On Tuesday, April 24, Hewlett-Packard (HP) announced it has six new desktop PCs featuring Intel's new 22-nanometer Ivy Bridge processors. Among the new desktops featuring Intel's third-generation Core, are several all-in-one PCs set to hit stores on June 24, and one that will arrive on April 29, Ivy Bridge's official availability date. The desktop rig to arrive at the end of the month is HP's top-of-the-line Pavilion HPE h9t Phoenix, which will cost $1,149.

Intel released its latest chips earlier this week. The new chips include 13 quad-core desktop and laptop processors based on Intel's new 22-nanometer fabrication process, which means smaller and faster chips. With the new Ivy Bridge line, Intel crammed more transistors into the same space, thus getting more processing power while reducing the power drawn on its CPUs.

Improved Onboard Graphics & Media Performance

Intel made great efforts to improve onboard graphics performance with its new, third-generation Core architecture, and many experts believe this is one of the greatest advances in silicon transistor design since the integrated circuit was invented in the 1950s.

According to PC Magazine, the new Ivy Bridge chips' improved graphics and media performance impressed official HP blogger "GizmoGladstone" so much that he decided to introduce the Intel's new Ivy Bridge desktops on HP's NextBench blog on Tuesday.

'Games on Small PCs!'

"Something that really matters to me...is the upgraded graphics on-board the motherboard," wrote the blogger. "We're talking DirectX 11 support with Intel integrated graphics. That is a big deal. It means that while discrete GPUs will remain king, you'll be able to find svelte systems (even small laptops) that could potentially keep better pace. Translation: GAMES ON SMALL PCs! Okay, personal biases aside, that extra horsepower will mean more machines can edit video - or stream 1080p content (and did I mention, 'play games?') with ease."

New Additions, Prices & Release Dates

The six new HP desktops rigs featuring quad-core processors based on Intel's third-generation Core architecture include the HP Omni 220qd, HP Omni 27qd, HP TouchSmart 520xt, HP Pavilion HPE h8t, HP Pavilion HPE h8xt, and HP Pavilion HPE h9t Phoenix.

The HP Omni 220qd is an all-on-one, non-touch PC sporting a "streamlined cantilever design," available for $999 come June 24. Users can also bundle in HP's Beats Audio software. The HP Omni 27qd is a 27-inch all-in-one PC, non-touch, with HP's exclusive Magic Canvas software "for a truly engaging experience." It will also go on sale on June 24, with a $1,199 price tag.

The HP TouchSmart 520xt is a 23-inch Ivy Bridge update to HP's TouchSmart all-in-one product line, and it will be available June 24, for $999. The HP Pavilion HPE h8t is a desktop rig offering support for up to three displays, and it will go on sale for $699 on June 24. The HP Pavilion HPE h8xt will have the same price tag of $699 and it will also be available June 24. At the top end, the HP Pavilion HPE h9t Phoenix is HP's "most powerful Pavilion platform up to date," and is designed for gaming, video editing and other such tasks. As previously mentioned, this top-end desktop rig will be available on April 29, for $1,149. Lastly, SlashGear notes that all desktops except for the Phoenix will presumably get Intel's HD 4000 series integrated graphics, "which will add an extra oomph."

(reported by Alexandra Burlacu, edited by Dave Clark)