Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is official, delivering massive performance, efficiency, and AI gains in thin and light devices

by

What you need to know

  • Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is the second generation of a new era of mobile Intel x86 processors, falling under the 200V-series moniker.
  • Lauded as the “most efficient family of x86 processors ever” by Intel, Core Ultra Series 2 promises “breakthrough” power efficiency and a “massive leap in graphics performance.”
  • Alongside improved performance, power efficiency, and AI capabilities, Intel highlighted the application compatibility of its new chips, clearly referring to the emulation limitations of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series of ARM SoCs.
  • Many OEMs have PCs powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 2 on the way starting on Sept. 24, 2024, and PCs powered by these chips will be able to update to Copilot+ PCs in November.

As a tech enthusiast who has been following the evolution of personal computing for over two decades, I must say that the upcoming Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is truly exciting! The integration of advanced NPUs is a game-changer, and it’s fascinating to see how technology continues to advance.

It was expected, as we had been informed about it earlier this year through Intel’s hints. This upcoming development is set to be a significant advancement for the company, and now we have all the particulars on Intel’s “Lunar Lake” mobile x86 processors. These are slated to debut in new high-end Windows laptops, offering improved performance, better power efficiency, and augmented AI functions. Intel is positioning itself against AMD and particularly Qualcomm with these chips, but the question remains: Can Lunar Lake live up to the challenge?

Intel has unveiled nine different models based on the Lunar Lake platform, and each model shares a common structure: they all have 8 cores, the latest generation of mobile integrated graphics, and a highly advanced NPU that will turn these devices into Copilot+ PCs by November. Let’s delve into why the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is a significant development for Windows laptops.

Improved performance and efficiency

Read moreApple Maps now works on your Windows PC... sort of

In simpler terms, the two key aspects of any processor are speed and energy efficiency, and Intel aimed to significantly boost both with their Intel Core Ultra Series 2. While improving these aspects is usually the aim with every new chipset generation, the method Intel used sets the 200V-series apart from nearly anything they’ve done previously.

Intel significantly upgraded its high-speed P-cores and made its energy-efficient E-cores even stronger in the second generation of the Core Ultra Series. This enhancement resulted in a significant boost in performance as well as power consumption compared to the initial generation of Core Ultra CPUs. Interestingly, all models in the Core Ultra Series 2 feature a maximum of 8 cores, which is a considerable reduction from the 16-core and 22-thread peak of the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H. However, on average, these new processors offer improved performance while consuming less power.

In Intel’s tests, the company claims a potential tripling of performance per thread and a substantial 80% overall performance boost. With a power consumption of 23W, the Ultra Series 2, which has eight threads, exhibits only a minor 6% drop in multi-threaded tasks compared to the original gen-1 Core Ultra with 22 threads, signifying notable progress in energy efficiency. Intel estimates up to 20 hours of battery life on the 200V-series, although actual usage times may vary. Notably, when under turbo boost, these chips have a maximum Thermal Design Power (TDP) of just 37W, indicating promising longevity.

Read moreRemnant 2 announces third and final DLC 'The Dark Horizon' on its birthday, and its release date isn't far off

The key point is that Intel’s novel method for Systems-on-Chips (SoCs) in the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 allows it to compete head-to-head with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series of ARM-based SoCs as well as AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 mobile chips, both in terms of performance and energy efficiency. Often, the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 outperforms its competitors in power-efficiency, but this can vary based on testing conditions. It’s not just about the efficiency and power of individual cores; Intel has also enhanced various aspects of the 200V-series, including better power management and delivery, improved onboard memory and cache, and more.

A new generation of mobile integrated graphics

Alongside an upgraded CPU design, the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 introduces the debut of Intel’s Xe2 “Battlemage” graphics microarchitecture. This new architecture is expected to enhance average performance by approximately 30% when dealing with graphical tasks, as per Intel’s claims. Furthermore, all models in the 200V-series will incorporate Intel Arc graphics for improved power efficiency and AI capabilities. In addition, Intel has highlighted certain gaming improvements specifically.

Fundamentally, the Xe2 comprises eight graphics cores for Xe2, eight ray tracing cores, and several enhancements including eDisplayPort 1.5 compatibility, the ability to support up to three 4K monitors simultaneously, and improved handling of various 4K video codecs. Furthermore, Xe2 enhances the AI capabilities of the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with up to 67 Tera Operations per Second (TOPS). Each chip also boasts a more capable Neural Processing Unit (NPU) for on-device AI tasks and can contribute to advancements in Intel’s AI-powered XeSS scaling technology.

