If you compare the next generation Sandy Bridge and current generation Arrandale / Clarksfield CPUs, it looks like that the new CPU will get some 22 percent smaller.

When we say smaller we mean the physical package itself as the new chip should live to see 22 percent reduction in x, y and z BGA package.

This is quite a big deal, as it will enable even thinner notebooks and it will be easier to make smaller notebook motherboards and make things even smaller and lighter.

Sandy Bridge comes in dual and quad core variants and should be ready to ship in Q1 2011 and it will bring Intel’s version of the Fusion CPU + GPU, all in one chip.