Ivy Bridge Will Provide Faster Graphics And OpenCL Support

CNet notes that Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors will include improved graphics processing unit (GPU). According to Anandtech, Intel expects that graphics processing on next generation chips will be 60% faster than on Sandy Bridge processors that are currently shipped in Apple’s computers.

According to CNet, Intel confirmed that Ivy Bridge’s GPUs will support OpenCL for the first time. OpenCL is a framework backed by Apple that allows developers to offload non-graphical operations to GPUs.

Apple supports OpenCL in OS X Lion and lists graphics processors or cards as supporting OpenCL. If your computer doesn’t include any of these grapics cards listed, you can’t use all advantages of OpenCL enabled programs. The list doesn’t include Intel integrated graphics chips that are currently power 13" MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs.

The performance of Intel’s GPUs have been long discussed during the previous year. But MacBook Pro and MacBook Air should rely on these integrated graphics processors as their small sizes don’t allow including third party graphics card to improve GPU performance.