Tag: Arrow Lake

  • Intel Acknowledges Arrow Lake Issues, Optimistic About Nova Lake SKUs

    Intel Acknowledges Arrow Lake Issues, Optimistic About Nova Lake SKUs

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel has faced leadership changes and significant layoffs due to poor performance in recent years.
    2. The Meteor Lake processors showed only slight performance gains over Raptor Lake, with Arrow Lake expected to have similar results.
    3. Intel’s CFO admitted the company has struggled in the high-performance desktop market, particularly with Arrow Lake.
    4. Nova Lake is the upcoming generation of desktop CPUs, expected to offer improved performance and a wider range of SKUs for the high-end market.
    5. Intel remains optimistic about Nova Lake’s potential to enhance competitiveness, with a planned release next year.

    Intel has been undergoing significant changes with new leadership and considerable layoffs due to its poor performance in recent years. The Meteor Lake processors released in 2023 provided only slight performance gains compared to Raptor Lake, and the upcoming Arrow Lake, set for 2024, appears to follow suit. The company has acknowledged its shortcomings, particularly with Arrow Lake, but remains optimistic about its upcoming generation of desktop CPUs.

    Acknowledgment of Shortcomings

    In a report from Wccftech referencing a Deutsche Bank 2025 Technology Conference call, Intel’s CFO David Zinsner confessed that the company has struggled in the desktop market with Arrow Lake, failing to compete effectively. He stated:

    “As you know, we kind of fumbled the football on the desktop side, particularly high performance desktop side. So we’re as you kind of look at share on a dollar basis versus a unit basis, we don’t perform as well and it’s mostly because of this high end desktop business that we didn’t have a good offering this year.”

    Future Plans with Nova Lake

    Zinsner then mentioned Nova Lake, the forthcoming generation of desktop CPUs, indicating that it would offer a more comprehensive range of SKUs targeting the high-end desktop segment. The company is hopeful that Nova Lake will enhance its competitive stance in the market next year.

    Nova Lake is expected to deliver significant performance enhancements over both Arrow Lake and Arrow Lake Refresh. These CPUs are likely to incorporate the new Coyote Cove P-cores and Arctic Wolf E-cores. It remains uncertain whether they will utilize TSMC’s 2nm or Intel’s 18A-P manufacturing process. The processors will adopt the Core Ultra 400 naming scheme, with the top-tier model rumored to feature 52 cores—16 P-cores, 32 E-cores, and 4 LP island E-cores with a 150 W TDP. Additionally, some models may include 3D V-cache, similar to AMD’s X3D series.

    Optimism for the Future

    In summary, Intel’s Nova Lake series is poised to be a more substantial upgrade compared to the previous couple of generations. The CPUs seem to be on schedule for release next year, although a specific launch date has not yet been announced.

    Source:
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  • Why Intel’s Arrow Lake Processor Is Bad for Lenovo ThinkPad T14s

    Why Intel’s Arrow Lake Processor Is Bad for Lenovo ThinkPad T14s

    Key Takeaways

    1. Lenovo is the leading manufacturer of convertible laptops, with a variety of models for everyday users and businesses, including the new ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1.

    2. The ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 features Intel’s Arrow Lake processors, which allows for onboard memory up to 64 GB, but performance improvements are minimal.

    3. Arrow Lake CPUs show inferior single-core performance and graphics capabilities compared to Lunar Lake processors, despite some slight improvements in multi-core performance.

    4. The test model with Core Ultra 7 255U has limited performance due to its two cores and one of the slowest integrated graphics processors available.

    5. The decision to use Arrow Lake in the T14s 2-in-1 is questioned, as the Lunar Lake version of the standard T14s received positive reviews and could have improved the convertible model.

    Lenovo stands out as the top maker of convertibles. They have a wide range of models available for both everyday users and corporate clients, with the ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1 being the newest high-end addition to their business series. While the standard ThinkPad T14s Gen6 comes with Intel’s Lunar Lake processors (or AMD Strix Point or Qualcomm Snapdragon), Lenovo has opted to use Intel’s Arrow Lake for this convertible version.

