Intel details the Larrabee next-gen hybrid CPU / GPU

Although they've gotten better recently, Intel's integrated graphics chipsets have never gotten a ton of love -- the underpowered 915 chipset is at the heart of the whole "Vista Capable" debacle, for example -- but it looks like the company's about to make a strong play to be your new pixel-pusher of choice with the new Larrabee graphics chip. Based on the x86 instruction set, the new chip isn't just limited to GPU duties, but can serve as a general-purpose processor as well. Early 16-core versions have been developed with max speeds of over 2GHz, but the design can apparently scale to thousands of cores in the future. The plan is first to release Larrabee chips as separate graphics units in Q4 of this year, but early next year we should see both laptop and desktop-oriented 45nm Nehalem processors with the Larrabee tech built right in. That should beat AMD's Fusion processors to market -- looks like the race is on.

Read - PC Perspective roadmap article with Intel slides
Read - DailyTech roadmap with Larrabee details

[daedalus @ Mar 18th 2008 5:00PM]

I'd prefer the Linda Ellerbee chip

[ByronGman @ Mar 18th 2008 5:27PM]

I'd prefer something developed by Nvidia...

If they ever enter the CPU or GPU/CPU hybrid market that is where I will be.

[Chris @ Mar 18th 2008 5:17PM]

All this talk about the future and they still haven't released their 45nm quads, whats the deal Intel?

[Allen @ Mar 18th 2008 5:53PM]

Yes, yes they have. Go to Newegg.com and search Penryn. They have had 45nm quad cores on the market for months now, its only the extreme edition sure but then again the extreme edition does tend to be on the market for a while before the rest filter out.

As for the hybrid CPU/GPU, if it doesn't approach the performance of today's dedicated graphics cards (and not the crappy stuff like onboard 6150 graphics or even the 3150 from ATI, but 8800GTS levels), then most gamers will ignore it. It'd be bitching for home theater PC users and soccer moms, but the people who make Nvidia oodles of money every year will ignore them,

And NviAdia will probably crush Intel's dedicated graphics anyway. Common Nvidia, buy VIA, make me happy!

[Chris @ Mar 18th 2008 6:04PM]

I meant the cpu's that people could actually afford.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Mar 18th 2008 6:52PM]

hahahaha! quad core so people can afford? hahahahaah!

come the hell on.. that would be like me whining about Ferrari's being so expensive that the average folks can't afford them... :P

[John Aubrey @ Mar 18th 2008 9:30PM]

Something big happening at Intel as far as graphics goes. It will be interesting to see what we get. Intel is pushing some serious R&D into graphics now and I'm thinking AMD and nVidia are in trouble

[Abuzar @ Mar 18th 2008 10:20PM]

I got a Q6600 with a Freezer 7 Pro for 245. I would say that's pretty damn affordable.

[Chris @ Mar 18th 2008 11:29PM]

I didn't mean to set off an alarm, all I want is a Q9450 for my new system is that too much to ask for.

[Abuzar @ Mar 19th 2008 1:48PM]

Chris they should have them soon. Look to pay around 320 for those. I was gonna get one but the time and monetary constraints made me get a Q6600. It's still better than that Q9300 that's comin out.

[Spinnerbait @ Mar 18th 2008 5:34PM]

More detail and coverage on the rest of the Intel presentation, here:
http://www.hothardware.com/Articles/Intel_Showcases_Dunnington_Nehalem_and_Larrabee_Processors/

[kemfonok @ Mar 18th 2008 5:52PM]

it's a waste from intel, they sould leave this kind of stuff for sony with its ps3, i mean if one company like intel or the even worse amd was so medicore in so long time with game platforms then i think it is better to leave this field...

[dj-kenpo @ Mar 18th 2008 6:20PM]

huh?

[Michael LaFramboise @ Mar 18th 2008 6:54PM]

Thats some good shit you smoking there buddy, where you get it?

[Shiba @ Mar 18th 2008 7:58PM]

This is sarcasm.

Right?

[Reader @ Mar 19th 2008 12:04AM]

Michael LaFramboise, it's called mercury.

[new new new @ Mar 18th 2008 8:36PM]

"New pixel-pusher ... new Larrabee graphics chip ... new chip." New editor?

[Jim @ Mar 18th 2008 9:31PM]

I think you need to correct your timeline:

"However, to much disappointment, Larrabee will not find a home on 45nm Nehalem processors, scheduled for an early 2009 launch. Smith said Larrabee samples will be ready in Q4 2008, with shipments in 2009, though the initial launch appears to be only for discrete computing." Taken from Dailytech.

Whereas you said:
"The plan is first to release Larrabee chips as separate graphics units in Q4 of this year, but early next year we should see both laptop and desktop-oriented 45nm Nehalem processors with the Larrabee tech built right in. "

I think you might've misunderstood?

[fourthletter @ Mar 18th 2008 11:38PM]

Someone has the wrong end of the stick here, by reading the actual article the facts are that this GPU chip is a direct competitor to Nvidia's and ATI's chips not a replacement for intel extreme integrated graphics.
The article states that intel are not rushing to replace intergrated graphics as the expect cpu/gpu hybrids to replace the need for them.
Does anyone at engadget understand technology or hardware that isn't white and shiny.

[Enki @ Mar 18th 2008 11:56PM]

I agree with kemfonok that its a waste for intel. Tell me how this isn't a cell? If the cell is so good why is there a Nvidia chip powering the graphics for it? Cell just wasn't up to it.Now, before I get flamed, I think cell is great chip for what its supposed to do, it just isn't suited well for a gaming machine. If intel is serious about gaming, then they are going to have to come up with something better than a bunch of teenie-tiny renamed SPE's slapped together.