Intel expects to ship its first processor based on 5th-gen Intel Core architecture (code-named “Broadwell’) this year. And it looks like that chip might not just be used for Windows notebooks and tablets: we could see Chromebooks or Chromebox devices with Broadwell chips as well.

Google’s François Beaufort notes that code for a Broadwell-based device code-named Auron has been posted to the Chromium code repository.

broadwell

Auron is just the code-name for a board that someone is testing. It’s not clear if this will turn into a real product anytime soon. But it does seem likely that some PC maker will attempt to offer a Chromebook with a Broadwell chip eventually… so why not start preparing the code now?

Broadwell chips should offer better performance-per-watt and lower power consumption than today’s Haswell chips (which are found in a number of Chromebooks from Acer, HP, and Dell).

We’ll have to wait until 2015 to see Broadwell chips for desktops and premium notebooks. But the first Broadwell chip is coming this year. The Intel Core M processor is a low-power chip aimed at portable devices including fanless tablets, notebooks, and 2-in-1 systems.

So don’t be surprised if some of the first Broadwell-based Chromebooks are thin, light, and fanless.

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

Subscribe to Liliputing via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9,547 other subscribers

10 replies on “Chromebooks with Intel Broadwell chips are on the way”

  1. Jumped to Chromebook bandwagon early this year, after sold my MacBook Air 2011, with Acer C720 (non touch screen), 4GB RAM and Celeron Haswell (for Ubuntu croot) variant, plus swapped the hard drive with 128GB SSD.

    Disclaimer, prior to using Chromebook I used Windows extensively for both my personal use and work (bloated, bugging and virus issues) before moving to OSX for personal use (stable, zippy and smooth.. never had issues for the 3 years using it.. except expensive).

    Though, I’m still using Windows as workplace has provided me with Windows desktop/laptop yet, Chromebook >< Linux experiment and will seriously consider the next gen Chromebook Pixel if the battery life can reach at least 8 hours of serious work (as per my Acer C720), 4GB or 8GB of RAM with 40-50% lower price. I'm happy to splash $700-800 for premium build Chromebook (with Intel chip).

  2. Those first-out-the-door Broadwell’s are not budget chips though. They are for quasi-mobile yes but at the higher end. A playground ChromeOS generally doesn’t play on.
    Anything is possible but I’d actually take a Broadwell testing board to be as good a sign as any that a Pixel 2 might actually be in the works.
    At this point, with all the low end Chromebooks switching from Haswell Celerons to Bay Trail parts I think most will be waiting on Braswell to upgrade the mass of the Intel powered Chromebook fleet. Though there are some i3 models coming. So perhaps the Broadwell is just an early build of that class of chip. Who knows.. Nobody that will tell us.

  3. I’m ready, give me the Chromebook Pixel with 1080p screen, Intel Core M Processor, for $599 and its a done deal. Take my money

    1. $599 for a chromebook.. that’s like eating with a $100 fork.

      1. Not really, I’m looking for a balance between the crap hardware now (TN displays) and the pixel. An IPS screen with a decent processor is all I ask for and I’m willing to pay for it.

        The pixel is 1300-1500 bucks, thats your $100 fork.

        I have a windows 8 laptop. I’m in chrome day in and day out, I can’t remember using a different program in the last 3 months. There are people like me in the same boat.

        Don’t get me wrong, I’ll still keep a windows machine for some tasks. I can use an old desktop for that.

        1. Why not get the new Acer/Samsung 13.3″ Chromebooks with full HD display, 4GB RAM etc.

          1. I’m pretty sure they are not IPS screens. IPS is mandatory in my book.

            Also, I’m looking for a decent processor. No offense to arm or Nvidia but I think a Intel core m offers the right balance of performance, cost, and price.

          2. Actually there still are two chromebooks with ips displays. The HP11, which is currently on firesale while stocks last, and then it’ll be gone. I think it is an excellent device. Occasionally a bit slow, but as long as you don’t have more than a dozen tabs open and have fast wifi it chugs along just fine. More than twice as expensive is the Lenovo Yoga N20P chromebook, with an intel bay trail chip and a gorgeous IPS touchscreen. I think you should check these out.

          3. Both have weak processors IMO. Im looking for a balance of performance, hardware, battery life and price. The Intel core m looks to fit that balance.

            I’d buy the n20p now if it weren’t for 1. I know new processors will hit the market very soon 2. Its a bay trail processor.

          4. My HP Chromebook 14 (with 4 GB of RAM) is noticeably zippier than the Asus T100 Win 8.1 convertible I had (and just sold). I realize comparing a machine running Chrome with one running Win 8.1 isn’t fair, but I was not impressed with the Atom Bay Trail processor in the T100. It was OK when doing one thing at a time, but it lagged noticeably with Word, Acrobat, and Chrome open simultaneously. I am sure the Bay Trail would perform much better in a Chromebook, but I much prefer to have my Haswell Celeron.

Comments are closed.