If you’ve been patiently waiting for the launch of Intel’s (News - Alert) Haswell Refresh line of processors, we have good news; the company has been quietly shipping the processors ahead of schedule. Intel had originally announced the planned launch for next month, preparing the processors to replace the existing Haswell parts.
In the application deployment space, this move is a smart one. The company was well aware of the updates the Haswell line needed, including clock speed increases. Intel is shipping the Refresh line as a replacement at no additional cost. To date, Intel has launched 44 Haswell Refresh SKUs, working to make this line perform according to expectations.
Of the 44 SKUs, 27 are desktop parts and 17 are for mobile machines. Intel’s full parts list includes the Haswell Refresh CPUs, yet the Devil’s Canyon parts are noticeably lacking. The company announced previously that it had plans to release these parts and yet those waiting for the launch are still waiting. For the K-series SKUs, these are expected to launch mid-year and are said to feature an improved material for the thermal interface to enable better overclocking potential.
All of the Refresh CPUs on the Haswell list, including the Devil’s Canyon, are designed to support the new 9-series chipset and the LGA1150 socket from Intel. The 9-series Z97 Express chipset motherboards are expected to launch in the next few weeks and promise to be compatible with the highly anticipated Broadwell processors, set for launch in early 2015.
While all CPUs on the Haswell Refresh list now being shipped are available through retailers such as Amazon, it may be prudent to wait until an official launch and wider availability before attempting to make a purchase. This would not only shorten the wait, but also ensure the latest updates have been applied.
For most seeking the processors on the Refresh line, the ultimate goal is improved performance. When OEMs are seeking to please the customer and dominate the market, performance is often a key differentiator. That’s why demand continues to grow for a solution from application deployment companies like UNICOM (News - Alert) Engineering.
This provider of server-based application platforms and lifecycle support services for OEMs and software developers throughout the world has built a reputation in the global market for its expertise in security, solutions design, integration expertise and unique deployment capabilities. One of its core strengths is in enabling customers to leverage greater value from their technology investments and integrate key components across the network.
As a result, a key focus in their business is educating customers on how to best make use of their Intel investments. Therefore, Unicom has a vested interest in the latest Refresh line, looking to Intel to produce the performance enhancements needed to support market demand. With the baseline technology, Unicom can then work with customers to ensure the end product meets expectations.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson