Not withstanding the usual teething problems associated with a redesigned product line, it would also appear that the 2012 iMac will be the shortest cycle if Intel releases its Haswell processors by mid-2013. Obviously, there will be the usual Apple lag so can possibly expect a 2013 iMac to launch in late July 2013 alongside OS-X 10.9.
The question is, could Apple surprise us all with a quiet update in spring 2013? And what does Haswell really bring to the desktop set-up? Is it worth waiting for it I wonder? From what I have seen, not much computational power increment but better power consumption maybe. The biggest thing, in my mind would be improved GPUs but it would appear the options available in the 2012 model are pretty strong anyway so unless someone is willing to wait to H2 2013, perhaps there is not a lot to be gained with Haswell. Or is it?
For many years Intel used "tick-tock" development model to design new generations of microprocessors.
In this model, each tick cycle uses new manufacturing process to produce more refined version of existing architecture, and each tock cycle introduces new microarchitecture on existing manufacturing process. The last "tick" was Ivy Bridge micro-architecture, launched less than three months ago. The next "tock" cycle will be Haswell micro-architecture. Haswell processors are going to have a handful of new features, such as AVX 2.0 instructions, better GPU, overclocking improvements, integrated voltage regulator, new low-power states, just to name a few.
The processors will utilize new sockets, socket H3 (LGA1150) on desktop. According to recent roadmaps, that we've seen, Haswell processors may launch in April, although there is a chance that some desktop Haswell products will be available later.
Haswell CPUs will have three versions of graphics units: GT1, GT2 and GT3. The GT1 will have the lowest performance from all three, and it will be used only on dual-core chips. Desktop quad-cores will have better GT2 graphics, and quad-core mobile products will come with GT2 or GT3 graphics. Quad-cores desktop and mobile CPUs, equipped with GT2 GPU, will be ready for launch in April 2013.
The question is, could Apple surprise us all with a quiet update in spring 2013? And what does Haswell really bring to the desktop set-up? Is it worth waiting for it I wonder? From what I have seen, not much computational power increment but better power consumption maybe. The biggest thing, in my mind would be improved GPUs but it would appear the options available in the 2012 model are pretty strong anyway so unless someone is willing to wait to H2 2013, perhaps there is not a lot to be gained with Haswell. Or is it?
For many years Intel used "tick-tock" development model to design new generations of microprocessors.
In this model, each tick cycle uses new manufacturing process to produce more refined version of existing architecture, and each tock cycle introduces new microarchitecture on existing manufacturing process. The last "tick" was Ivy Bridge micro-architecture, launched less than three months ago. The next "tock" cycle will be Haswell micro-architecture. Haswell processors are going to have a handful of new features, such as AVX 2.0 instructions, better GPU, overclocking improvements, integrated voltage regulator, new low-power states, just to name a few.
The processors will utilize new sockets, socket H3 (LGA1150) on desktop. According to recent roadmaps, that we've seen, Haswell processors may launch in April, although there is a chance that some desktop Haswell products will be available later.
Haswell CPUs will have three versions of graphics units: GT1, GT2 and GT3. The GT1 will have the lowest performance from all three, and it will be used only on dual-core chips. Desktop quad-cores will have better GT2 graphics, and quad-core mobile products will come with GT2 or GT3 graphics. Quad-cores desktop and mobile CPUs, equipped with GT2 GPU, will be ready for launch in April 2013.
