Intel Ivy Bridge, Heading to Desktops and Laptops this Spring

Last week, PC World reported that Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors may finally hit the stores later this month. The report was based on a leaked schedule revealed by a Turkish industry website Donanimhaber.

Intel Ivy Bridge’s Launch Timing

The Ivy Bridge processors were previously slated for an early April 2012 release. However, it was delayed for several weeks, pushing the expected release date to April 29. This will include the Core i7, Core i7 Extreme families for mobile processors, while a couple of Core i5 processors for desktops will also be available. This simply suggests that people will start seeing fast, high-end, powerful laptops and computers this spring.

The summer is also set for the release of Ultrabooks, as the Computex electronic trade show will kick-off in Taipei on June 5-9. The event will enable manufacturers to showcase their new laptops, especially there are several dual-core Ivy Bridge chips for mobile and desktops that will be available starting June 3.

People should also expect Ultrabooks and other laptops that feature Ivy Bridge Core i5 and Core i7 processors in many back-to-school circulars. If you’re eyeing a more budget-friendly device powered by Ivy Bridge, Core i3 models will hit the shelves later this year, just in time for the holidays.

MacBook Air and ASUS ZenBook Heats up the Ultrabook Market

Also coming this month are the Ivy Bridge-powered MacBook Air and ASUS ZenBook. It could be a tough call for potential buyers to wait for Ultrabooks that are powered by Intel’s latest processor. That’s because it’s not just a matter of processor upgrade. If it is, then it’ll be easier for users to choose whether to wait or jump in with a cheaper Sandy Bridge model.

However, other than a faster and powerful chip also comes the new Intel 4000 graphics. According to AnanTech’s Benchmark, this provides a boost in performance that could beat its predecessors and NVIDIA GeForce GT 520 and AMD Radeon HD 5450 graphics. As posted on PC World:

“Benchmarks on AnandTech indicate a 5% to 15% increase in CPU performance for the Ivy Bridge Core i7 processors and a whopping 20% to 50% improvement on the graphics side –– a huge plus for gamers.”

Both MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are slated to arrive at Apple Stores this April, with Intel’s new Ivy Bridge processors and integrated 4000 graphics under the hood. ASUS ZenBook, considered as MacBook Air’s toughest contender, is also expected to hit the stores around the same time carrying the same internal architecture.