Intel Corp.’s next-generation Ivy Bridge processor will bring a lot more interesting features as initially believed. At the Intel Developer Forum, the world’s largest maker of chips revealed additional details about its next-gen central processing units (CPUs). The new Ivy Bridge product will support yet unavailable DDR3 memory as well as increased maximum multiplier. Both features are incredibly interesting for enthusiasts and overclockers.

Intel’s Core i-series “Sandy Bridge” microprocessors officially support up to 1333MHz DDR3 memory, but allow to clock DRAM at 2133MHz in cases when memory modules support such speeds. By contrast, Intel’s code-named Ivy Bridge chips will support up to 2800MHz (2.80GHz) DDR3 clock-speed, an unbelievable frequency that substantially exceeds all the official DDR3 specifications. At present the fastest memory modules available can function at 2400MHz (2.40GHz), whereas the world’s highest DDR3 clock-speed is 3459.6MHz (3.46GHz).

In order to further improve appeal of Ivy Bridge processors for performance-hungry enthusiasts, the new CPU will also support higher maximum multiplier (63), finer grain DRAM frequency adjustments, configurable thermal design power (TDP), and other advantages for overclockers.

Ivy Bridge will generally inherit Sandy Bridge micro-architecture and will sport a rather significant number of improvements. Firstly, it will have certain improvements that will boost its performance in general applications by around 20% compared to Core i "Sandy Bridge" chips (e.g., enhanced AVX acceleration). Secondly, the forthcoming chip will have a new graphics core with DirectX 11 and OpenCL 1.1 support as well as 30% higher performance compared to the predecessor. Thirdly, Ivy Bridge will feature PCI Express 3.0 x16 interconnection as well as PCIe 2.0 x4 controller. The CPU is made using 22nm process technology.

Intel will release its code-named Ivy Bridge central processing units for desktops in March or April, 2012.

Tags: Intel, 22nm, Ivy Bridge, Core, DDR3, DRAM, Sandy Bridge