Intel launches new Meteor Lake 'Core Ultra' processors, bringing AI and Arc to ultrathin laptops
Intel has officially launched its next generation of CPUs at its AI Everywhere event, and all the details on the new Core Ultra mobile processors that will be a part of the Meteor Lake line-up. This also marks a shift from the traditional Core “i” series as well as a leap forward in Intel's chip design, utilising a chiplet-based architecture that optimises task distribution across various chiplets, enabling better power efficiency and performance.
According to Intel, the Core Ultra 7 165H, offers an 11% improvement in multi-threading performance when compared with similar laptop processors, such as AMD's Ryzen 7 7840U, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3(not to be confused with the just-launched Snapdragon Elite X), and even Apple's M3 chip. It also offers a 25% reduction in power usage compared to the Intel Core i7-1370P and boasts up to 79% less power consumption than the Ryzen 7 7840U under comparable conditions, making it particularly suitable for ultrathin notebook designs.
A new addition to all CPUs in the line-up is the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which facilitates low-power AI acceleration and offloads tasks from the CPU/GPU. This feature enhances AI-driven capabilities such as background blur, eye tracking, and picture framing, particularly benefiting AI models like Stable Diffusion. You read more about the Intel Core Ultra's Meteor Lake architecture here to get a deeper understanding of why this new Intel processor differs so much more from past offerings.
Then, there is the Core Ultra 9 185H, the range's flagship. This processor features 16 cores and 22 threads, including six performance (P) cores, eight efficient (E) cores, and two low-power cores on a "low power island". The latter cores are dedicated to managing less demanding workloads more efficiently, thus extending battery life. The chip also boasts a 5.1GHz boost clock and an integrated Arc GPU with eight Xe cores. The new Xe LPG architecture in this chip not only enhances performance at lower voltages, but also supports Intel's XeSS upscaling technology and ray tracing to allow 1080p gaming.
The Core Ultra 9 185H processor is set to be available in 2024, but Intel has already launched the majority of its other Meteor Lake chips, including the Core Ultra 7 165H. The lineup also includes the Core Ultra 7 165U, Core Ultra 5 135H, and Core Ultra 5 135U, among others. It's important to note that the H-series chips come with an integrated Arc GPU, whereas the U-series CPUs are equipped with integrated Intel Graphics. So, if you’re looking for a laptop with one of these new chips and want good 1080p gaming performance, make sure to look out for the “H” marking in the laptop’s specs sheet.
Speaking of laptops. Several manufacturers have already quickly adopted the new Intel Core Ultra chip. MSI has introduced the Prestige 16 AI Studio laptop and the 13-inch Prestige AI Evo model. Additionally, ASUS, Samsung, and Lenovo have announced laptops equipped with these processors, offering a variety of configurations and pricing options.
Gigabyte is also launching new gaming-focused laptops powered by the new Intel chips with the Aorus 17 and Aorus 15.
In an era where AI and energy efficiency are becoming increasingly important, and not just about core counts and clock speed, the Intel Core Ultra series is more than just a new set of processors; it marks a new beginning for the tech giant as it continues to fend off intense competition from AMD, Qualcomm and NVIDIA.
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1)Deep-diving into the new Meteor Lake processors2)We visited the factory that assembles the next-gen Meteor Lake processors3)Intel ushers in the age of the AI PC4)New Intelligent Display Tech coming to your laptop soon to save 24% battery life5)Intel is betting on glass substrates for future high-performance chips
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