    Arrow Lake Features

    One benefit of Arrow Lake is that it allows the combination of CPUs with standard SO-DIMM memory, yet Lenovo chose to implement onboard memory instead. You can get up to 64 GB, which is double the capacity of what Lunar Lake offers, but we don’t believe this will matter for most business professionals. The performance of the Arrow Lake CPU is also rather lacking. While the multi-core performance shows a slight improvement, the maximum power consumption is greater. However, both single-core performance and notably the graphics capabilities are inferior. Additionally, the Arrow Lake processor does not hold the Copilot+ certification.

    Review Insights

    Our test model came with the Core Ultra 7 255U, which only has two performance cores and is equipped with the Intel Graphics iGPU—currently one of the slowest integrated graphics processors available. There are H-series CPU options with faster iGPUs, but overall cooling efficiency is quite poor, and the processor’s thermal design power (TDP) has dropped to merely 24 Watts under continuous workloads.

    In summary, it’s difficult to grasp why Lenovo made this choice. The Lunar Lake version of the standard ThinkPad T14s made a strong impression, and we are convinced it would have enhanced the T14s 2-in-1 as well. For more details, including extensive benchmarks and measurements, please refer to our review of the new ThinkPad T14s 2-in-1.

     

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  • ThinkPad E14 G7: 14-inch Office Laptop with 2 SSD & RAM Slots

    ThinkPad E14 G7: 14-inch Office Laptop with 2 SSD & RAM Slots

    Key Takeaways

    1. Maintenance choices for consumer laptops are mainly limited to SSD upgrades due to soldered RAM on motherboards.
    2. The new Lenovo ThinkPad E14 G7 features SO-DIMM slots, allowing RAM upgrades up to 128GB with Arrow Lake processors.
    3. The E14 G7 includes an extra M.2 2280 slot for secondary SSD, enhancing storage options.
    4. Upcoming models with Lunar Lake processors will not support RAM upgrades or additional SSD slots due to integrated memory.
    5. Battery capacity and cooling performance are expected to remain unchanged in the Lunar Lake variant.

    When discussing consumer laptops, it’s generally understood that maintenance choices are mostly restricted to the SSD. This is because the memory is frequently soldered directly onto the motherboard or integrated into the processor, as seen with Intel’s recent Lunar Lake processors. This pattern has also extended to business laptops in the past few years, providing some benefits since SO-DIMM modules take up less room on the motherboard. Lenovo’s ThinkPad line has models that feature either 8GB or 16GB of soldered RAM along with an additional SO-DIMM slot for memory upgrades.

    A Shift in Trend

    The new ThinkPad E14 G7, which is one of Lenovo’s more budget-friendly office options, has turned this trend upside down. Specifically, the Intel setup with the latest Arrow Lake processors comes with SO-DIMM slots. This advancement allows the RAM to be increased to as much as 128GB in certain configurations. Additionally, the E14 G7 is well-provided for in terms of SSD capacity. Besides the shorter M.2 2242 slot filled by the default SSD, there’s another complete M.2 2280 slot available for a secondary solid-state drive.

    Variants and Limitations

    Nonetheless, this feature isn’t available across all versions of the ThinkPad E14 G7. In a few weeks, another model utilizing Lunar Lake processors will be released alongside the Arrow Lake version we reviewed. As the memory is integrated into the processor, the upgrade option will be lost. Moreover, that variant will not feature an extra SSD slot, as it comes with just a single M.2 2280 slot. The battery capacity also won’t be increased, and we don’t anticipate any notable enhancements in cooling performance due to the lower power limits of the Lunar Lake CPUs, meaning there may be a lot of unutilized space. We expect to evaluate that version in a few weeks.

