It feels as though there's a launch from Intel every few months now, but I guess that's the benefits of a tick, tock-based release schedule. The latest news from Digitimes' Taiwanese sources is that the first batch of Ivy Bridge gear coming will include no less than 25 processors.

Out of these 25 processors, 17 of them will be desktop models and the remaining 8 will be notebook/ultrabook chips. 8 chipsets will also launch, (Z77, H77, Z75 and B75 for desktops, HM77, UM77, HM76 and HM75 for mobile PCs. More Ivy Bridge-based products will also launch, including the Core i5-3470T CPU and the A77, Q75, QS77 and QM77 chipsets, which are said to be launching in May.

Let's talk dollars, the upcoming CPUs should cover the same spectrum as the current Sandy Bridge-based Core models, ranging from $184 to $332, while chipsets will go from $37 for the B75 to $53 for the QS77 (the Z77 desktop 'flagship' is supposed to cost $48). If you don't already know, the Ivy Bridge CPUs are manufactured on a 22nm process technology which sports Intel's 3D Tri-Gate transistors. They'll feature DirectX 11 graphics, sport the current LGA 1155 packaging which allows them to work on current, 6-Series-based motherboards.

All you'd need is a BIOS update which will be supplied by manufacturers. The 7-Series, which launched, will include native USB 3.0 support.