Broadwell is the next-generation Intel processor after Haswell, according to Intel's plans, we will see the Broadwell series processor to log in to mobile and desktop platforms in the next 18 months. Although Haswell is now not fully popular, it is time to understand the Broadwell as the fifth generation product. Let us take a look at what aspects of Broadwell is upgraded?
Tick-Tock
The upgrade cycle of Intel processor products is generally 18 months, but each upgrade is not finished. Since 2007, Intel began using Tick-Tock as its chip technology development strategic model, which is what we say "Process Year - Architecture Year". The process of the process is Intel will launch a core area and more advanced processors in the year, and the architecture year refers to the introduction of a processor using a new architecture. In general, the process upgrade will make the processor have a more excellent power consumption, but performance improvements are not obvious, such as Broadwell. The emergence of Broadwell represents progress in the manufacturing process of Intel processor. It is said that it is a slimming for the seniors Haswell.
Process upgrade
Speaking of "slimming", how small is Broadwell? In fact, "Small" said that "small" does not refer to the size of the chip, but the size of the transistor. Haswell uses a 22 nm transistor, and the size of the transistor on the Broadwell is reduced to 14 nm, and it is necessary to know that the transistor size of the first generation of Core processors is 65 nm, and Intel can be seen in this eight-year technology. If you want to feel how big the transistor is in the end, unplug the hair and touch thickness, that is the thickness of 90,000 transistors. It is the ability to cooperate through hundreds of millions of transistors, and the processor achieves such complex functionality.
Power consumption
According to Intel, Broadwell is less than 30% compared to Haswell, while performance has slightly improved, and these improvements are also easy to understand even ordinary consumers. In fact, Haswell has made great progress in power consumption compared to third-generation processor Ivy Bridge, which makes the Windows notebook and MacBook have a substantial increase in life, and it is possible to make the ultrabook possible.
For a simple example, the 2013 13-inch MacBook Air web browsing time is 7 hours, while the 2013 13-inch MacBook AIR will raise the results to an amazing 12 hours, this is an excellent Haswell's excellent The energy consumption is not open. If Broadwell really reduces 30% power consumption on the basis of Haswell, this year, the new MacBook AIR's battery life is likely to be 15 hours, and even more tablets on the market.
Why is Broadwell be revolutionary?
Very low power consumption not only brings long battery life, but also saved power can be assigned to other parts, such as a high resolution display. Although the smartphone and tablet screen technology has already leap in recent years, the laptop screen is still behind software or hardware. One of the reasons is due to the high power consumption of high-resolution screen, thereby producing a large impact on the overall power consumption of the equipment, but Broadwell's appearance may change this status. Before there was reported that Apple would launch MacBook Air with Retina screen in the second half, and Broadwell will be one of the decisive factors of such ultra-thin upgrades.
Integrated graphics performance
In addition to the core upgrade of the operation, the Broadwell series of integrated graphics can also improve, and Intel said that Broadwell's integrated graphics core performance is basically able to match the current mainstream independent graphics. Like Haswell, different versions of the Broadwell processor integrated graphics have a large gap, and there is a message from CPU World. It is worth mentioning that the Broadwell integrated graphics still uses the Haswell architecture, but the number of processing units increased by 20%. In addition, considering that the integrated graphics can be more stronger and stronger, the low-end discrete graphics market will be further compressed, or the entire graphics market pattern will also change.
When is Broadwell arrive?
It is reported that Intel will provide the Broadwell series processor to OEM vendors at the beginning of 2015, including the Core M series specially introduced for a fan-free two-in-one equipment. Although all Broadwell processors will not be launched at the same time, there will be three main versions in the early days of mass production, which should be part of Y, U, and H series.
The Y series is designed for ultra-low voltage equipment. Due to the extremely low heat generation, the equipment can even use the passive dissipation design without the fan, but in terms of performance Y series can only meet the demand for mild users. Next is the most widely used low voltage U series, the series of processors will be mainly used in new ultrabooks in the next generation of MacBook, power consumption and performance relatively balance, and can deal with general photos and video editing. The last is primarily to introduce the H series for desktop equipment. Since power consumption is not required, the performance of the H series is very powerful, and it is not suitable for fever-grade players. It should be noted that Broadwell is not very popular in the initial stage of technology, production capacity and cost, and it is recommended to upgrade more than one price.
Be
Post-Broadwell era
There is no doubt that there will be new successors after Broadwell, and it is Skylake. According to the previously mentioned "Process Year - Architecture Year" technology roadmap, Skylake's architecture will be redesigned, but will continue to use 14nm process. It is reported that Skylake's integrated graphics performance will be more than 150% of Broadwell, which is quite excited, but we still patiently wait patiently to come to the arrival of Broadwell and Retina version of MacBook Air!
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