Intel has unveiled the next version of its GMA integrated graphics engine family, a part it claimed will deliver three times the 3DMark06 performance of its predecessors, today's GMA 3100.

Of course, the 3100 isn't Intel's top-performing integrated GPU - that award goes to the GMA X3500 that's built into the company's G35 chipset, but the upcoming GMA X4500 should still deliver a big boost in the benchmarks.

Due to be built into the G45 chipset - presumably part of the 'Eaglelake' family - the X4500 supports DirectX 10 and Shader Model 4.0. It will also support the emerging HDMI-for-monitors DisplayPort interface standard. HDMI will also be supported for TV connections - complete with HDCP anti-piracy technology - and DVI for compatibility with old screens.

The encryption key management component of HDCP is integrated into the chipset, Intel said, allowing it to claim the part offers "hardware-based content encryption". Almost certainly, this is an off-shoot of the integrated crypto system, codenamed 'Danbury', that Intel will also be pushing at big businesses through the next version of its vPro corporate PC platform.

A new, more advanced version of Intel Clear Video Technology will smooth the playback of content from Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD media.

G45 is expected to be formally launched in Q2 2008. It will incorporate the ICH10 family of southbridge I/O chips.

Related stories

AMD DisplayPort graphics card spied on web (7 December 2007)
Intel pegs Q4 '08 for 4-series chipset debut (14 November 2007)
Intel investigates Rambus XDR memory (8 November 2007)
Qimonda samples GDDR 5 (1 November 2007)
Nvidia challenges Intel as PC GPU shipments boom (29 October 2007)
Intel roadmaps next-gen Extreme 'Nehalem' chips (26 October 2007)
Intel confirms 'Skulltrail' Quad SLI support (16 October 2007)
Intel X48 chipset to ditch DDR 2? (12 October 2007)
Foxconn readies its first Intel X38 mobo (10 October 2007)
Next-gen Intel vPro platform to get hardware encryption (21 September 2007)
Intel to buy games physics company (17 September 2007)