Today is the launch date for Intel's new "Ivy Bridge" CPUs, officially known as the company's "third-generation Core" processors. Essentially a die shrink of the current "Sandy Bridge," 32-nm second-generation Core chips, Ivy Bridge represents the first implementation of Intel's 22nm manufacturing process. This means that the newer processors will perform as well or better than today's models, with lower power requirements and better cooling.
Within Intel's marketing jargon, Ivy Bridge is the latest "tick," or die shrink, on its "tick-tock" release schedule. (The previous "tock," a new microarchitecture, occurred last year with the release of Sandy Bridge.) What this shows is that Intel is continuing to move forward, making PC processors that are both more capable and more efficient.
The new processors come in both full- and low-power desktop models, as well as mobile models. All told, Intel is releasing at least 20 different Core i7 and i5 models with TDP (Thermal Design Power) ratings from 35 watts up to 77 watts. If you remember that the previous-generation processors had TDP ratings from 35 to 95 watts (not counting 130 watts for the Extreme Edition parts), you can see that the Intel Core processor line is becoming more efficient and easier to cool.
The processors run from the Core i5-3450S to the Core i7-3770K for desktops, and from the Core i7-3612QM to the Core i7-3920XM on mobile platforms. Note that the letter suffixes are important differentiators. There are four part numbers called Core i7-3770, from the low-power i7-3770T to the unlocked and overclockable i7-3770K. A Core i7-3770K would be ideal for a gaming rig, while a Core i7-3770T would suffice for a compact mini PC or an all-in-one desktop.
Fans of compact form factors will be happy to see that the new Ivy Bridge processors will come with an updated version of integrated Intel HD Graphics that is compatible with DirectX 11 (DX11). Though playing intensive 3D games on integrated graphics will still be an ordeal, Intel HD Graphics 4000 will let users smoothly view online content like 1080p HD videos. The new integrated graphics will also help GPU-accelerated performance on other multimedia apps.
DIY fans rejoice: You can enjoy the energy saving benefits and updated graphics on your existing Sandy Bridge (LGA1155) 6 Series–chipset motherboards. All you need to do is update the BIOS on your motherboard and drop in the new processor. If you've been having heat issues, note that because the new Ivy Bridge processors run cooler; you probably won't need to upgrade your heat sink. If you've already upgraded to DDR3 1600 memory, you're golden. Third-generation Core processors are designed to work with it.