Intel's Sandy Bridge CPUs Will Play Blu-ray 3D

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.)

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • willgart
    Good to know.
    is there a new 3D standard to come? or does it the same of an existing technology?
    Reply
  • Albyint
    Mobile? 3d on a phone? Lulz...
    Reply
  • peterkidd
    I think that picture is from the porno Avatar. Is that on purpose?
    Reply
  • tramit
    It looks like it will become harder and harder to justify a 300 dollar video card now that I play games less...
    Reply
  • scook9
    Intel has been needing to step up its IGP efforts....AMD/ATI has been squashing them in that space....
    Reply
  • TheStealthyOne
    Tramit, you seriously consider buying expensive video cards and you barely game? >__>
    Reply
  • sacre
    Could only imagine watching people try and find an insert for Blu Ray discs on a Blackberry
    Reply
  • Hilarion
    I'm not taking bets on it improving regular graphics requirements. It does sound interesting though. Even if I would never be likely to buy one.
    Reply
  • Agges
    thestealthyoneTramit, you seriously consider buying expensive video cards and you barely game? >__>
    thestealthyone, six months ago I bought a Vapor-X 5870 for my new built - in the time since then I have barely played 20 hours.. Should probably take a holiday soon!
    Reply
  • hamstamps
    The thing is that you would have to purchase a 3-D compatible video card and monitor to go with it.
    Reply