Intel Unveils First Integrated CPU Lineup

SAN FRANCISCO -- Intel today formally introduced its first generation of integrated CPUs with on-die GPUs, which will officially be launched at the Consumer Electronics Show in January.

These new dual-core processors are part of the company's "Westmere" generation of CPUs, which also will include quad-core processors without integrated graphics.

The CPU core is based on a 32-nanometer-process "Nehalem" design, while the on-chip graphics processor is fabricated using the older 45nm process.

However, the company emphasized that its new GPU technology, called Intel HD Graphics, still represents a significant upgrade. The new graphics cores are capable of tasks such as decoding two HD streams in hardware instead of one in hardware and one in software, which had previously consumed more CPU time under older designs.

As a result, the new graphics will support high-end display setups like those with multiple monitors, a first for Intel, along with dual-HDMI displays and DisplayPort. The company promises faster 3D graphics support for applications like Google Earth as well as smooth Blu-ray DVD playback.

All told, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) will launch 17 new processors at CES, along with three new chipsets and seven wireless chips, according to Stephen Smith, vice president and director of the company's PC clients unit. He made the announcement at a press conference on Thursday in advance of the holidays and CES.

The chips will be sold under the Core i3 and i5 labels, building on the existing Core i7 label for current quad-core designs. The Core i3 is meant for laptops and low-end desktops. The Core i5 is for the performance midrange and features Hyper-Threading, in which each core can run two separate processes.

The Core i5 design will also feature Turbo Boost, a technology that allows an idle CPU core to be turned off while a busy core gets extra processing power to help speed up its task. Intel said the feature is applicable to any processor-intensive job, whether it's video editing, music ripping, or gaming.

The parts themselves will be available January 7, although OEMs like HP (NYSE: HPQ), Acer, and Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) will be releasing desktops and laptops with the new chips on their own release schedules. Intel executives said they expect to ultimately announce approximately 400 design wins for the chips.

In addition to today's dual-core, graphics-integrated CPUs, Intel plans to announce the other portion of the Westmere lineup, new quad-core processors, at a future date.

Uday Marty, director of notebook marketing for Intel, said the 17 new models represent the most complete stack of product -- from low to midrange, for laptops and desktops -- ever introduced by Intel at one time. Normally, Intel staggers its releases, but he said these new chips would have legs.

"We believe the improvements we've made here will future-proof customers for future usage models," he said.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini will deliver a keynote speech at CES on Jan. 7 where he will update the audience on Intel's progress during the past year and give a future roadmap.