# Ivy Bridge

> Intel processor family

**Wikidata**: [Q70475](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q70475)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_Bridge_(microarchitecture))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ivy-bridge

## Summary  
Ivy Bridge is a microarchitecture and processor family developed by Intel, released on April 29, 2012. It succeeded the Sandy Bridge architecture and introduced a 22 nm fabrication process, improving performance and power efficiency. Ivy Bridge was used in various Intel Core and Xeon processors before being discontinued on June 5, 2015.  

## Key Facts  
- **Release Date**: April 29, 2012  
- **Developer**: Intel  
- **Fabrication Process**: 22 nm lithography  
- **Predecessor**: Sandy Bridge  
- **Successor**: Haswell  
- **Notable Models**: Intel Core i7-3770, Ivy Bridge Xeon  
- **Discontinued**: June 5, 2015  
- **CPUID**: 0306A9h  
- **Microarchitecture Basis**: Enhanced Sandy Bridge design  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Ivy Bridge released?  
A: Ivy Bridge was officially released on April 29, 2012.  

### Q: What made Ivy Bridge different from its predecessor, Sandy Bridge?  
A: Ivy Bridge used a smaller 22 nm fabrication process and introduced tri-gate transistors, improving performance and power efficiency compared to Sandy Bridge's 32 nm process.  

### Q: Is Ivy Bridge still in production?  
A: No, Ivy Bridge was discontinued on June 5, 2015.  

## Why It Matters  
Ivy Bridge marked a significant advancement in semiconductor manufacturing as the first Intel architecture to use a 22 nm process with tri-gate (3D) transistors. This innovation allowed for greater transistor density, reduced power consumption, and enhanced performance-per-watt, addressing the growing demand for energy-efficient computing in both consumer and enterprise markets. Its integrated HD 4000 graphics also improved media handling and gaming capabilities compared to earlier Intel GPUs. As a transitional architecture between Sandy Bridge and Haswell, Ivy Bridge played a critical role in maintaining Intel's competitive edge in the CPU market during the early 2010s.  

## Notable For  
- **22 nm Fabrication**: First Intel architecture to use a 22 nm lithography process.  
- **Tri-Gate Transistors**: Introduced 3D transistor design for improved efficiency.  
- **Integrated HD 4000 Graphics**: Enhanced graphics performance compared to predecessors.  
- **Xeon Variants**: Powered enterprise systems as part of the Ivy Bridge Xeon line.  
- **Core i7-3770**: A flagship desktop processor widely used in gaming and workstations.  

## Body  
### Development and Release  
Ivy Bridge was announced by Intel in 2011 and launched on April 29, 2012. It served as a "tick" in Intel's tick-tock model, focusing on manufacturing improvements rather than architectural overhauls. The microarchitecture built upon the Sandy Bridge design but utilized a smaller 22 nm process.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Fabrication**: 22 nm lithography with tri-gate transistors.  
- **CPUID**: Identified as 0306A9h.  
- **Integrated Graphics**: HD 4000 GPU, offering doubled performance over Sandy Bridge's HD 3000.  
- **Power Efficiency**: Reduced leakage current and improved thermal performance.  

### Product Line  
Ivy Bridge processors were marketed under the Intel Core (i3, i5, i7) and Xeon brands. Notable models include:  
- **Core i7-3770**: A quad-core desktop CPU with a 3.4 GHz base clock.  
- **Xeon E5-2600 v2**: Server processors for data centers and cloud infrastructure.  

### Legacy  
Ivy Bridge was succeeded by the Haswell microarchitecture in 2013. Despite its relatively short production run, it solidified Intel's leadership in semiconductor innovation and set the stage for future low-power, high-performance architectures. The 22 nm process and tri-gate design influenced subsequent Intel and industry-wide manufacturing trends.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Quora