- Intel introduced processors for next-generation laptops
- The main innovation is the neural unit for AI calculations
- The Core Ultra H series has significantly more powerful Intel Arc graphics
Intel entered a new computing era last night, as it introduced a new generation of notebook processors with integrated neural units for accelerating AI operations. The new processors belong to the Meteor Lake family, but we will see them in end devices under the new name Intel Core Ultra. What can the new processors do?
Artificial intelligence directly in the chip
While neural co-processors (NPUs) have been seen in mobile phones for a long time, they are a novelty in the world of computers, which until now have only been found in selected processors from AMD. In its presentation, Intel compares itself to AMD and claims that the NPU in the Core Ultra 7 165H processor provides up to 70 percent faster performance in the Adobe Premiere Pro application than the neural unit in the Ryzen 7 7840U processor, and in GIMP Stable Diffusion it should be even faster 5 , 4×.
In the Windows 11 operating system, the use of artificial intelligence is currently limited to the Studio Effect functional package, which can, for example, improve video lighting or blur the background. However, the next version of Windows planned for next year is supposed to be literally woven with AI functions, and we expect a significant segregation of computers into two groups – with and without artificial intelligence support. Even the most powerful computer today probably won’t be able to use all the functions of this system without a neural unit.
Up to 16 cores and Intel Arc graphics
Intel divides Core Ultra processors into two categories – more powerful H and weaker U:
- Intel Core H processors have more processor cores (threads), Intel Arc graphics and also higher consumption (basic 28 watts, up to 64 watts in turbo)
- Intel Core U processors have fewer processor cores (threads), integrated Intel Graphics and lower consumption (basic 15 watts, up to 57 watts in turbo)
The common denominator of both series is the mentioned neural unit as well as the support of LPDDR5 memories up to a capacity of 96 GB.
Table of all new Intel Core Ultra processors
Currently, the most powerful processor from the Core Ultra H series is the Ultra 7 165H model, which has 16 processor cores (6 powerful, 8 efficient and 2 ultra-efficient) with a maximum frequency of 5 GHz. Next year, however, it will be dethroned by the Ultra 9 185H model with a higher clock rate of 5.1 GHz, more powerful graphics and also a higher basic power consumption of 45 watts. When idle, Intel’s new processors are supposed to be admirably efficient, reportedly up to 79 percent more efficient than AMD’s latest processors.
A big step forward means the use of the Intel Arc graphics chip in Intel Core H processors. According to Intel, this chip should offer both twice the efficiency and twice the overall performance compared to the previous generation. Thanks to this, the new laptop processors should also be suitable for playing more demanding games – for example, Baldur’s Gate 3 should run twice as fast on it as on the Intel Core i7 1370P in Full HD resolution at medium details.
In the first computers early next year
The premiere of the new processors was used by computer manufacturers (Asus, Lenovo, MSI or Acer), which launched new model series of their notebooks. One of them is, for example, the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED, which we presented separately in this article.
Author of the article
Jakub Karásek
A fan of mobile technology, convertibles and wireless charging, a fan of hard music and a lover of fast driving in go-karts, bikes and skis. Opponent of FUP, slow internet and overgrown smartphones.
2023-12-15 06:00:00
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