Intel Launches Ivy Bridge Core i3 And Pentium Chips

If you’re in the market for a new processor with Intel’s name on it you have a number of options to consider. It’s not as simple as just choosing the fastest processor you can afford as Intel has a few different architectures to choose from, and they overlap both on price and performance.

However, the best choice is a 22nm Ivy Bridge processor using Intel’s 3D transistors. They are the fastest, most efficient x86 CPUs on the market, but they have also only been available in expensive Core i5 and Core i7 models. This week that changes as Intel has begun manufacturing both Core i3 and Pentium processor using the Ivy Bridge architecture.

That means there’s two pieces of good news. Anyone building a system on a tight budget can now take advantage of Ivy Bridge, and Intel has dropped the price of some Sandy Bridge processors, which are still a very good option for a new machine.

There are two Ivy Bridge Pentium processors being introduced carrying the model numbers G2100T and G2120. Both are dual-core chips with the G2100T running are 2.6GHz and the G2120 the faster clocked at 3.1GHz. Both come with a 3MB cache and 35 watt TDP and cost $75 and $86 respectively.

Moving up to the Core i3, there’s 5 new Ivy Bridge processors being added to the line up, all of which are dual core and include a 3MB cache. Here’s the basic spec and price of the new i3s:

Core i3-3220 – 3.3GHz 55w $117
Core i3-3220T – 2.8GHz 35w $117
Core i3-3225 – 3.3GHz 55w $134
Core i3-3240 – 3.4GHz 55w $138
Core i3-3240T – 2.9GHz 35w $138
Both T models class as Ultra Low Voltage processors. If you’re on the fence about which one to invest in, it’s worth taking into account the GPU. All the i3s ship with Intel’s HD 2500 Graphics except the 3225, which gets the beefier HD 4000. Depending on what you intend to use your PC for, that 3225 might be the sweet spot.

As for which older chips have got price cuts, the 2.6GHz Celeron G550 has dropped from $52 to $42, the 3.1GHz Pentium G870 from $86 to $75, and the 3.4GHz Core i3-2130 from $138 to $117. All three processors use the Sandy Bridge architecture.