     

    ThinkPad E14 G7: 14-inch Office Laptop with 2 SSD & RAM SlotsThinkPad E14 G7: 14-inch Office Laptop with 2 SSD & RAM SlotsThinkPad E14 G7: 14-inch Office Laptop with 2 SSD & RAM Slots

     

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  • EVO-T1: GMKtec Unveils Price for New Gaming Mini PC

    EVO-T1: GMKtec Unveils Price for New Gaming Mini PC

    Key Takeaways

    1. GMKtec’s EVO-T1 gaming mini PC, featuring the Intel Core Ultra 9 and 64 GB RAM, will launch in China on July 14, 2025, priced at CNY 5,699 (approximately $793).

    2. A global release date is not confirmed, but promotional content suggests the EVO-T1 may be available worldwide in July.

    3. The EVO-T1 is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU and includes Arc 140T integrated graphics, performing well against AMD Radeon 890M.

    4. The mini PC includes an OCuLink port for connecting an external GPU and has multiple ports, including Type-C ports labeled for Thunderbolt, though the version is not specified.

    5. The EVO-T1 features two M.2 slots for storage expansion, but GMKtec has not revealed the maximum capacity for these slots.

    GMKtec has disclosed the pricing in China for its latest gaming mini PC, the EVO-T1. This system, featuring the Core Ultra 9, is equipped with 64 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. It is set to launch in China on July 14, 2025, with a special price of CNY 5,699, which is approximately $793.

    Availability Insights

    While there is no announcement regarding the global release of this mini PC, GMKtec has already established a promotional page on its international site. Earlier hints suggest that the EVO-T1 could become available worldwide sometime in July.

    Specifications Overview

    For anyone who hasn’t seen our previous reports, the GMK EVO-T1 is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 285H. This is a top-tier CPU within the Arrow Lake series, and it comes with the Arc 140T integrated graphics. Our evaluations indicate that the iGPU performs competitively against the AMD Radeon 890M, particularly when it comes to performance per watt.

    The EVO-T1 also includes an OCuLink port (with the GMKtec AD-GP1 priced at $469.98 on Amazon), allowing users to connect an external GPU to the mini PC. Additionally, it comes with these ports:

    It’s important to mention that the Type-C ports feature the Thunderbolt label, but GMK has yet to clarify whether they support Thunderbolt 5 or 4. The company has also indicated that the EVO-T1 is fitted with two M.2 slots for expanding storage, though they haven’t specified the maximum capacity available.

    Final Thoughts

    GMKtec shared this information on Weibo, translated from Chinese, giving potential buyers a look into what to expect with the EVO-T1.

    Source:
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    EVO-T1: GMKtec Unveils Price for New Gaming Mini PC

     

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  • Intel Launches IPO Program to Enhance Arrow Lake CPU Sales

    Intel Launches IPO Program to Enhance Arrow Lake CPU Sales

    Key Takeaways

    1. Intel has launched the IPO (Intel Performance Optimizations) initiative in China to improve the performance of its Arrow Lake processors.

    2. The IPO program is being implemented in pre-assembled systems from Chinese companies, aiming for better performance without compromising stability or warranty.

    3. IPO optimizes CPU settings such as core clock rates and RAM speeds, achieving notable performance boosts, like a 10% increase in FPS for gaming.

    4. The initiative follows underwhelming performance from Arrow Lake processors, with Intel working on firmware updates to address these issues.

    5. There are plans for potential global rollout of similar optimization features, which could enhance Arrow Lake systems against competitors like AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series.

    Intel has subtly introduced a new performance boost initiative known as IPO (Intel Performance Optimizations) in China, aiming to enhance the performance of its lagging Arrow Lake processors.

    Program Deployment

    Details shared by hardware insider UNIKO’s Hardware on X (previously known as Twitter) indicate that the IPO initiative is being implemented in pre-assembled systems from Chinese companies like Maxsun. The IPO’s aim is to strike a balance between using components at their default speeds and manual overclocking, thus delivering improved performance while maintaining stability and warranty protections.