Primarily, Intel has been working to address performance issues that arose with the first release of integrated Intel Arc graphics. This effort is aimed at making the 200V-series chips more proficient in rendering, producing high-definition video, gaming, handling AI tasks, and simulating ray tracing. Performance improvements have been substantial across all areas, but efficiency has also seen a significant boost. For instance, the Xe2 Arc graphics consume only 2.5W of power during 4K video hardware decoding compared to the 24W draw of the previous generation.

Read moreBing blocked by Reddit, breaking search results for everyone but Google

In simpler terms, Windows gadgets running on the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 are expected to handle casual gaming and creative tasks more efficiently without producing extra heat or needing bulky, heavy designs. It’s also worth noting that Intel aims to challenge AMD in mobile gaming, with MSI planning its Claw 8 AI+ portable gaming device powered by Intel Lunar Lake and the new Xe2 graphics. The upgraded Xe2 GPUs are designed to fully support Microsoft’s DirectX 12 Ultimate gaming suite as well.

Top of the charts TOPS for AI tasks

As an enthusiast, I recall that the initial Intel Core Ultra CPUs were pioneers in integrating Neural Processing Units (NPUs) for AI tasks. However, none could compete with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X series devices when it came to AI capabilities – they truly represented the first genuine AI-driven PCs we’ve witnessed. AMD had already displayed its response, and now Intel is stepping up to the plate. The 200V-series of chips showcases a significantly enhanced NPU, offering performance that can be up to four times greater.

Intel asserts a total platform performance of 120 Tera Operations Per Second (TOPS) for the Intel Core Ultra Series 2. This figure encompasses both the CPU, GPU, and Neural Processing Unit (NPU). For transforming a PC into a Copilot+ PC and offering on-device AI capabilities like Copilot, Cocreator, and eventually Recall, it’s the NPU that plays a pivotal role. A potent NPU allows the CPU and GPU to manage other tasks concurrently. The Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is equipped with an NPU, making it capable in this regard. In the latest version, the 200V-series, the NPU boasts up to 48 TOPS of power. Therefore, personal computers utilizing these chips will be eligible for Copilot+ upgrades later in 2023.

Neuromorphic Processing Units (NPUs) may not be extremely beneficial right now during the initial phase of the AI evolution, but as time passes, they will increasingly become indispensable without affecting performance in other areas. The Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is all about preparing for future requirements, ensuring newly developed devices maintain their competitive edge over extended periods.

A whole range of improvements coming this month

It appears that Intel Core Ultra Series 2 is shaping up to be a significant leap for Intel, offering advancements across all categories. Excitingly, consumers won’t have to wait too long to experience this new generation of chips, as the 200V-series is scheduled to launch as soon as September 24, 2024. This debut will coincide with the initial release of new Windows laptops from renowned brands such as Dell, Lenovo, HP, Acer, ASUS, and others. Intriguingly, we’ve already caught wind of a couple of these upcoming models, including the freshly announced Dell XPS 13 and the HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14.

There are nine different models in the Intel Core Ultra Series 2, specifically four Intel Core Ultra 5 units, four Intel Core Ultra 7 units, and one Intel Core Ultra 9 unit. Interestingly, they all possess the same number of cores and rely on the same technology. This commonality includes compatibility with up to three Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, internal LPDDR5X memory, and a maximum turbo power of 37W. Unfortunately, unlike earlier versions, these models do not support Thunderbolt 5 at this time. However, it’s important to note that the technology for Thunderbolt 5 is still in its infancy.

Most SKUs in the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 tend to have distinct variations in clocking and turbo speeds, GPU voltage, RAM capacity, and base CPU power (with the Core Ultra 9 being an exception at 30W). It’s also reasonable to anticipate significant price differences among these SKUs. The majority of computers utilizing the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 will adhere to the new Intel Evo standard, ensuring promises of quiet and efficient performance, swift responsiveness, quick wake-up times, long battery life, robust security features, future-ready connectivity options, and high sustainability standards.

I’m personally thrilled to discover the performance of Intel Core Ultra Series 2 when it’s used on new Windows PCs. The competition among Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm in this sector is heating up, making it more intriguing by the day. At present, it’s difficult to predict a clear winner as they seem to be neck and neck.

Read More

2024-09-03 19:10