Fanless Broadwell-powered Chromebooks could launch this year

Intel revealed earlier this month that first fifth-generation Core processor will hit the market later this year. This chip from the Broadwell family of processors will be used for Windows notebooks and tablets as expected, but it looks like Chromebooks and Chromebox devices will get them as well. 

François Beaufort from Google has revealed that a device known as "Auron" has been spotted in code posted online in the Chromium repository. While this looks like a prototype board currently being tested that may never turn into a real product, it also shows that Broadwell chips will surely replace today's Haswell processors used by certain Chromebooks. It only seems to be a matter of time.

While Intel Broadwell chips for desktops and higher-end notebooks will launch in 2015, the Intel Core M is the first chip from the family that will come out and is expected to arrive later this year. Since this low-power chip will be used to power fanless tablets, notebooks and convertibles, it is almost certain Chromebooks will get it as well. Chrome OS-loaded devices powered by Broadwell chips will probably be ready just in time for this year's holiday season, but this remains to be seen.