Intel's new 14nm core M chip will finally bring big-core x86 CPU to Fanless tablet

At Computex yesterday, Intel President Renée James
showed off a new 14nm tablet design that showcased
Intel’s Broadwell CPU. Dubbed the Core M, this chip
could be a fundamental game changer for Santa
Clara, for one simple reason — it will allow the
company to finally build big-core x86 devices that fit
into form factors thin enough to compete with
current Android, Apple, and Windows tablets based
on its own Bay Trail.
According to James, the Broadwell prototype
(dubbed Llama Mountain for an unknown reason) is
a razor-thin tablet with up to 32 hours of battery
life, a Broadwell Y CPU (branded as the Core M), a
sisterboard with integrated WiFi radio, a dockable
configuration that adjusts performance depending on
system orientation, a 12.5-inch screen, and a total
weight (minus keyboard) of just 670 grams. (1.47
lbs).
Total thickness? Just 7.2 millimeters. The Surface
Pro 3, for comparison, is 9.1mm thick and weighs
800 grams — which is Intel’s indirect way of
implying that it’s getting some serious
improvements out of its 14nm technology, despite
the fact that Broadwell is debuting much later than
originally anticipated. Chipzilla is claiming 60%
lower TDP for Broadwell with 20-40% better
performance, 10-45% better SoC power, and a 50%
reduction in package footprint. Typically these
figures don’t apply simultaneously — the system
might draw 10-45% less power depending on
workload, with a lower TDP overall and better
performance depending on the form factor.

Asus’s T300 Chi will also use the Broadwell Y CPU
We’re assuming that the 32-hours battery claim
involves some degree of fudging, since battery
technology hasn’t improved that much and there’s
only so much space behind the tablet display for
lithium-ion storage — but even a 10-12 hour battery
life would be impressive for a big-core x86 device. It
looks as though Broadwell will be the architecture
where Atom and the Core family finally meet in the
middle — which means we can expect significant
price differentiation between the two. If Atom and
Broadwell can fit into the same form factors, Intel
has a golden opportunity to position its lower power
x86 architecture as the mass-market chip while
keeping the high-end Broadwell as a de facto luxury
component.
The only remaining question is whether or not Intel
can hit its own adjusted end-of-year ship date for
Broadwell and whether it’ll lead with these ultra-low
power processors. The company committed to a Q4
rollout last week, but chips at the bottom of the
power consumption stack are typically the most
difficult to fabricate. After the problems Intel has
had with 14nm deployments, all eyes will be on the
company to see if it can make this goal. If successful,
Intel should have 14nm silicon in market before
upcoming 20nm designs from Qualcomm and other
players in the ARM market.