Conclusion
Intel has possessed a fast and unchallenged microarchitecture for a number of years. The goal is to bring that level of performance to increasingly-popular form factors such as all-in-ones, convertible laptops and tablet PCs. For the first time, the top-of-the-range Core i7-4770K desktop part isn't the chip we're excited about. As the industry moves from components towards solutions, it's the prospect of a Haswell-powered Surface Pro offering an always-connected Windows 8.1 experience with true desktop performance, all-day battery life, and, who knows, a fanless chassis, that really tickles our fancy.
Haswell's scalability is its biggest asset, yet while the architecture holds promise, the real question remains unanswered; has Intel done enough to revitalise a faltering PC industry? And will Haswell chips really inspire a new breed of thin, light, long-lasting and always-connected PCs? Only time will tell.
The above quote is taken from our review of the Core i7-4770K, dated June 1st 2013, and it puts forth a couple of questions that are still relevant today.
In an increasingly-mobile world, the challenge facing Intel's latest CPU architectures is not one of delivering maximum performance - that's something the chip giant has rarely struggled to do - but rather in delivering the right amount of performance in an ultra-low-power package.
Enabling desktop-like performance and all-day battery life in ultra-thin, portable PCs is very much the name of the game, and the Core i5-4210Y is clear evidence of this evolutionary shift in Intel processor design. Combining the CPU, GPU and PCH into a single-chip solution, this energy-efficient chip is set to become a driving force behind Windows tablets in 2014, and if the Sony Vaio Tap 11 is anything to go by, performance expectations are going to be met.
During use, the speed of the i5-4210Y chip is akin to a premium Ultrabook: Windows boots almost instantly, apps are quick to load, multi-tasking isn't a problem and the system as a whole feels fluent and responsive. Not bad going for an 11.5W processor married to just 4GB of RAM.
Yet, while the signs are mostly promising, there's still work to be done. Intel's IGP remains a long way from offering a portable gaming experience, the TDP hasn't quite dropped low enough to enable fanless Core i5 designs, and the price remains an obstacle for mainstream adoption. Haswell Y-Series processors offer the best Intel tablet experience to date, but we'll have to wait for next-generation Broadwell to see if the promise of a fast, powerful and fanless Windows tablet with iPad-matching battery life can be realised.
The Good
Capable core performance
CPU and PCH in a single-chip package
Energy efficiency bodes well for battery life
Brings desktop-like performance to portable PCs
The Bad
Lofty price tag
Mediocre integrated graphics
Not quite efficient enough to go fanless
HEXUS.awards
Intel Core i5-4210Y
HEXUS.where2buy
The Intel Core i5-4210Y is a socketed processor available in bespoke systems such as the Sony Vaio Tap 11.
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