CES 2010 : Intel Core 32nm CPU + Integrated GPU = Good Or Bad?

While bundling graphics with processing may be a sophisticated move for Intel from a marketing standpoint, it will be a very risky one from a legal vantage point.

Last month's US Federal Trade Commission complaint against Intel specifically cited integrated graphics bundling on Intel's chipsets, as an anti-competitive practice by a player that would likely acquire a monopoly in the field if it succeeds.

"Intel also bundles its CPUs with its own GPU chipsets and then prices the bundle to deter OEMs from pairing Intel CPUs with non-Intel GPUs," reads the FTC complaint filed last month, referring to the company's practices prior to the Westmere release today.

"Intel's bundling scheme has led to significant loss of consumer choice and has no legitimate justification except to exclude competition. Moreover, it has resulted in below-cost pricing by Intel in circumstances in which Intel is likely to recoup in the future any losses that it suffered as a result of below-cost pricing."

Not all of Intel's OEM customers appear excited by this arrangement. According to reporter Theo Valich last month -- formerly with Tom's Hardware, now on his own -- Apple refused to purchase Intel's "Arrandale" version of its two-chip Westmere sandwich, preferring instead a version without the integrated GPU. Apple has recently preferred ATI graphics components in its higher-end Macs, and has used Nvidia's in the past.

Intel's new releases will likely be featured during the company's Wednesday keynote address to CES at 7:30 pm EST tonight. Also expected to be discussed is the company's second generation Atom processor for small and embedded devices, including netbooks.