But is raw power enough reason to dump your old machine and buy a Sandy Bridge PC now? We answer five most frequently asked questions to help you in your decision.
Can I play games on a Sandy Bridge integrated graphics engine?
In the past, Intel integrated graphics (IGP) focused on offering power efficiency over performance. While the previous generation IGP allowed for high-definition video decoding, it offered barely playable frame rates for 3D gaming even on the lowest settings.
Not so for Sandy Bridge IGP. Despite not sporting a discrete graphics card, a Sandy Bridge laptop was able to play the first person shooter title, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, on medium settings with acceptable frame rates. This is great news for MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) fans, as power-hungry discrete graphics are no longer a requirement for online raiding.
Will we see Sandy Bridge Netbooks or slate tablets?
It is unlikely to see widespread adoption in this category as Sandy Bridge was designed for laptops and desktops due to its higher thermal design power (though Acer is reportedly work on one). This means it requires better heat dissipation, which can take a toll on battery life. Smaller machine such as slates and minilaptops such as the Samsung Sliding PC 7 will go with the Intel Oak Trail platform which has a lower operating temperature and higher power efficiency.
When should I upgrade my current machine?
The huge performance boost for multimedia transcoding and photo editing makes this a must-have upgrade for film makers and photographers, drastically shortening the time needed to complete essential tasks.
But if you are already using a previous-generation machine with high-end graphics card for gaming, your current PC is still relevant and upgrading is optional. Same with users who only surf the Internet or perform Microsoft Office-related tasks, as the increase in raw power of the new platform is unlikely to be missed.
When will Macs get onto the Sandy Bridge platform?
While Apple does not comment on future products, we can expect the first roll-out of Sandy Bridge-powered Macs to appear in the next few months. This is even more exciting for those eyeing the 13.3-inch MacBooks, which are still based on the older Core 2 Duo processor with Nvidia integrated graphics. The improvement of Intel's IGP may be the push needed for Apple to finally adopt the Core i chipset in its 13.3-inch MacBook Pro or even the MacBook Air lineup.
How do I tell the difference between older Core i machines and new Sandy Bridge PCs?
The older generation Core i desktop and laptop processors sport a three-digit code followed by a suffix (i.e. 520UM), while the Sandy Bridge CPUs use four digits with a suffix (i.e. 2820QM). However, the easiest way to determine whether a desktop or notebook uses the latest Intel technology is to look at the logo as shown below).
Previous-generation Core i sticker.
