Intel Talks Broadwell: More Performance, Less Power

From X-bit Labs: Intel Corp. has given the first glimpse on its next-generation microprocessor code-named Broadwell. Being made using 14nm process technology, the new chip is expected to deliver lower power consumption. At the same time, Intel claims that the new chip will also deliver higher performance.

During the Intel Developer Forum trade-show, Intel showcased a notebook running Core i-series 5000-sequence microprocessor code-named Broadwell made using 14nm process technology. The system provided up to 30% of battery lifetime when compared to existing computers. The world’s largest chipmaker expects a broad range of new fanless systems based on Core i-series in the coming months and years.

“I wanted to show you something directly out of the labs. First, let's just say, ‘What does 14 nanometer do for me from a form factor perspective?’ This is the Haswell-Y product that was 6 watts and 4.5 watts. This is the Broadwell-Y product. You can just get a flavor for just how thin and small the 14 nanometer products become as we go to the next generation chip technology. Here, in front of me, is something directly out of the labs, and so what I wanted to do is just show you. Broadwell is going to enable two different kinds of devices. One, you can plug the chips directly into the existing systems. And second, we'll have brand new systems with a broad new range of fanless designs,” said Kirk Skaugen, corporate vice president and general manager of PC client group at Intel.

During the demonstration, Intel showcased the so-called Broadwell-Y based system running Cinebench benchmark, which heavily relies on both micro-architectural efficiencies and parallelism (i.e., core count and multithreading).The showcase by Intel displayed 30% advantage of Broadwell-Y over current products. Given that Broadwell micro-architecture will support a number of advantages over current products, such as new instructions, the performance advantage will likely get only better in select apps.

“We are seeing up to a 30% power reduction at the same performance levels just by moving [SACA] compatible from the Haswell to the Broadwell, without even a lot of performance tuning that we will see,” said Mr. Skaugen.

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