Intel is delaying launch Ivy Bridge

Although Intel’s latest Sandy Bridge successor, Ivy Bridge, was slated for a January 2012 launch, the situation is now looking more bleak. According to these slides over at BSN, Intel is delaying Ivy Bridge until at least April. While the top end Core i7 3770 Ivy Bridge processor might be available as soon as Q2 2012, it is also the most expensive part, and usually not the one that the majority of enthusiasts are waiting for.

While it is generally the case that the top end processor(s) are released first, followed by the lower end and less expensive parts, the delay has pushed back a April release for some of the budget parts to a Summer release. The delay is likely due to Intel wanting to get as much money as possible out of the Sandy Bridge platform, and the lackluster launch of AMD’s Bulldozer products. Were you hoping for an Ivy Bridge upgrade early next year? Because of the further delays, will you spring for a top end Sandy Bridge system or wait it out for Ivy Bridge despite the money burning a hole in your pocket? Intel's new Core i7-3960X processor, code-named Sandy Bridge-E, has been touted as the fastest desktop processor ever.

Effectively, it's a replacement for the six-core "Gulftown" Core i7-900 family that has been shipping for over a year, but with the Sandy Bridge architecture minus graphics replacing the Westmere architecture on Intel's 32nm processor. I've run most of these spreadsheets for years and have recently looked at quad-core laptop performance between Intel's Sandy Bridge line (the Core i3-2520M and Core i5-2330M) and AMD's Llano (the A6-3410MX and A8-3500M). Last year, I compared the desktop Intel Core i7-970 and 980x Gulftown processors with AMD's Phenom II X6, both six-core processors. Here are the results for all of the six-core desktops I've tested, with a 45nm quad-core Core 2 Quad Q9300 (Yorkfield) for comparison:

Few months ago, rumors due to process problems appeared that Intel is going to delay the launch of their 22nm Ivy Bridge processors from January to March 2012. Intel processors for 2012 carry the codename Ivy Bridge. The fact that AMD's Bulldozer processors failed to light up the market only increased that reason. Furthermore, the platform just needed development time to complete the complete 2012 platform (Maho Bay) and processor (Ivy Bridge). Additionally, the company needs time to develop drivers for the graphics part. After all is said and done, the new Ivy Bridge processors should debut in April-May 2012 timeframe alongside Maho Bay platform i.e. B75, Q75 and Q77 chipsets.