Ivy Bridge Desktop Core i3 Processor Lineup Detailed, Lack PCIe Gen. 3.0

Details of desktop Core i7 and Core i5 "Ivy Bridge" processors in the LGA1155 package have been detailed at lengths, in the past. Core i3 parts based on the same 22 nm Ivy Bridge silicon, however, were relatively known. Tables listing out updated information about the lineup points out that Intel has as many as five Core i3 "Ivy Bridge" desktop processors in the works, all dual-core, and among which two are low-power parts.

The table also suggests that these Core i3 chips will have reduced features, importantly, the lack of PCI-Express 3.0 bus. When connected to these chips, PCI-E 3.0 add-on cards (such as graphics cards) will function in PCI-Express 2.0 mode. Further, these chips will lack support for AES-NI (accelerates encryption), VT-d (enhanced virtualization), and TXT (security). Certain models in the lineup have faster integrated graphics, denoted by a "5" in the end of the model number. These chips also lack Turbo Boost for the x86 cores, but feature HyperThreading.

Leading the pack is Core i3-3240, clocked at 3.40 GHz, with integrated graphics clocked at 650 MHz / 1020 MHz Dynamic. This is followed by the Core i3-3225, which is clocked at 3.30 GHz, packing faster Intel HD 4000 graphics. The Core i3-3220 is likely the cheapest of the lot, also clocked at 3.30 GHz, but with slower HD 2500 graphics. These three chips have rated TDP of 55W. Moving on to the low-power models, which have 35W TDP, we have the Core i3-3240T, with 3.00 GHz clock speed, and Core i3-3220T, with 2.80 GHz clock speed.

Sources: Zol.com.cn, VR-Zone