Intel announces new chip that could power fanless tablets

Intel has announced a new processor for its current Haswell line-up. The new chip is set to be launched in the second half of 2013. It will have a special design that lets OEMs make ultra-thin tablets that don't even need a fan to cool the processor.

The fanless-ness is achieved thanks to the chip running at a scenario design point of 4.5 watts. This could potentially allow companies like Microsoft to make a slimmer and less-bulky version of the Surface tablet. The unveiling of the chip comes after Intel announcing that it has managed to cool down the Haswell chips down to 6 watts SDP.

Imagine this, except without the need for cooling

Intel had originally shown off the 4th generation of its chips, dubbed Haswell, back in June. The company has since launched the chips, which can now be seen powering many of the newer devices in the market.

In contrast to the buzz regarding the launch, Intel has made relatively modest microarchitecture improvements with Haswell, especially when compared to Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge release, which is the name given to 22nm shrunk die of the Sandy Bridge microarchitecture based on 3D transistors.

The release is in line with Intel’s "tick-tock" product development and release strategy adopted since 2007. Every "tick" is a shrinking of process technology of the previous microarchitecture and every "tock" is a new microarchitecture. Intel’s Sandy Bridge microarchitecture, introduced in early 2011, was a "tock" built using a 32nm manufacturing process; the Haswell release too is a "tock" and it uses the 22nm manufacturing process as Ivy Bridge.