Right now on Westmere chips are integrated graphics along with the CPU sitting on the same silicon, but Sandy Bridge will move them into a single die. This will boost performance in itself, and Intel boasts that the new IGP will be able to decode Blu-ray 3D media.
Intel's hasn't yet revealed everything on Sandy Bridge yet, but the company is likely to discuss the upgraded graphics part at the Intel Developer Forum on September 13 to 15.
The current graphics part in Westmere chips can already do 1080p Blu-ray decodes, but as we know from the consumer electronics space, newer and stronger hardware is required to render the additional images for 3D.
Intel spokesman Nick Knupffer confirmed that Sandy Bridge mobile chips will have the capability for Blu-ray 3D, which hopefully translates into greater 3D graphics performance too.
(Source: IDG.)