Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) managed to beat Intel's Ivy Bridge to the launch-day punch on a technicality when the Santa Clara chip maker 
Last month, Dell revamped its Alienware notebook range, which includes the 18.4-inch M18x R2, 17.3-inch M17x R4 and the 14-inch M14x R2. But with Dell’s 2012 Alienware notebook lineup debuting a month ahead of Ivy Bridge’s launch, the new notebooks only featured Sandy Bridge parts at launch. That has now changed, with Dell on Monday announcing the availability of the M18x R2, M17x R4 and M14x R2 with 3rd generation Intel Core i processors.
Well, well, well, the latest version of the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Semiconductor Applications Forecaster (SAF) is something that PC doomsayers can shove right in their ill-informed pie holes. According to IDC, the worldwide semiconductor market grew by 3.7 percent in 2011 to $301 billion, and barring any unforeseen events, IDC expects the market to grow another 6-7 percent in 2012 with Intel leading the way. That's hardly the sign of a shrinking market, though mobile is playing a big role as well.
Intel stepped up to the plate and seemingly 
Throughout the years, AMD's strategy against Intel has been to undercut the Santa Clara chip maker in price, though that's not necessarily by design. Clock for clock, AMD's processors don't usually pack the same performance punch as Intel's silicon, and that's especially true with the launch of Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture. In response to Ivy Bridge, AMD decided another round of price cuts was in order.
Samsung today officially introduced what it claims is the world's first quad-core application processor built on the High-k Metal Gate (HKMG) low-power process technology. It's called the Exynos 4 Quad, a 32nm 1.4GHz quad-core processor based on the ARM Cortex A9 architecture. With twice as many cores as its predecessor, the 45nm Exynos 4 Dual, Samsung claims the Exynos 4 Quad doubles the processing potential with a 20 percent lower power footprint.
Stop whatever it is you're doing and run through your office or down the street yelling, 'Ivy Bridge is here! Ivy Bridge is here!' Sure, you'll elicit funny stares as you lap the water cooler and blow by accounting's set of cubicles, but those 'in the know' will understand what all the fuss is about. They'll also be appreciative of the heads up that, finally, Intel's Ivy Bridge launch is official.
Trouble with TSMC's (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) 28nm process technology could force Nvidia and Qualcomm to seek out other foundries. In fact, Nvidia reportedly has already started sampling its chips on Samsung's 28nm process technology, representing a significant shift in behavior and a potential huge loss for TSMC, which is currently the sole provider of chips for Nvidia.
The next generation of GPUs is already here, and all signs point to the next generation of CPUs gearing up to join the party sooner rather than later. AMD's Trinity APUs aren't expected to drop until sometime in May, but we're hearing more details about Intel's Ivy Bridge launch. It's basically accepted as fact that the chips are shipping at the end of this month; now, a specific date has surfaced.
Just a few days ago Fudzilla brought up the interesting point that there are no Core i3 flavored 3rd generation Ivy Bridge processors on tap from Intel, or at least none that we know of. They haven't shown up in leaked roadmaps and, for the time being, it appears Intel is sticking with Core i5 and i7 models for its mobile Ivy Bridge lineup. Fortunately for you budget buyers out there, Core i3 will make an appearance on the desktop.
-
Technology
Entertainment
-
Music
-
Creative
Sport & Auto
- About Future
- Jobs
- News
- Advertising
- Digital Future
- Privacy Policy
- Cookies Policy
- Terms & Conditions
- Shop
- Investor Relations
- Contact Future
© Future US, Inc. 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, California, 94080. All Rights Reserved.