Intel has revealed its next generation of integrated graphics solutions, dubbed Iris, which will apparently offer double or even triple the performance of the previous generation.
The chip manufacturing giant last night revealed its new integrated graphics solution to the press. Iris promises some dramatic gains in 3D and gaming performance, leading to the possibility that you won’t be needing a discrete graphics chip in your next laptop or desktop computer.
Iris will come embedded in Intel’s forthcoming Haswell CPUs, replacing the current Intel HD Graphics 4000 solution attached to its Ivy Bridge processors.
There will be five classes of Iris integrated graphics set-ups, with the top-of-the range laptop solution providing a claimed two-fold increase in graphics performance over the previous generation. Cooling requirements for this top model will mean that the thinnest and lightest Ultrabooks won’t be able to use it, but there are still significant performance increases further down the range.
Intel Iris in Desktops
Desktop users will see an even bigger increase. The new Intel Core i7-4770R will provide a staggering three-fold increase in graphics performance over Ivy Bridge chips – although of course it’s far more normal and desirable to have a dedicated graphics card in such a set-up.
The main point in all this, then, is that laptop gaming could become even more accessible to the masses – if only for a little while.
Why only a little while? The next generation of consoles will be upon us within the next six months or so, and its the PS4 and Xbox 720 / Infinity / Durango that will set the general standard for graphical performance in games over the years to come.
This means that while Iris might ensure adequate or even decent laptop performance on most current games, the next wave of triple A titles could well put you back to square one in requiring a discrete graphics card to run properly.
Speaking of mobile graphics cards, we haven’t yet heard from Nvidia and AMD as to their next generation solutions. You can bet that these will be far better equipped to take on the formidable next-generation gaming challenge.
If you’re after a top-notch gaming laptop for a reasonable price, check out our Samsung 550P7C review.
Via: The Verge
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.