Intel Corp., during the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, unveiled the 2nd Generation Intel Core processor family, infused with greater video, graphics, and 3D capabilities. The upgraded product line-well suited to the 3D, video, entertainment, graphic design, digital signage, and consumer market segments-is the first to sport Intel’s new “visibly smart” microarchitecture, combining visual and 3D graphics technology with high-performance microprocessing on a single chip.

New processor graphics technology focuses on: high-definition (HD) video, photos, mainstream gaming, multi-tasking and online socializing and multimedia. “Enhanced visual technologies such as next-generation Intel HD graphics are built into every 2nd Generation Intel Core processor,” says a company representative.

Intel HD Graphics on each 32-nanometer (nm) die is intended to provide significant graphics performance improvements over previous-generation graphics for high-definition (HD) media processing and mainstream gaming. Intel HD Graphics enables users to achieve up to a 2X gain vs. previous-generation processors when working with 3D graphics. The new processors promise significant advances in visual and 3D graphics capabilities, and new Intel Advance Vector Extensions for enhanced floating-point-intensive application performance.

Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of Intel’s PC Client Group, shows an exclusive demonstration of Valve’s Portal 2 during CES.

The latest Intel Core i7, i5, and i3 processors also deliver greater performance and capabilities for video processing, including Intel Hyper-Threading Technology. Intel Quick Sync Video built-in hardware acceleration provides up to 2X gains in HD media processing, taking the wait out of editing and sharing videos. Intel estimates that a 4-minute HD video that used to take 4 minutes to convert to play on an Apple iPod would now take just 16 seconds.

Intel Insider technology enables full HD movie downloading and viewing on a PC screen, whereas Intel WiDi 2.0 enables users to beam an HD movie from a notebook computer to an HDTV.

“The new 2nd Generation Intel Core processors represent the biggest advance in computing performance and capabilities over any other previous generation,” says Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager, PC Client Group, Intel. “The built-in visual capabilities enabled by these new processors are stunning. This, combined with improved adaptive performance, will revolutionize the PC experience in a way that is obvious for every user to see and appreciate-visibly smarter performance.”

Mooly Eden, vice president and general manager of Intel’s PC Client Group, highlights the graphics performance of the 2nd Generation Intel Core processor through an interactive avatar demonstration during CES 2011.

Enabling content owners and video services to release more movies in high definition, Intel creates a protected environment for the distribution, storage, and playback of premium content, says a representative. The company is in collaboration with Hollywood and Bollywood studios, as well as content distributors, such as CinemaNow, Dixons Retail plc, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment, Image Entertainment, Sonic Solutions, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, and others.

Eden demonstrated, during a presentation at CES, the power of the 2nd Generation Intel Core processors for immersive mainstream gaming. He showcased a teaser from Valve’s highly anticipated Portal 2 with the help of Razer’s Hydra motion controllers using Sixense MotionTouch technology. (In fact, Portal 2 was named the Most Anticipated Game at the Video Game Awards 2010.)