Intel used the occasion of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to announce the next generation of mainstream PC processors. The company has been dropping hints and previews about the “Broadwell” chip series for some time, but, after many delays, the new series has finally arrived.
Intel presented 14 different Broadwell series chips for a range of laptop and desktop uses. The new chips are smaller in size than previous versions, but Intel is most excited about faster performance and longer battery life. The new chips will have 30% more battery life, which, Intel says, will translate to 90 minutes of additional playing time for video files. Faster performance will lead to better boot times and more efficient rendering of 3D graphics.
Despite Intel’s claim that the latest release represents a “new generation” in chip design, the Broadwell chips appear to be a refined and improved version of the previous “Haswell” chips. The still more innovative and experimental Skylake series chips are set to appear later in 2015.