Lenovo has revamped its Legion 7000K and 9000K gaming PCs, infusing them with the cutting-edge Intel 14th Generation Core desktop CPUs and high-performing GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs, marking a significant upgrade targeted primarily at the Asian market.
A Glimpse into the Upgrades
The hallmark of this update is the introduction of the Intel 14th Gen Core desktop CPUs into the Legion 7000K and 9000K series, enhancing the processing power to meet the demands of modern gaming and multitasking. The Legion PCs have a tradition of incorporating Intel CPUs, and this update fortifies this alliance further.
GPU Performance Lifted
With the GeForce RTX 40 series GPUs, Legion PCs now offer a superior gaming experience. The range includes RTX 4090, RTX 4080, RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4060 Ti, and RTX 4060 models, covering a vast spectrum of NVIDIA’s lineup. The GPUs come with a sleek gunmetal finish, sharp cooling design with two or three fans, and in some models, vapor chambers and a triple-slot design to house substantial heatsinks. The design aesthetics of the Legion GPUs bear a close resemblance to AMD Vega designs.
Moreover, Lenovo introduced a Legion Radeon GPU, the RX 7600, with a dual-fan design similar to the RTX 4060 Ti but sans the backplate, marking Lenovo’s first RDNA3 GPU launch.
Pricing and Availability
The 2024 Legion 9000K series prices range from $2,660 to $4,424, while the 7000K series prices range between $1,289 and $1,904. These gaming behemoths are exclusively available in the Asian market, with no official release in the United States yet. The Legion GPUs are only available as components within the Legion prebuilt systems, ensuring a streamlined performance for gamers.
In a nutshell, Lenovo’s update to its Legion 7000K and 9000K gaming PCs is a significant step towards providing a top-notch gaming experience with the latest tech advancements.
Intel has recently unrolled its 14th-generation desktop processors, termed as the Raptor Lake Refresh, to the tech market. Amid the buzz surrounding the launch, a key detail emerged that contrary to initial announcements, these desktop processors will not support the much-anticipated Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. This revelation has stirred a discussion among tech enthusiasts and potential buyers, weighing the implications of this missing feature.
Thunderbolt 5: The Missed Train
The absence of Thunderbolt 5 support in the 14th-gen desktop processors is significant. Thunderbolt 5 promises a leap in connectivity with a whopping 80Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth and up to 120Gbps of uni-directional bandwidth. This new standard is especially beneficial for power users and creators who demand high-speed connections for their projects. The technology also boasts support for up to three 4K displays at 144Hz using a single port, showcasing its potential to drastically enhance port capabilities for better performance.
Implications for Desktop Users
With the 14th-gen desktop processors missing out on Thunderbolt 5 support, desktop users might find themselves in a bit of a connectivity conundrum. While Thunderbolt 4, with its 40Gbps bandwidth, will remain the default, the lack of Thunderbolt 5 support may deter those looking for cutting-edge connectivity from opting for these new Intel processors. The spotlight now turns to the upcoming laptop processors based on the Meteor Lake architecture, where Thunderbolt 5 support is expected. It’s a wait-and-watch scenario to see how this plays out in the competitive processor market, and how it impacts the choice of both casual users and tech aficionados.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
The tech community is now keenly eyeing the CES event scheduled in early January, where more details about Thunderbolt 5 and Intel’s Meteor Lake processors are anticipated to be unveiled. It’s here that many new laptops equipped with these processors will likely be announced, marking the debut of Thunderbolt 5 in the Intel processor family. The dialogue around Thunderbolt 5’s absence in the 14th-gen desktop processors reflects a broader discussion on the evolving needs of users and the pressure on tech giants like Intel to keep pace with these demands.
Intel’s journey with the 14th-gen desktop processors sans Thunderbolt 5 support opens a window into the competitive and fast-evolving world of tech, where staying ahead in the connectivity game is crucial. As we move forward, the decisions made today by tech behemoths will shape the user experiences of tomorrow.
