Intel’s new fast-but-affordable chips could help computer industry recover
Bringing higher performance to mid-level computers, Intel launched a bunch of new microprocessors today based on its Nehalem chip family. Those chips will be the brains of some of the laptops, desktops and servers in the “fast-but-affordable” category.
These chips will likely be in computers built around Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system, and as such they’re the foundation upon which computer makers hope to build their recovery this fall.
The world’s biggest chip maker is introducing one new processor family, dubbed the Intel Core i5, as well as two new Intel Core i7 processors and the new Intel Xeon processor 3400 series for servers. The chips enable computer makers — such as Dell, which is introducing computers with the new processors today — to design smaller and more power-efficient computers.
These chips were formerly code-named Lynnfield and are based on the Nehalem family introduced in March. They’re designed for high performance with digital media, productivity, gaming and other apps. They’re accompanied by a new Intel P55 express chip set, which lets a computer handle input-output functions with just one chip rather than two. The processors feature Intel’s Turbo Boost technology that lets a chip’s core run faster than its base operating frequency.
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About the Author, Dean Takahashi
Dean is lead writer for GamesBeat at VentureBeat. He covers video games, security, chips and a variety of other subjects. Dean previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News, the Wall Street Journal, the Red Herring, the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register and the Dallas Times Herald. He is the author of two books, Opening the Xbox and the Xbox 360 Uncloaked. Follow him on Twitter at @deantak, and follow VentureBeat on Twitter at @venturebeat.