Tag Archives: Intel

Comes Next, Computer Chips, Gaming, TechNews

Intel’s Lunar Lake

[Image credit: Intel]

Intel’s Lunar Lake: A Game-Changer for Handheld Gaming Devices

Intel‘s Lunar Lake processors are making waves in the tech world. Recent tests show that these chips could have a massive impact on gaming handhelds. While no handhelds with Lunar Lake CPUs are available yet, early benchmarks already offer an exciting glimpse into their capabilities.

Promising Performance Gains

Geekerwan, a well-respected tech reviewer, tested the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, a Lunar Lake CPU. The processor operated at 15W, similar to what a gaming handheld would use. He compared it against the Steam Deck’s custom AMD Zen 2 chip and the Asus ROG Ally’s Z1 Extreme. Even at a 720p resolution to simulate handheld gaming, the results were impressive. The Core Ultra 7 258V outperformed the Z1 Extreme by over twice the speed (2.3x) and was 35% faster than the Steam Deck’s AMD chip.

When compared to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, the Lunar Lake CPU delivered 67% faster performance at the same power level. This substantial gain shows how Intel’s new chips might change the game for mobile gaming.

Graphics Performance and Challenges

Intel Lunar Lake processors also showed strong results in gaming benchmarks, including demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077. The Core Ultra 7 258V hit 28 fps using FSR, compared to 13 fps on the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. In a higher power setting, the chip remained competitive with the 80W Ryzen AI HX 370, despite running at just 30W.

However, there is one catch. Lunar Lake’s integrated graphics rely on Intel’s Arc (Battlemage) technology. While this contributes to excellent gaming performance, it also brings potential issues. Many older games may struggle with compatibility due to the new Arc drivers. This is a known problem for Intel, as these drivers were developed from scratch not long ago. If you enjoy classic PC or indie games, this might become a frustrating barrier, although newer titles are less likely to have issues.

Battery Life: A Key Feature

Battery life is another vital aspect of gaming handhelds, and Lunar Lake shows promise here as well. Tests on the Yoga Air 15 indicated battery life that nearly matched the MacBook Air M3. This performance is quite promising for handheld gaming, suggesting that devices equipped with Lunar Lake could enjoy long playtimes on a single charge.

What to Expect from Intel’s Lunar Lake

Lunar Lake processors seem set to revolutionize gaming handhelds, offering substantial improvements over Intel’s previous Meteor Lake chips. The combination of powerful CPUs, impressive battery life, and integrated graphics makes Lunar Lake an exciting development in mobile gaming.

Overall, Intel Lunar Lake gaming handhelds could change the landscape of portable gaming. With strong early test results and better efficiency, these processors may finally give Intel the edge it needs to compete with AMD in the handheld space. Game compatibility remains a challenge, but if Intel manages to improve its Arc drivers, the future looks bright for Lunar Lake-powered gaming devices.

Comes Next, Computer Chips, Security, TechNews

Intel Microcode Update

[Image credit: Intel]
Intel’s Final Fix: Ending the CPU Crashing Saga with Microcode Update

Intel is rolling out a final microcode update aimed at resolving a persistent CPU crashing issue affecting its 13th and 14th generation Core processors. After identifying excessive voltage requests as a core issue (www.tomshardware.com), Intel, in collaboration with motherboard manufacturers, has developed a comprehensive fix to stabilize performance. This update is critical for preventing further damage and ensuring system stability. Intel encourages all users to install the updated BIOS promptly to benefit from these enhancements and extends warranties to support affected consumers. This move not only resolves the immediate issues but also reinforces Intel’s commitment to product reliability and customer satisfaction.

Intel aims to end the prolonged CPU crashing issue with a crucial microcode update. This saga, marked by several bugs affecting power and voltage, has troubled users of Intel’s high-end 13th and 14th generation Core processors.

Starting in April, Intel explored various potential causes and fixes. The company initially pointed to motherboard manufacturers for setting power levels above the recommended defaults. However, the root cause was identified by summer: CPUs were requesting higher voltages than needed, leading to performance degradation and potential hardware damage.

By August, Intel had released multiple updates to address these issues. These included BIOS updates from motherboard manufacturers to correct power settings and reduce voltage demands. Today, Intel releases a comprehensive 0x12B microcode update. It addresses four critical issues: excessive motherboard defaults, overheating CPUs failing to downshift, and excessive voltage supply during active and idle states.

Motherboard and PC manufacturers will incorporate this new update into their BIOS revisions. Users should install these updates promptly to prevent further damage.

Despite these bugs, only certain Intel CPU models are affected. Intel has extended warranties (arstechnica.com) for these models from three to five years, acknowledging the potential for pre-update damage. Additionally, Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake desktop processors, manufactured by TSMC, promise freedom from these voltage and stability issues.

Comes Next, Computer Chips, TechNews

Intels desktop GPUs will come in summer

Intel says its desktop GPUs are still coming this summer

CEO tells shareholders the company’s discrete graphic cards will finish in in Summer 2022

According to Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger, Intels discrete graphic cards will come to the market in a couple of months. He told Intel shareholders that the Arc desktop GPUs are coming in the second quarter 2022.

Gelsinger’s precise words, as spotted by PC Gamer, in response to a question about the company’s stated timeline of delivering four million discrete graphics cards in 2022:

“And overall, AXG is on track. And we launched the mobile SKUs. We’ll have the desktop SKUs coming in Q2. And we’ll have more SKUs as we go through the year as well. We’ll be filling out the product line. A lot of work, right, in qualifying games. And if you’re a gamer, you know that there’s just a lot of individual optimization work on some of the key titles so that work is underway, working with our OEMs to populate their portfolios of products as well. So I’ll say you’re going to see more and more of that hitting the market, and we’ll be filling out — we have the 3 versions. We’ll have the 5, 7 and 9 versions of the year products coming out as we go build up that portfolio this year.”

“AXG” is Intel’s Advanced Computing Systems and Graphics Group. It just sounds a lot cooler than “ACSGG.” Intel had previously indicated that the initial Arc discrete cards would arrive in the summer of this year.