Intel and Advanced Micro Devices appear to be having some trouble keeping their next-generation product release dates under wraps. Over the past week, rumored details have leaked about Intel's launch plans for processors code named Ivy Bridge and on Tuesday, sources revealed what they claimed was a definitive date for AMD's introduction of its new "Trinity" accelerated processing units (APUs).
AMD's Trinity chips, which succeed the Llano generation of APUs, feature the company's new Piledriver central processing core and an improved graphics processing architecture. The chip maker's latest addition to its line of hybrid CPU-GPU units is rumored to be launching on May 15, according to CPU World, citing a report from SWEClockers.
The Trinity launch will include desktop and notebook APUs, CPU World reported. Some more low-power APUs for "thin-and-light" laptops (essentially, what AMD's archival Intel has dubbed ultrabooks) are reportedly set for a June release.
Intel, meanwhile, had originally planned to launch Ivy Bridge this month but production issues caused the chip giant to push the launch of the bulk of chips in its next-generation, 22-nanometer product line to June, Intel executive Sean Maloney said back in February.
Now it looks like a whole bunch of Ivy Bridge processors could show up on the original schedule, after all. Last week, CPU World pointed to reports from SWEclockers and Donanimhaber pointing to an April 29 release date for Ivy Bridge desktop and notebook CPUs.
The processors that are supposed to arrive on that date include several new Core i5 and Core i7 chips for the desktop market, and three Core i7 mobile processors as well (list below). All of the Ivy Bridge parts rumored for an April 29 arrival are quad-core CPUs, with some additional dual-core mobile chips (plus another handful of quad-core desktop chips) supposedly coming on June 3, according to CPU World.
Adding to the intrigue was a CNET report on Wednesday that suggests that Hewlett-Packard will be launching a bunch of Ivy Bridge-based laptops as early as next week.
CPU News wasn't initially sure about when Intel would announce that Ivy Bridge was arriving sooner than expected, but noted on Tuesday that the Chinese-language VR-Zone now claims that the company will announce its new products on April 23. That date doesn't seem to jibe with CNET's report on HP's plans, however, so we'll have to wait and see how all of this plays out.
In the meantime, here's the breakdown of specs and prices for Intel Ivy Bridge CPUs that are supposedly going to arrive before the month is out:
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Eight-Thread Desktop CPUs
Core i7-3770K (3.5GHz, 3.9 GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB L3 Cache, 77W): $332
Core i7-3770 (3.4GHz, 3.9GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB L3 Cache, 77W): $294
Core i7-3770S (3.1GHz, 3.9 GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB L3 Cache, 65W): $294
Core i7-3770T (2.5GHz, 3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB L3 Cache, 45W): $294
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Core i5-3570K (3.4GHz, 3.8GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB L3 Cache, 77W): $225
Core i5-3570T (2.3GHz, 3.3 GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB L3 Cache, 45W): $205
Core i5-3550 (3.3GHz, 3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB L3 Cache, 77W): $205
Core i5-3550S (3.0GHz, 3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB L3 Cache, 65W): $205
Core i5-3450 (3.1GHz, 3.5GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB L3 Cache, 77W): $184
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Eight-Thread Mo bile CPUs
Core i7-3920XM (2.9GHz, 3.8GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB L3 Cache, 55W): $1096
Core i7-3820QM (2.7GHz, 3.7GHz w/Turbo Boost, 8MB L3 Cache, 45W): $568
Core i7-3720QM (2.6GHz, 3.6GHz w/Turbo Boost, 6MB L3 Cache, 45W): $378
For more from Damon, follow him on Twitter @dpoeter.
