Intel today unveiled its 2010 Core vPro processor family to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes for PCs with greater, more flexible performance, theft prevention and cost savings in a rapidly changing business computing environment. The Intel Core vPro processors ought to address the emergence of video, Internet telephony, social networking and other heavyweight applications on business computers.
“Businesses, particularly those that haven’t purchased PCs for several years, face a computing environment that no longer handles the applications many workers and IT are adopting,” said Rick Echevarria, VP Intel Architecture Group, and GM Business Client Platform Division. “The integration of intelligent performance along with smart security and cost-saving manageability features in the Intel Core vPro processor family provide IT and SMBs a no-compromise platform. We also are excited about how Intel vPro Technology gives IT the flexibility to look at client virtualization, consumerization and rich cloud applications.”
Computer manufacturers worldwide are rolling out business PCs based on the 2010 Intel Core vPro processor family. In addition, developers of software solutions for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprises will support the new features in their upcoming products. IT service providers plan to adopt Intel Core vPro Technology capabilities into their SMB offerings.
The platform based on the 2010 Intel Core vPro processor family includes the Intel Q57 Express chipset, and Intel 82577LM Gigabit Network Connection for notebooks and Intel 82578DM Network Connection for desktop PCs.
The processors are based on Intel’s Nehalem microarchitecture and manufactured on Intel’s 32-nanometer process. Intel has integrated high-definition graphics in its processors for the first time, and incorporated second-generation high-k metal gate transistors that help increase computing speed and battery life.
The 2010 Intel Core i7 processors and Core i5 processors feature Intel Turbo Boost and Intel Hyper-Threading for adaptive computing. Intel Turbo Boost automatically adjusts the speed of the processor when it senses a workload change. Intel Hyper-Threading Technology interconnects multiple processor cores with multiple threads that enable faster processing of instructions in parallel.
Intel Anti-Theft version 2.0 (AT 2.0) locks access to a PC if a central server or built-in intelligence concludes it is lost or stolen. Intel AT 2.0 enables encryption solutions to disable access to cryptographic keys through hardware to completely block access to data, and also makes it simpler to reactivate a PC once in rightful hands. Also, a custom message can be displayed in a pre-OS screen of the disabled PC for anyone who tries to access the computer.
Intel Keyboard-Video-Mouse Remote Control (KVM Remote Control) – available with dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 vPro processors – works in conjunction with Intel integrated graphics, allows IT administrators to see users’ displays just as the users do and have full control of the PC, even if the operating system is inoperative. Previously, KVM functionality required appliances that cost as much as $200 and more per PC.
As encryption becomes more prevalent in business PCs, Intel has added features that ought to avoid productivity slowdowns. First, Intel incorporated new instructions for the Advanced Encryption Standard into the hardware, speeding up encryption and decryption. Second, new Intel Remote Encryption Management enables distant IT personnel to manage PCs with encrypted hard drives by more securely unlocking those drives, making all of the Intel vPro Technology capabilities available. Another new feature, PC Alarm Clock, can wake a PC from off at a predetermined time to perform maintenance, security and other tasks on its own.
Intel also unveiled the Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 and Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200 802.11n WLAN adapters. The adapters offer advanced 802.11n multi-stream capabilities, dual-band support, consistent coverage and higher speeds (up to 450 Mbps for the 6300 and 300 Mbps for the 6200). Intel also introduced the Intel Centrino Advanced-N + WiMAX 6250 adapter, which offers up to 20-Mbps WiMAX and advanced 802.11abgn (up to 300 Mbps) WiFi for maximum versatile coverage. All three adapters support Intel vPro Technology. (Source: Intel Corporation/GST)