    How IPO Works

    The IPO framework functions by utilizing optimized profiles that adjust various CPU settings, which include P-cores, E-cores, ring-bus frequencies, NGU and D2D interconnections, plus power limits (PL1 and PL2), along with RAM speeds and timings. For instance, in a case from Maxsun, this technology achieved a 200 MHz boost in core clock rates and increased RAM speeds from DDR5-8000 to DDR5-8400. This change reportedly led to a 10% enhancement in FPS during gaming sessions.

    Future Prospects

    The rollout of IPO profiles follows the disappointing launch performance of Arrow Lake, where some chips underperformed compared to their earlier versions in certain situations. Intel has been striving to correct these issues through firmware and microcode updates since December, although testing has revealed inconsistent outcomes from these updates.

    Global Implications

    There are speculations that Intel may introduce similar “opt-in” BIOS settings for Arrow Lake processors worldwide in the future, suggesting that the current IPO program could be a test run for a larger feature set. If this initiative proves successful and widely embraced, it could enhance the appeal of Arrow Lake systems—particularly pre-built ones—against competitors like AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series.

    At this time, the IPO initiative is limited to the Chinese market. Vendors like Maxsun are marketing PCs that come with this optimization, with warranty services reportedly managed by the retailer. Information about global launch plans is still limited as Intel works to improve Arrow Lake’s performance further.

    Source:
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  • Intel Nova Lake CPUs: Up to 16 P-Cores & 32 E-Cores Rumored

    Intel Nova Lake CPUs: Up to 16 P-Cores & 32 E-Cores Rumored

    The new Arrow Lake Core Ultra 200 desktop CPUs have yet to persuade gamers to upgrade from the older i9-14900K models. The latest architecture fails to show any meaningful performance improvements, despite several months of software updates. It appears Arrow Lake is merely setting the stage for future innovations, particularly Nova Lake, which is anticipated in 2026.

    Speculation on Nova Lake’s Architecture

    Intel has not revealed any specifications for Nova Lake in their recent quarterly earnings report. However, co-CEO Michelle Johnston Holthaus let slip that “Nova Lake will actually have die both inside and outside for that process. So you’ll actually see compute tiles inside and outside.” This revelation sparked a flurry of speculation on Reddit about potential core counts for the upcoming generation of chips.

    Core Configurations and Variants

    According to a now-deleted post by Exist50 on Reddit, the premium Nova Lake desktop CPUs might include up to 2×8 Coyote Cove P-cores and 2×16 Arctic Wolf E-cores, aligning with the concept of dual compute tiles mentioned by Intel’s co-CEO. Additionally, Exist50 mentioned that there will be high-performance mobile Nova Lake variants with configurations of 8P + 16E cores, as well as mid-range desktop and mobile options featuring just 4P + 8E cores. There will also be ultra-low-voltage (ULV) versions that only have 4 P-cores without any E-cores.

    Future iGPU Tile and Production Nodes

    The specifics of the iGPU tile for Nova Lake remain ambiguous. However, it is confirmed that these chips will be manufactured using Intel’s 18A nodes, similar to the Panther Lake mobile processors set to launch in late 2025.

    Source:
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  • Core Ultra 5 225H vs Ryzen AI 9 365: Geekbench 6 Results Leaked

    Core Ultra 5 225H vs Ryzen AI 9 365: Geekbench 6 Results Leaked

    With the recent introduction of the desktop Arrow Lake CPUs, Intel is now set to reveal its mobile Arrow Lake-H CPUs. This lineup is said to include five different SKUs, starting with the Core Ultra 5 225H at the lower end and the Core Ultra 9 285H at the high end. After the Core Ultra 9 285H was spotted on Geekbench, the entry-level Core Ultra 5 225H has also surfaced on Geekbench 6.

    Geekbench Scores and Sample Status

    It’s worth noting that while the Geekbench 6 results are legitimate, the Core Ultra 5 225H has not yet been officially released, suggesting that what we are seeing could be a non-retail sample.

