Intel touts innovation

During a speech at Computex today, Intel senior vice president Anand Chandrasekher introduced products and technologies in its upcoming Intel Core2 Duo processors. Saying that the company's innovation will "redefine how PCs are used today and attract more buyers" around the world, the Intel exec touted the new Intel 965 Express "Broadwater" chipset, which it said would enable breakthrough PC performance, greater power efficiency, quieter systems and theatre-like sound quality when combined with the company's Core2 Duo platform. Already benchmarks have shown that the new Core 2 Duo outperforms previous generation chips by a signficant margin. As previously disclosed, he also noted that Intel will introduce the Intel Core 2 Extreme processor at speeds of 2.93GHz in July, and a faster 3.2GHz version later in the year. The company's revamped Core 2 Duo for mobile applications, code-named Merom, is due in August.

The "Broadwater" chipset incorporates Intel Fast Memory Access, an updated Memory Controller Hub backbone architecture that optimizes the system’s memory bandwidth. Intel said that the technology would significantly increase PC performance, although it did not provide any details or specific benchmarks. The new memory controller also supports DDR2 or double-data rate computer memory with data transfer speeds up to 800MHz. A future integrated graphics chipset, called the G965 Express Chipset, will include a new feature called Intel Clear Video Technology, which enhances high-definition video playback including those from personal video recorders and digital camcorders for sharper image viewing quality.

All of the 965 Express chipsets enable users to add a second external drive to a PC for extra data protection, Intel High Definition Audio for theater-like sound quality and Intel® Quiet System Technology to reduce system noise and heat for a much quieter, yet higher-performing PC. These chipsets, the company said, will form the basis of systems supporting the Intel Viiv Technology and Intel vPRO Technology platforms that will be increasingly powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors.

Ultra-low voltage Core Duo, VOIP adapter

For small to medium businesses, Intel today also introduced the Intel 600SM PCI Phone Adapter that allows businesses to make VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls easily and seamlessly from desktop PCs using existing telephones. The company also said has extended the energy saving feature of its mobile architecture for Intel Centrino mobile technology-based laptops by providing a sneak peek of a new ultra-low voltage Intel Core Duo processor, notebook processors that will only consume a median average of less than a watt (.75 watts), which it says is the lowest in the industry. Chandrasekher said the processor will be available from OEMs such as Dell and HP and resellers starting this summer for their slimmest and sleekest laptop designs.

by MacNN Staff