IDF: Intel highlights graphics improvements in Ivy Bridge

Intel has provided more details about the upcoming Ivy Bridge processor architecture which promises marked improvements in graphics performance.

The platform is the first to be built using Intel's 22nm manufacturing process and tri-gate transistor design, which has a 3D approach to creating circuits that run faster and more efficiently than conventional designs.

Varghese George, a senior principal engineer at Intel, told IDF attendees that, while there are advantages to tri-gate, the technology presented unique design and engineering challenges.

"There is a loot of goodness that comes with tri-gate, but also a lot of challenges. It brings a lot of new opportunities for designers to achieve balance between efficiency and performance," he said.

Ivy Bridge will also contain security updates. The Digital Random Number Generator allows for more secure generation of encryption keys, while the Supervisory Mode Execution Protection component can block elevation of privilege attacks.

However, Ivy Bridge shares a number of key components with its predecessor, Sandy Bridge, including memory controllers, display engines, PCI controllers, modular interconnects and the processor socket system.

The most notable improvements are in graphics hardware, which now provides significant improvements in areas such as media display and general processing over GPU, according to Intel senior fellow Tom Piazza.

Other updates to the graphics component include support for three screens, the addition of DX 11 support and the introduction of level 3 cache.

Piazza said that, while Intel considers Ivy Bridge to be a 'tick' update owing to the 22nm fabrication process, the graphics overhaul in the platform is closer to a 'tock' update in which the architecture itself makes a leap forward.