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With the unveiling of the Intel® Core™ 14th Generation desktop processor family, the tech giant is once again redefining the boundaries of computing power. Spearheaded by the formidable Intel® Core™ i9-14900K, the latest lineup comprises six new unlocked desktop processors, boasting up to 24 cores, 32 threads, and an astounding frequency of up to 6 GHz right out of the box. The Intel® Core™ i7-14700K is another powerhouse in this lineup, bringing 20 cores and 28 threads to the table, thanks to four additional Efficient-cores (E-cores) compared to its predecessors. With Intel’s Extreme Tuning Utility (XTU) now embracing the new AI Assist feature, AI-guided overclocking is just a click away for select unlocked Intel Core 14th Gen desktop processors1.
Why It’s a Game Changer
The evolution of the CPU’s role in gaming and content creation is unmistakable, and Intel’s Core 14th Gen desktop processors are at the helm of this transformation. Engineered with Intel’s advanced performance hybrid architecture, these processors promise an unbeatable compute performance without compromising user workflow. Especially, the i9-14900K stands tall as the world’s fastest desktop processor with 6 GHz speeds right out of the box, rendering a competitive edge for gamers. The i7-14700K, with 25% more cores, is a boon for creators, ensuring a significant boost in multi-threaded workloads performance1.
Connectivity and Compatibility: Unmatched
Intel is not just stopping at raw performance. The 14th Gen processors come with integrated support for Wi-Fi 6/6E and Bluetooth® 5.3, with discrete support for the upcoming Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 technologies. Moreover, the Thunderbolt™ 4 and upcoming Thunderbolt 5 wired connectivity support up to 80 Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth. Compatibility is also a strong suit of these processors, maintaining compatibility with both Intel 600 and 700 series chipsets, which facilitates a smooth upgrade path for enthusiasts1.
The Intel Core 14th Gen desktop processors, with their blend of performance, connectivity, and compatibility, are undeniably a monumental leap towards catering to the modern-day computing demands of enthusiasts.
Cost and Availability
Leading the 14th generation series is the Core i9-14900K, boasting 24 cores and 32 threads, priced at a recommended customer price (RCP) of US$589. Its KF variant, sans the unaltered UHD Graphics 770 integrated GPU, is available for US$564. On the lower end, the 14C/20T Core i5-14600KF is priced at US$294 RCP.
Currently, Intel has only shared details on the primary SKUs within the Core i9, Core i7, and Core i5 ranges. More SKUs, along with a potential Core i9-14900KS and a Core i3 series, are expected to be unveiled at CES 2024, following the usual trend.
The Alienware Aurora R16 has recently been unveiled, marking a significant milestone in the gaming desktop arena. This beast of a machine is not only powered by the 14th-generation Intel CPUs but also features the formidable Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 graphics, ensuring a top-tier gaming experience.
Exceptional Performance
At the heart of the Aurora R16 lies the Intel Core i9-14900KF processor, which enables a remarkable 6 GHz CPU Thermal Velocity Boost. This is a leap from the previous 13th-generation Core i9-3900F that maxed out at 5.6 GHz. The R16 is Alienware’s first to breach the 6 GHz mark, thanks to a custom motherboard based on the Intel Z690 chipset and a two UDIMM memory architecture. You can now overclock past 6 GHz with a simple BIOS switch, opening new horizons in modern gaming applications.
Stellar Graphics and Memory
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, with a whopping 24GB of GDDR6X memory, stands as the pinnacle in the R16’s GPU options, though variants down to the GeForce RTX 3050 with 8GB of GDDR6 are available. Accompanying this is up to 64GB of Dual Channel DDR5 XMP memory and a maximum storage capacity of 4TB SSD, ensuring smooth gameplay and ample storage for all your gaming titles.