    The Core Ultra 5 225H scored 2,592 in single-core and 12,550 in multi-core benchmarks on Geekbench 6. The processor appears to operate at a base clock of 1.7 GHz and a boost clock nearing 4.88 GHz. Although there are slight variances, these clock speeds align with the expected base and boost frequencies for the Core Ultra 5 225H.

    Performance Comparisons

    According to the Geekbench 6 scores, the Core Ultra 5 225H is approximately 15.3% faster in multi-core tasks and 4% slower in single-core performance compared to the Core Ultra 7 258V. This outcome is anticipated since the Lunar Lake chip has a TDP of 17 W, while the Core Ultra 5 225H is expected to have a TDP of 28 W.

    A more fitting comparison is with the Core Ultra 5 125H, as the Meteor Lake chip occupies a similar position and also has a 28 W base TDP. In this case, the Core Ultra 5 225H seems to outperform by 10% in multi-core benchmarks and 14% in single-core tests.

    Rivalry with Strix Point and Potential

    Lastly, the Strix Point Ryzen AI 9 365, which has a base TDP of 28 W, shows an 8% and 7% lead in single-core and multi-core Geekbench 6 scores, respectively. It will be intriguing to see whether the retail versions of the Core Ultra 5 225H can close this performance gap.

    While the leaked Geekbench 6 performance of the Core Ultra 5 225H isn’t groundbreaking compared to the newest mobile CPUs, the reported specifications indicate it’s an entry-level SKU aimed at lightweight laptops rather than a powerhouse.

    Specifications Overview

    In terms of specs, the Core Ultra 5 225H is said to feature 4 Lion Cove P-cores, 8 Skymont E-cores, and 2 Crestmont LP E-cores. The Lion Cove P-cores are anticipated to have a base/boost clock speed of 1.6/5.0 GHz, while the Crestmont E-cores might run slower at 1.3/4.3 GHz. Furthermore, the chip could include 28 MB of L3 cache.

    On the iGPU front, the Core Ultra 5 225H is rumored to be equipped with an “Alchemist+” Xe-LPG+ Arc 130T iGPU featuring 7 Xe cores. It remains uncertain what level of performance this new iGPU will achieve.

    Source: Link

    Core Ultra 5 225H vs Ryzen AI 9 365: Geekbench 6 Results Leaked
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  • Intel’s Arrow Lake Launch Issues: Promises Performance Fixes

    Intel’s Arrow Lake Launch Issues: Promises Performance Fixes

    Robert Hallock, who is the vice president and general manager at Intel, recently discussed the new Arrow Lake desktop series. During a podcast interview with Hot Hardware, Hallock acknowledged that the launch did not meet expectations. As highlighted in our review of the Core Ultra 9 285K, although the new lineup shows improvements in efficiency, it falls short compared to rivals in gaming performance.

    Performance Issues

    Specifically, we observed that the leading Intel Arrow Lake desktop chip does not perform as well as the Core i9 14900K from the Raptor Lake Refresh, which is currently priced at $438.41 on Amazon. Hallock mentioned that this level of performance was not anticipated by Intel, but he assured listeners that the company aims to “make it right.”

    Looking Ahead

    In addition, Hallock stated that the Arrow Lake processors have a “solid foundation,” and Intel has identified the reasons behind the “wild unintended effects.” He was candid about the performance challenges, clarifying that these issues are not due to Microsoft or any external factors.

    Future Updates

    On a positive note, Hallock indicated that Intel intends to provide a “comprehensive update” that will detail the issues and their causes by the end of November or early December. The company will also share its plans for addressing the performance shortcomings of the lineup.

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  • Intel Arrow Lake Leak Reveals Software Issues and Slow Gaming Performance

    Intel Arrow Lake Leak Reveals Software Issues and Slow Gaming Performance

    We are nearing the release of reviews for the Core Ultra 200S “Arrow Lake” series. It’s no surprise that this is the ideal moment for leaks about these new CPUs to emerge. Recently, Moore’s Law Is Dead has disclosed some concerning details regarding the Arrow Lake processors.

