PGC NEWS

Intel has officially responded to AMD’s Ryzen 3000 series launch with the unveiling of its 10th generation Core processors, codenamed Ice Lake, at Computex 2019 in Taiwan. While AMD made a significant splash with their desktop processors, Intel’s focus remains on the ultra-mobile market, targeting ultrabooks and tablets with these new power-efficient chips.

Intel has been facing challenges with its 10nm manufacturing process, leading to an extended lifespan for the 14nm++ process used in 9th generation Core CPUs. However, the pressure from AMD’s Ryzen CPUs has finally pushed Intel to release its 10th generation processors. These Ice Lake chips primarily focus on low power consumption and improved integrated graphics, rather than directly competing with AMD’s desktop Ryzen 3000 series.

The new processors have a Thermal Design Power (TDP) ranging from 9W to 28W, with the highest configuration offering 4 cores and 8 threads, boosting up to 4.1GHz. This aligns with Intel’s Project Athena initiative, which aims to deliver laptops capable of over 10 hours of continuous use. These Ice Lake CPUs will replace the existing 8th generation Core i-U series, promising significant improvements, including an 18% IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) increase over the previous generation.

Dell XPS 13 among the first laptops to feature Intel’s new Ice Lake processors.

A key feature of the Ice Lake processors is the integrated Iris Plus Graphics 11. Intel claims this new integrated GPU outperforms the Vega 10 found in the AMD Ryzen 7 3700U mobile processor, with performance gains ranging from 2% to 25% depending on the benchmark. This marks a significant step forward for integrated graphics, potentially offering a compelling alternative to dedicated GPUs in thin and light laptops.

Beyond Ice Lake, Intel also introduced its Vpro platform for businesses at Computex 2019 and teased its upcoming X-Series processors, slated for release in Fall 2019. This suggests Intel is working on a more robust response to AMD’s high-end desktop offerings, although details remain scarce.

Laptops featuring Intel Ice Lake processors are expected to hit the market in June 2019, with the Dell XPS 13 being among the first devices to utilize the new technology. This partnership with Dell, a long-standing Intel collaborator, showcases the confidence in the new processors and their potential to reshape the ultrabook market.

In conclusion, while Intel’s Ice Lake processors may not be the direct desktop competitor to AMD’s Ryzen 3000 series that some anticipated, they represent a significant advancement in mobile computing. The focus on power efficiency, improved integrated graphics, and longer battery life aligns with the evolving needs of ultrabook and tablet users. The launch of Ice Lake at Computex 2019 underscores Intel’s commitment to innovation in the mobile space and sets the stage for a compelling competition in the laptop market.