TL;DR:
- Intel unveils Meteor Lake mobile chip architecture with a focus on AI integration.
- New low-power E-core designed for light workloads while preserving battery life.
- Intel rebrands Meteor Lake chips as Core Ultra, which are produced using the Intel 4 process.
- Intel competes with AMD and Qualcomm in the laptop CPU market.
- AI Boost utilizes CPU and GPU for different workloads.
- AMD’s XDNA offers slightly higher AI performance.
- Improved integrated graphics engine with Arc graphics and support for modern technologies.
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 support in Core Ultra laptops.
- Market competition intensifies as Intel targets software developers and power users.
Main AI News:
In the realm of semiconductor innovation, Intel has been steering its Meteor Lake mobile chip architecture on a long and anticipated journey. The unveiling of these chips may appear somewhat anticlimactic to the average consumer, as it doesn’t immediately offer compelling reasons for AI utilization. However, the true target audience for these chips lies within the software development community.
As my esteemed colleague Stephen Shankland and I previously reported, the new low-power E-core is designed to handle light, sustained workloads, such as video streaming, with minimal impact on battery life. Intel’s strategic emphasis on AI integration is pivotal to the company’s long-term objectives. We are familiar with Intel’s rebranding of Meteor Lake chips as Core Ultra, which is produced using the cutting-edge Intel 4 process. It’s worth noting that Intel is not the first to the party; AMD and Qualcomm have already established their presence.
While these chips boast a modest two-core neural processing unit (NPU) for AI acceleration, Intel’s AI Boost leverages both the CPU and GPU, depending on the nature of the workload. The CPU is deployed when speed is paramount, whereas the GPU contributes to generative AI tasks.
This explains why Intel and AMD emphasize AI performance metrics, often referred to as TOPS (TeraOPS, or trillion operations per second), for the overall system, rather than focusing solely on the NPU’s capabilities. For the Ultra 7 165H chip, users can expect approximately 34 TOPS, with 11 TOPS attributed to the NPU, 18 TOPS to the GPU, and the remainder allocated to the CPU. In comparison, AMD’s XDNA in the new Ryzen 8040 series offers 39 TOPS, with 16 TOPS from the NPU and the rest from the CPU and GPU. Despite the buzz around NPUs, they only play a minor role in handling AI workloads in these chips.
Nonetheless, these numbers provide only a partial glimpse into the AI performance landscape, given the diversity of AI workloads and the ongoing evolution of AI software implementation.
The Ultra chips are set to hit the market soon, with shipments expected by the end of the month and preorders commencing today. Their specifications and positioning will set the stage for a new wave of laptop announcements at CES.
Intel’s partner companies are on board, ready to introduce a range of new and updated laptops. These include the Swift Go 14, starting at $800, featuring a Core Ultra 5 and up to an Ultra 7, as well as the Predator Triton Neo 16 gaming laptop, boasting a Core Ultra 9 and GeForce RTX 4070, with prices starting at $1,500. The highest-tier models of Ultra 9, Ultra 7, and Ultra 5 will arrive slightly later, with laptops featuring these chips expected around March.
Intel continues to position its H series chips as a balanced choice, catering to users seeking a compromise between power and portability. These chips are designed for systems where discrete graphics are preferred, even at the cost of added weight.
To earn the coveted Evo Edition branding, denoting systems equipped with the latest technologies, a Core Ultra must be integrated. While Intel hasn’t been vocal about battery life improvements, preliminary data suggests an up to 25% increase, although this may still leave Intel-based laptops trailing behind MacBooks.
One compelling reason to consider the new Core Ultra H or U series for your next laptop is the enhanced integrated graphics engine. The H series will incorporate Intel’s latest generation of Arc graphics, bringing Intel’s integrated graphics up to par with the latest advancements and potentially rivaling AMD’s Radeon integrated graphics.
Both the Arc graphics and the updated “Intel Graphics,” based on the next-generation Xe GPU cores (LPG), enhance support for Endurance Gaming mode. This feature leverages AI-driven upscaling (XeSS, similar to Nvidia’s DLSS) to reduce gaming power consumption without sacrificing quality, starting at low resolutions.
The new integrated GPUs also introduce support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, enabling modern technologies like ray tracing and mesh shaders, resulting in higher-quality graphics. Additionally, the Xe cores feature a faster version of the DP4A engine, enhancing GPU acceleration for specific types of AI calculations.
For systems featuring the more potent Arc GPUs, a minimum of 16GB memory will be required, potentially influencing pricing. Intel emphasizes significant improvements in Arc performance compared to its previous generation, a natural progression in the ever-evolving world of semiconductor technology.
Each generation introduces new capabilities, although not all laptops will support all the new features. This will necessitate a closer look at the specifications when considering your next laptop purchase.
Notably, Core Ultra laptops are expected to offer Wi-Fi 6E support, with only a select few initially providing Wi-Fi 7. Wi-Fi 7, a recent addition, promises greater stability, bandwidth, and reduced channel congestion compared to the 5 and 6MHz bands typical of 6E. While some initial issues with 6E signal detection have been reported, it still offers faster performance than Wi-Fi 6/5, making Wi-Fi 7 a promising advancement.
Moreover, the new networking features include support for Bluetooth 5.4, which introduces various enhancements, with bidirectional communications being a notable addition. This capability opens up new possibilities for sophisticated device-to-device interactions in the realm of Bluetooth technology.
Conclusion:
Intel’s strategic focus on AI integration in its latest Core Ultra chips, alongside the inclusion of Arc graphics and advanced networking capabilities, signals a competitive move in the laptop CPU market. While AMD’s Ryzen 8040 series presents a formidable alternative, Intel’s emphasis on AI and graphics enhancement positions them well for the evolving demands of users, especially in the gaming and productivity sectors. The market can expect heightened competition in terms of AI-driven laptop performance and connectivity options.