    Caution Advised

    Before diving deeper, it’s important to advise readers to treat this information carefully and refrain from jumping to conclusions until the official reviews are out.

    According to MLID, based on conversations with various reviewers, game developers, and YouTubers, the Arrow Lake processors do not enhance gaming performance. In fact, the Core Ultra 9 285K is reported to underperform compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, the Core i9-14900K, and the Ryzen 9 9950X. Alarmingly, one review indicated that even the previous generation, the Core i9-13900K, outperformed the Arrow Lake flagship.

    Performance Comparison

    The Core Ultra 7 265K also apparently fell short "in one set of averages" against the Ryzen 7 7700X (Available on Amazon). This is particularly concerning as the Ryzen 7 7700X directly competes with the Core i5-13600K, not the Core i7.

    In terms of non-gaming tasks, the Core Ultra 9 285K appears to match the performance of the Ryzen 9 9950X (Available on Amazon).

    However, gaming performance isn’t the only significant issue with the Arrow Lake CPUs. MLID asserts that almost everyone he’s spoken to has reported a myriad of problems. These issues range from erratic performance across various review datasets to persistent Blue Screen of Death errors, and even players being ejected from servers due to mistaken identification of cheating software while using the Core Ultra 9 285K.

    Hardware vs Software Issues

    The Arrow Lake situation is reportedly so problematic that several reviewers are questioning whether there might be a hardware flaw. Nonetheless, the leaker has received assurance from an Intel source that Arrow Lake does not have a hardware defect; instead, the troubles stem from poor software.

    In conclusion, Arrow Lake appears to be a generation focused solely on efficiency and slight productivity enhancements, but not much else. When comparing Intel’s offerings against Zen 5, the Core Ultra 200S chips reportedly lack a performance edge. With the Ryzen 7 9800X3D on the way, it looks like Intel enthusiasts may have to wait until next year’s Panther Lake for desktops to see a notable improvement in gaming performance to match Zen 5 X3D.

    Given the reported challenges, the Core Ultra 200 processors may face a difficult reception when reviews are published.

    Moore’s Law Is Dead on YouTube.

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  • Intel Arc 140T Graphics Offers 60% Performance Boost Over Lunar Lake

    Intel Arc 140T Graphics Offers 60% Performance Boost Over Lunar Lake

    A new Intel Arc graphics chip has surfaced on GFXBench, demonstrating notable performance improvements compared to its Lunar Lake version. This GPU, known as the Arc 140T, delivered frame rates that exceed those of the current Arc 140V integrated graphics by over 60 percent.

    Benchmark Results

    According to benchmark results shared by Michael (@miktdt) on X, the Arc 140T achieved a score of 11,056 frames at 178.3 FPS in GFXBench’s OpenGL test. In contrast, the Arc 140V models with 16GB and 8GB of memory only managed 110.3 FPS (6,839 frames) and 106.7 FPS (6,613 frames), respectively.

    Performance Differences

    Despite both the 140T and 140V featuring the same eight Xe Cores, there is a clear performance gap—likely stemming from differences in design or implementation. Based on the specifications and naming conventions, it appears that the 140T is more geared towards integrated graphics rather than functioning as a standalone GPU.

    Future Prospects

    It’s possible that the 140T is designed for Intel’s forthcoming Arrow Lake-H/HX mobile chips. This aligns with Intel’s approach: Arrow Lake is centered on boosting performance, while Lunar Lake emphasizes energy efficiency. The variation in performance between the two could be linked to the types of transistors used, with the 140T probably utilizing higher-performance transistors compared to the power-efficiency-oriented ones in the 140V from Lunar Lake.

    If everything proceeds as expected, the Arc 140T could debut in Arrow Lake mobile chips around early 2025. As of now, Intel has not officially verified these specifications or performance figures.

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