Intel promises souped-up graphics with new fourth-generation Core processors

Intel revealed today that its fourth-generation Core microprocessors will include much better graphics technology. The latest Core processors (dubbed Iris) combine graphics and processor functions on the same piece of silicon, much like the accelerated processing units (APUs) from rival Advanced Micro Devices.

That means that the base capability of most PCs will now be much better when it comes to running graphics-intensive apps such as games.

Intel is branding the graphics technology in two ways: Intel Iris Pro graphics for the high-end and Intel Iris graphics for the low-end. Intel says that its upcoming Core i7-4558U 28-watt chip will be more than double the graphics performance of the 17-watt third-generation Core i7, while a 15-watt fourth-generation Core chip will be 50 percent better on graphics.

Intel is expected to release its chips for use in June.

Patrick Moorhead, an analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, said, “Intel Iris looks like a huge improvement based on the figures supplied by Intel. I’m very interested to see the benchmarks on games and OpenCL and also how all the new features and quality settings are supported in games.”

For years, Intel’s graphics have lagged behind its rivals, but its microprocessors are used in so many PCs that developers have targeted Intel’s graphics as the baseline in the modern PC. By beefing up the graphics, game developers and others will be able to assume much better performance in graphics-related apps.

Intel said that its newest graphics will be 75 times better than the integrated graphics that it had in 2006. It will also be a significant leap over the third-generation Intel Core processors that debuted in 2012.

Among the new features are integrated on-package eDRAM memory, DirectX 11.1 and OpenGL 4.0 support, support for enhanced resolutions of 4,000-by-2,000, support for three-screen graphics, and better video technology.

Image credit: Intel