Key Takeaways
1. Core 7 240H laptops are becoming the popular choice for midrange multimedia and gaming devices, potentially replacing the Core i7-12800H and i7-13700H models.
2. The performance of the Core 7 240H is very similar to the Core i7-12800H and i7-13700H, with only a 5% difference in benchmarks.
3. The Core 7 240H is built on the older Raptor Lake-H architecture, making it comparable in age to the i7-12800H.
4. Power consumption for the Core 7 240H is inconsistent, showing throttling issues during stress testing, despite having the same performance cores as the i7-12800H.
5. The Core 7 240H lacks integrated AI features found in the newer Core Ultra series, making upgrades less appealing for current users.
Laptops featuring the Core 7 240H are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for midrange multimedia and gaming devices. It is anticipated that this processor will gradually take the place of models utilizing the Core i7-12800H or Core i7-13700H. However, those looking for a significant performance upgrade may find themselves let down based on our experience with the latest Asus V16.
Performance Comparison
Our benchmarks indicate that the Core 7 240H operates within a 5 percent range of the average Core i7-12800H or Core i7-13700H laptop in our records, even though the i7-12800H has been around for over three years. This newer Core 7 240H is still built on the older Raptor Lake-H architecture, which is just as dated as the i7-12800H.
Power Consumption Insights
When it comes to power usage, the answer is less clear-cut. Our initial retail sample of the Core 7 240H demonstrated throttling issues during Prime95 stress testing, leading to inconsistent consumption levels, as depicted in the graph below. The processor maintains the same number of performance cores as the i7-12800H but has only half the efficiency cores (4 compared to 8), while delivering roughly equivalent performance. Therefore, the differences in load performance should be negligible, although the Core 7 240H may offer slightly better efficiency for less demanding applications. While it’s distinct enough to not merely be a rebranding, the Core 7 240H still feels too much like its immediate Core i7 predecessors, making it hard for many current users to justify an upgrade, especially since it misses the integrated AI features found in the Core Ultra series.
