Intel Confirms 22nm Ivy Bridge CPU Specifications

In a surprising turn of events, Intel decided to unveil the specifications of its upcoming third generation Core processors based on the 22nm Ivy Bridge architecture almost two months before the official launch date of these CPUs.

The specs of the Ivy Bridge processors were listed inside an Intel document that was spotted by SweClockers and published online a short while ago.

This includes details regarding the desktop Core i7, Core i5 processor models, notebook Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 chips, as well as information regarding the corresponding ULV variants of the latter.

As you can see from the tables attached to this article, Intel covered most of the specs of its upcoming CPUs, which are basically slightly higher clocked versions of the current Sandy Bridge processors, but featuring lower TDPs.

This was possible since Ivy Bridge SKUs are built using Intel’s new 22nm Tri-Gate fabrication process.

By using this advanced manufacturing technology, Intel claims that it can build chips that require as much as 50% less voltage to operate as the same frequencies as their 32nm predecessors, thus reducing the overall power consumption of these CPUs.

Together with the increased operating speeds, Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processors also include a more powerful on-board GPU.

This is derived from the graphics core introduced by Intel with its 2011 Sandy Bridge processors, but the top part (dubbed Intel HD 4000) adds 30% more EUs while also supporting DirectX 11.

Another important addition brought to mobile Ivy Bridge processors in the U-series is the inclusion of a configurable TDP that allows the chip to greatly surpass its TDP when extra cooling is used (i.e. when a notebook stand is used).

According to some previous report, published by the same publication, Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors will be released on April 29, with retail availability expected in the weeks following this launch.

Posted in: Hardware, Preview