Compact yet Accessible Design
Despite its power, the R16 is 40% smaller in volume compared to its predecessor, the R15. Inspired by the Legend 3 gaming laptop’s industrial form, it sports a compact cube design enhancing accessibility for user upgrades. The chassis offers a solid or clear side panel option, allowing you to marvel at the internals.
Alienware Aurora R16
Cooling and Connectivity
With great power comes great thermal regulation requirements. The R16 boasts larger air intakes and exhausts with hexagonal side vents and a new vertical stadium design improving airflow by 7% compared to the R15. Moreover, it’s integrated with Alienware Command Center 6.0 software suite, providing extensive control over the system’s thermal regulation, lighting, and game presets.
Pricing and Availability
The Alienware Aurora R16 is set to hit the shelves on October 17 with a starting price of $2,200. This price is for the bare-bones model, but for gamers who desire the full experience, the cost will rise as more features are added.
Alienware has indeed set a new benchmark in the gaming desktop category with the Aurora R16, redefining what gamers can expect from a mid-tower gaming desktop.
The relentless competition between Intel and AMD continues as Intel’s upcoming 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs face off against AMD’s Ryzen 3D V-Cache chips in the popular simulation game, Factorio. The 14th Generation lineup, including models Core i9-14900K, Core i7-14700K, and Core i5-14600K, has been put to the test, and the results have stirred the gaming community.
Performance Discrepancy Unveiled
The simulation game Factorio, known for its relatively low graphical and CPU intensity, was the chosen battleground. Here, a metric known as UPS (Updates Per Second) reflects the processor’s capability to perform calculations quickly. The higher the UPS, the faster factories within the game can operate in real seconds relative to a lower UPS rate1.
Results revealed a noticeable performance gap, with Intel’s chips lagging significantly behind AMD’s Ryzen 3D V-Cache chips. The 14th gen Intel CPUs, while faster than their 13th gen counterparts by a small margin (Core i9-14900K being +3.7% faster than i9-13900K, Core i7-14700K +6.8% faster than i7-13700K, and Core i5-14600K +1.2% faster than i5-13600K), were outperformed by AMD’s offerings2.
AMD’s Technological Edge
AMD’s Ryzen 7000 “X3D” series leverages a pioneering 3D chip-stacking technology which propels it to lead in gaming performance. A comparison test showed the Ryzen 7 7800X3D outperforming its predecessor, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, in all tested games by a significant margin, indicating a promising trajectory of performance enhancement with the new tech3.
Competitive Landscape
Intel’s latest offering, although falling short in this particular test, shouldn’t be dismissed outright. The chips are expected to compete for a spot on the list of best CPUs4. The 14th Gen CPUs indeed show a performance improvement compared to the 13th Gen CPUs, albeit a narrow one. In 1080p gaming comparisons, Intel Core i9-14900K was seen trading blows with AMD’s flagship CPU, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, indicating that under different circumstances or in various gaming environments, the competition could be neck and neck5.
The benchmarks serve as a reminder of the stiff competition between Intel and AMD, pushing each tech giant to innovate further. As the release date for Intel’s 14th gen CPUs approaches, the eyes of gamers and tech enthusiasts will be keenly focused on the evolving battlefield of CPU performance.
When it comes to processor technology, the battle lines between AMD and Intel have always been distinctly drawn. Both tech giants are in a constant scramble to outdo each other, and the upcoming AMD Ryzen 8000 series and Intel’s future CPUs—particularly the Arrow Lake-H/HX and Lunar Lake-M—indicate that the race is nowhere near slowing down. Leaks and revelations about these future chipsets provide a peek into what might be the next big things in the laptop CPU arena.
AMD Steps Up with Ryzen 8000 Series
AMD’s progression in the CPU landscape has been remarkable, and the expected arrival of the Ryzen 8000 series (codenamed Strix Point) in 2024 heralds the next chapter in their evolution. While details about clock speeds, core counts, and TDP are still under wraps, the Ryzen 8000 series is anticipated to be based on the 3nm Zen 5 architecture. This leap forwards could potentially deliver significant improvements in performance and energy efficiency compared to its predecessors.
