At the recent Intel Developer Forum showed a prototype of Clarkdale, and provided an opportunity to evaluate what they bring with them new processors with integrated graphics, the issue of which is not far off. Typically, fundamentally new Intel processors are designed for the upper price segment, forcing enthusiasts to choke saliva from impatience to test new items. But this time the product Intel will be more pragmatic. This will be the next generation of desktop chips, known as the Clarkdale. Under this code name hides the upcoming processors, which will be released under the brand name Core i3 in the first quarter of 2010.

The transition to more energy-efficient 32nm process technology, well established in Westmere, ease of Intel's development and the beginning of mass production of chips Clarkdale. From an architectural standpoint Clarkdale are 32nm dual-core processors providing the processing of four independent data streams through technology Hyperthreading, which is an internal QPI bus connected to a separate cluster of 45nm, which represents the GPU and dual-channel memory controller located on a single chip.

In 2010, the first time, users will be able to buy a processor that will have a GPU, built on the same chip, but not in Northbridge. The same principle will be used in processors Arrandale, designed for laptops probably as a result of this will lead to the emergence of low cost systems with integrated graphics support DX10.

In the process of transition from the architecture of Penryn Westmere Intel boosts productivity at GHz frequency as compared to previous generations. The new processors Clarkdale can be regarded as a smaller version of Lynnfield. Most likely, the market wills dual-core processors with speeds up to 3.33GGts and the opportunity to increase the frequency of a single computational kernel using the Turbo Boost.

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Graphs show the results of comparative testing of the prototype with the Clarkdale enabled Turbo Boost and two-and quad-core processors of the previous generation. Based on these graphs, embedded GPU processor Clarkdale about 50% faster than the graphics, built-in GMA X4500. Growth performance in 3D applications allows us to say that the novelty in terms of graphics about the same AMD 785G.This is a subtle hint of Intel that Clarkdale processors provide support for most modern games, at least at low resolutions.

Processor Clarkdale will have a socket LGA1156, the same as in current chips Lynnfield. However, for the use of integrated graphics through what is called the Flexible Display Interface (FDI), require new chipsets, H57 and Q57.

The photo shows the motherboard mini-ITX mainboard based on H57. Left slots for dual channel memory DDR3, the middle of the CPU socket, below the Southbridge. Processor Clarkdale also supports 16 lanes PCI-Express, which can be used for discrete graphics, and, for example, are divided into 2 x8 for multiple cards the new platform will also support HDMI (v1.3), DVI and DisplayPort.

Integration of key elements in the processor also helps reduce power consumption. The source reports that energy consumption system with a processor Clarkdale is very small compared with modern desktop systems, which is important for those who want to create a full-fledged HTPC with the ability to play Blu-Ray on the new platform. In general, we can conclude that the issuance of Clarkdale (Core i3) company Intel is targeting the main segment of the market, planning to enter into it, integrated graphics and lower system cost by integrating the GPU and CPU.

In turn, AMD intends to release its own version of the processor with integrated graphics core, 32nm, too. The chip, known as LIano, will also be designed for computer average and will be released in 2010.