Intel Corp. unveiled a new 32 nanometer chip that beat competitor AMD’s next-gen chip to market.  The new 32, dubbed Westmere, is faster and smaller than its predecessors and is expected to greatly increase graphics capabilities.  Intel also claims it is more energy efficient.

The 32 nm process has paved the way for the 2010 Intel Core family of processors – the Intel Core i7, i5 and i3 chips.  The product line includes a new feature called Turbo Boost Technology, which accelerates performance only when needed, making for “smarter” computing.

The 32 with functional SRAM packs more than 1.9 billion second generation high-k metal gate transistors.

Though the 32 nano, which is set to begin shipping in the fourth quarter 2010, would seem to give Intel an edge over AMD, that company has been devoting its resources to 22 nano chips, and could potentially leapfrog ahead by bypassing the 32. (Current generation chips are 45 nanometers.)