[NewsPoster]

Intel has revealed specifications for the "Haswell" chip line expected to launch this week. According to Intel, the new chips require less cooling, and draw less power than equivalently speedy Ivy Bridge processors available at retail now. The full line of Haswell chips, save one with a ball grid array, is expected to be seen at retail in the coming month.

In addition to the energy savings, and as previously discussed, the new line of Intel processors are boosted with a new graphics processor. The new processor demands a new chipset, supplanting the old 6- and 7- series chipsets which were compatible with both Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge processors. The new LGA 1150 socket is expected to be compatible going forward with the "Broadwell" chipset, expected after Haswell.

The first chips released for the desktop are five varieties of the i7-4770 processor, and a single i7-4765T. All six processors are quad core, with eight parallel threads. TDP varies between 35W and 84W, with speeds ranging from 2.0GHz to 2.5GHz base and 3.0Ghz to 3.8GHz turbo. The new Intel HD 4600 graphics chipset is on all of the desktop processors, save the i7-4770R, which will not be available at retail, and will be embedded in BGA (Ball Grid Array) only.

Desktop chips will also be available in six i5 varieties, all quad-core with four parallel threads. TDP has the same range as the i7 processors. Speeds range from 2.3GHz through 3.4GHz base, and 2.9GHz through 3.8GHz Turbo. All models of i5 processors use the HD 4600 graphical chipset.

All of the laptop CPUs are i7, all quad core, with eight parallel threads. TDP ranges from 37W to 57W, with speeds ranging from 2.0GHz through 3.0GHz base, and a turbo speed range of 2.9GHz to 3.7GHz. Most of the mobile chips come with the Intel HD 4600 graphical chipset, two ship with the HD 5200, and one with the Iris Pro 5200 chipset.

[Peter Bonte]

Just in time for WWDC's new Mac Pro's?

[iphonerulez]

I'm fairly certain Mac Pros won't be using these chips. I'm willing to bet Apple will use some server-based chip due to requiring a chip that works with a multi-processor architecture. Any new iMacs will definitely be using these Haswells.

[James Katt]

Intel doesn't upgrade its server chips very often. This is a huge problem for Apple if it has to rely on Intel's server chips for its desktops.

The best solution would be for Apple to come up with a modular Mac Pro. Such a Mac Pro would have separate computing boxes housing separate computers stacked together by a very fast bus such as something faster than Thunderbolt. This was done for Macs when creating a Mac-based supercomputer. Using Grand Central Station, Mac OS X can tie the separate CPUs together as if they were one larger computer. It would be seamless. One box can hold the Power supply or redundant power supplies. One box can house the PCI cards. One can even have more than one box of PCI cards.

Essentially, Apple's Mac Pro would be a mini-version of a supercomputer. Consumers, particularly the Pros, can then select how much power they will need. It would be scalable to thousands of CPUs - each one quad-core.

That's what I want. A true Mac Pro Supercomputer.

Over time, this simplifies updates since the CPU modules can be updated independently of the PCI Card and Power Supply Modules.

[Roehlstation]

The Xeon E3 is a Haswell CPU. They are releasing around the same time as these.