Intel Unveils Next-Gen Core Ultra Mobile Processors for AI-Powered PCs

Intel has finally introduced its new chips at the AI Everywhere event-the Intel Core Ultra mobile processors. These processors are now globally available and are already making waves by powering over 230 of the world's first AI PCs.

Notable partners such as Acer, ASUS, Dell, Dynabook, Gigabyte, Google Chromebook, HP, Lenovo, LG, Microsoft Surface, MSI, and Samsung are among the pioneers featuring these processors in their cutting-edge devices.

What Sets Apart the AI PC?

Intel defines the AI PC as a new era of personal computers tailored to meet the growing demand for enhanced performance and extended battery life. The focus is on harnessing AI capabilities embedded in operating systems and applications. The Intel Core Ultra stands out with dedicated AI acceleration capabilities dispersed across the CPU, GPU, and the new NPU architecture.

The Intel AI Boost, the brand of the new NPU, is designed to efficiently handle extended AI workloads at low power, complementing AI processes on both the CPU and GPU. This results in a remarkable 2.5x improvement in power efficiency compared to the previous generation.

Power-Packed Features

The Intel Core Ultra, crafted using Intel 4 process technology, utilizes Foveros 3D advanced packaging technology. It boasts a built-in Intel Arc GPU, featuring up to eight Xe-cores, AI-based Xe Super Sampling (XeSS), DX12 Ultimate support, and up to double the graphics performance of its predecessor. This GPU incorporates support for modern graphics features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, mesh shading, AV1 encode and decode, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 2.1 20G.

Intel's Core Ultra CPUs: A Closer Look

During the AI Everywhere event, Intel unveiled details about its Core Ultra processors, signaling a departure from the traditional Core "i" nomenclature. A standout is the Core Ultra 7 165H chip, offering an impressive 11% improvement in multi-threading performance compared to competitors like the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U, Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3, and Apple's M3 chip.

This chip also boasts a 25% reduction in power consumption compared to the previous Intel Core i7-1370P and a remarkable 79% lower power consumption than AMD's Ryzen 7 7840U within the same 28W envelope for ultrathin notebooks.

Flagship Leader: Core Ultra 9 185H

The flagship Core Ultra 9 185H processor takes the lead with 16 cores and 22 threads, including six performance (P) cores and eight efficient (E) cores. Two low-power (LP-E) cores reside on the chip's "low-power island," handling less demanding workloads for increased efficiency. With a boost clock of up to 5.1GHz and a built-in Arc GPU featuring eight Xe cores running at up to 2.35GHz, this processor promises top-tier performance.

The new Xe LPG architecture in the GPU enables increased performance at a lower minimum voltage and adds support for Intel's XeSS upscaling technology and ray tracing.

Integration of Neural Processing Unit (NPU)

All new Intel CPUs come with an NPU, or neural processing unit, offering low-power AI acceleration and CPU/GPU off-load for tasks like background blur, eye tracking, and picture framing. This integration is expected to streamline the execution of AI models like Stable Diffusion, surpassing the capabilities of Intel's previous generation chips.

Laptops Embracing the Core Ultra

Leading laptop manufacturers have swiftly adopted the new Intel Core Ultra chips. MSI, Asus, Samsung, and Lenovo are among the companies launching laptops equipped with these processors. MSI's high-end Prestige 16 AI Studio laptop, Asus's Zenbook 14 OLED laptop, Samsung's refreshed Galaxy Book4 lineup, and Lenovo's trio of laptops, including the 12th-gen ThinkPad X1 Carbon, the 9th-gen ThinkPad X1 2-in-1, and the IdeaPad Pro 5i, are notable additions.

While there is a plethora of options available, consumers may opt to wait until 2024 for the release of Intel's Core Ultra 9 for a truly top-of-the-line experience.