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Intel´s Ivy Bridge is choke full of innovations.

Ladies and gentlemen, Intel has recently announced its 3rd Generation quad-core Ivy Bridge processors to replace its current Sandy Bridge processors. Here is the lo´down on what you can expect with the new Core CPU by Intel.

Firstly, such an event speaks of a possibly bleak future for many.

To be more specific, it will be as such for the next couple of years if you believe your future to be lounging about looking for a PC or laptop at Lowyat, Digital Mall, All-IT Hypermarket or even while surfing the Web.

Why are such predictions being made? For some, it is all about chasing the better specs, while for others, it just means spending more on newer hardware to ensure their software will operate in an optimal environment.

Before digressing further, lets take a peek at Intel´s closest competitor: AMD. Based on what they are doing, with their engineers only planning and developing Piledriver - a variant of its Bulldozer 32nm microarchitecture - it is clear that Intel is now ahead with its new innovative CPU design.

According to Intel, smaller is better, and the Ivy Bridge processors promise less power consumption, which equates to less heat (of up to 50%). This is largely due to the trigate �3-D� transistor feature. Promises of a better performance (of up to 15%) and better graphics (68% improvement based on integrated GPU performance) have also been points of interest that Intel has been banking on.

Until today, computers, servers and other devices have used only two-dimensional planar transistors. Adding a third dimension to transistors allows Intel to increase the density of the electronics and put even more processing capabilities into every square millimeter of these new processors. With what Intel has achieved, the speedy pacing of technology advancement has been extended, further fueling Moore’s Law for years to come. Even the graphics architecture for the new Core platform had been reworked as it now natively supports the CPU and memory to deliver dramatic improvements in the overall visual experience.

"The 3rd generation Intel Core processors were created from the ground up to generate exciting new experiences. In fact, our engineers have exceeded the company´s expectations by doubling the performance of media and graphics versus the best processors we´ve built until today. This means we now are able to produce incredible new visual experiences with ease for new all-in-one PCs and upcoming Ultrabook devices. What makes all this possible is the combination of Intel´s latest design in processor architecture and our unwavering commitment to drive computing innovations forward," stated Kirk Skaugen, Intel Vice President and General Manager, PC Client Group, Intel.

Good news for all but how about those who just upgraded to Sandy Bridge CPUs?

To that particular group, do not fret or fear as Intel revealed that the Ivy Bridge series is able to fit into the 1155 Socket and the LGA 2011 Socket (for Sandy Bridge Extreme and Ivy Bridge Extreme), which means you don’t need to buy a new motherboard just to upgrade if you already have the latest PC rig.

Faster and More Secure
With the Ivy Bridge CPUs, everything must be awesome. It is indeed great news that there will be native support for USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt, which means we will live an even speedier lifestyle since data transfer speeds between devices are expected to grow across the board for all electronics.

Additionally, the 3rd generation Intel Core CPUs also have added security features, including Secure Key and Intel OS Guard to safeguard personal data and identity. This includes using a digital random number generator to strengthen encryption algorithms. Such a tedious process helps defend against privilege escalation attacks where a hacker remotely takes over another person´s system. These two features join existing security features such as Intel Identity Protection Technology (Intel IPT) and Intel Anti-Theft technology (Intel AT) to help improve Intel platforms´ security features.

Get Visual and Get Your Game On
According to Intel, when the Ivy Bridge is paired with Intel HD Graphics 4000, you can expect 3D and HD visual performance deliveries of up to two times better than compared to previous generations. This means more gaming fun and a highly interactive multimedia experience that are richer in detail and processed at extremely high resolutions.

Does that mean it is the end-times for discrete graphic cards? It is hard to say right now as most low- to mid-range graphic processors are on par or still outperforms Intel´s current offerings still.

Beyond gaming, Intel´s latest CPU will also provide enterprise and business owners an optimised PC environment that focuses on an end-to-end security solution platform that also improves productivity levels to new heights. To ensure such advance features are available even on Ivy Bridge, Intel has beefed up its vPro processor family with the latest hardware that is fully optimised for the office as well. Included into this is a holistic security approach that integrates hardware and software solutions that will protect businesses from the smallest to the most benign of threats. Additional tools to improve IT management, enrich multimedia capabilities, enhance application accessibility, power management, and business processes are also provided, guaranteeing a super-fast, super efficient working environment that nurtures high performance within the office. Does this sound like the future to you now? Perhaps...or perhaps a different path lies ahead before you, one filled with a fast-paced working life that is focused on using high tech mobile devices that can quickly, and correctly, interact with you and fulfill all of life´s needs.

by Amir Hafizi

Published Date : 29 May 2012