AMD was the first to announce the upcoming Fusion processor that combines the power of CPUs and GPUs. Now Intel strikes back and presents its own Fusion-like solution that is supposed to be released in Q3-Q4 2009.

The Intel hybrid platform is codenamed Havendale and will feature a CPU with integrated GPU capabilities as well as an Ibex peak chipset which will be a single-chip solution, fusing the Northbridge and the Southbridge together. Even though the hybrid processor integrates an iGFX GPU, the motherboards will still support external PCIe graphics.

According to Fudzilla, the CPU part of the Havendale is only a dual-core, Nehalem derived 45nm model. OK, it’s not a six-core, but it comes with integrated memory controller on the CPU side of the chip. The processor is DDR3-only compatible and it interconnects with Ibex peak directly through a memory interface (DMI).

In order to provide decent graphics performance, Intel is going to interconnect the Ibex peak unified chipset with the GPU through Intel's Flexible Display Interface (FDI). Additionally, the new chipset has an input/output part and something known as a Manageability engine, already present in Intel’s 4-series Northbridge.

Although it’s not a high-end processor, the integration of a CPU and a GPU will mean lower power consumption and greater performance at the same time.