKUs.
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[CeBIT 2013] Yesterday, I met with Karen Regis, Director, Ultrabook Marketing at Intel and she showed me a reference design prototype for an Ultrabook featuring the Intel fourth generation of Intel Core i-series processors (codenamed Haswell).
The 17 millimeter thick device was shown at CES for the first time, and Intel has built only four units like this one. The processor manufacturer has made it easier to detach the touch display by adding a button and a green light to unlock the docking connector (see the demo in the video).
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