Intel confirms 'Haswell' chip intro at Computex

by Brooke Crothers

 in Cnet

Photo Credits: Intel

It's official. Intel's fourth-generation core "Haswell" processor will arrive on June 3. Expect a crush of desktops, laptops, convertibles, detachables, and tablets to ensue.

That's June 3 in the U.S. and June 4 in Taiwan, where it will be rolled out at Computex.

Haswell is mostly about better battery life and, to a lesser extent, about improved graphics performance. So, expect, for instance, Haswell laptops that last longer -- maybe a lot longer if other power-saving technologies are also used -- than today's latest and greatest offerings.

The first Haswell processors out of the chute are expected to be the quad-core variety aimed at high-end laptops. But don't be surprised if more quad-core chips seep into mainstream 13-inch and 14-inch laptops too due to Haswell's improved power efficiency.

At the other end of the spectrum will be a new variety of ultra-power-efficient Haswell chips that should allow PC makers -- and Apple if it so chooses -- to offer newfangled ultrathin designs with good performance.

Google's Chrome OS based designs like the Chromebook pixel will adopt Haswell as well.

Read Full Story @ Cnet

Intel profit dives 25 percent amid PC market slump

By Agam Shah

IDG News Service - Intel reported a drop in profits and revenue for the first quarter, as the biggest PC market slump in recent memory weighed on its business.

Intel reported a profit of $2.05 billion for the quarter ended March 30, down 25 percent from a year earlier. Revenue was $12.6 billion, Intel said, a drop of 2.5 percent.

About two-thirds of Intel's revenue comes from its PC client group, which makes chips for laptops and desktops. Revenue from that division was down 6 percent year on year, to $8.0 billion.

Its Data Center Group, which sells server chips and other enterprise hardware, fared better. Quarterly revenue from that division was up 7.5 percent year-over-year, to $2.6 billion

Intel is predicting revenue for its second quarter to be $12.9 billion, plus or minus $500 million.

It's expected to announce new chips based on the Haswell microarchitecture later in the quarter. They'll replace chips based on its Ivy Bridge microarchitecture, which have been shipping for about a year now.

Read Full story @ Computer World