Developers and gaming enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting more details about the Ryzen 8000 series, as it promises to uphold AMD’s legacy of providing robust performance for various computing needs.
CPU FAMILY NAME
AMD KRACKAN POINT
AMD FIRE RANGE
AMD STRIX POINT HALO
AMD STRIX POINT
AMD HAWK POINT
AMD DRAGON RANGE
AMD PHOENIX
AMD REMBRANDT
AMD CEZANNE
AMD RENOIR
AMD PICASSO
AMD RAVEN RIDGE
Family Branding
AMD Ryzen 9040 (H/U-Series)
AMD Ryzen 8055 (HX-Series)
AMD Ryzen 8050 (H-Series)
AMD Ryzen 8050 (H/U-Series)
AMD Ryzen 8040 (H/U-Series)
AMD Ryzen 7045 (HX-Series)
AMD Ryzen 7040 (H/U-Series)
AMD Ryzen 6000 AMD Ryzen 7035
AMD Ryzen 5000 (H/U-Series)
AMD Ryzen 4000 (H/U-Series)
AMD Ryzen 3000 (H/U-Series)
AMD Ryzen 2000 (H/U-Series)
Process Node
4nm
5nm
4nm
4nm
4nm
5nm
4nm
6nm
7nm
7nm
12nm
14nm
CPU Core Architecture
Zen 5
Zen 5D
Zen 5C
Zen 5D + Zen 5C
Zen 4
Zen 4
Zen 4
Zen 3+
Zen 3
Zen 2
Zen +
Zen 1
CPU Cores/Threads (Max)
TBD
16/32
16/32
12/24
8/16
16/32
8/16
8/16
8/16
8/16
4/8
4/8
L2 Cache (Max)
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
4 MB
16 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
4 MB
2 MB
2 MB
L3 Cache (Max)
TBD
TBD
64 MB
32 MB
16 MB
32 MB
16 MB
16 MB
16 MB
8 MB
4 MB
4 MB
Max CPU Clocks
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
5.4 GHz
5.2 GHz
5.0 GHz (Ryzen 9 6980HX)
4.80 GHz (Ryzen 9 5980HX)
4.3 GHz (Ryzen 9 4900HS)
4.0 GHz (Ryzen 7 3750H)
3.8 GHz (Ryzen 7 2800H)
GPU Core Architecture
TBD
RDNA 3+ 4nm iGPU
RDNA 3+ 4nm iGPU
RDNA 3+ 4nm iGPU
RDNA 3 4nm iGPU
RDNA 2 6nm iGPU
RDNA 3 4nm iGPU
RDNA 2 6nm iGPU
Vega Enhanced 7nm
Vega Enhanced 7nm
Vega 14nm
Vega 14nm
Max GPU Cores
TBD
2 CUs (128 cores)
40 CUs (2560 Cores)
16 CUs (1024 Cores)
12 CUs (786 cores)
2 CUs (128 cores)
12 CUs (786 cores)
12 CUs (786 cores)
8 CUs (512 cores)
8 CUs (512 cores)
10 CUs (640 Cores)
11 CUs (704 cores)
Max GPU Clocks
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
2200 MHz
2800 MHz
2400 MHz
2100 MHz
1750 MHz
1400 MHz
1300 MHz
TDP (cTDP Down/Up)
15W-45W (65W cTDP)
55W-75W (65W cTDP)
25-1250W
15W-45W (65W cTDP)
15W-45W (65W cTDP)
55W-75W (65W cTDP)
15W-45W (65W cTDP)
15W-55W (65W cTDP)
15W -54W(54W cTDP)
15W-45W (65W cTDP)
12-35W (35W cTDP)
35W-45W (65W cTDP)
Launch
2025?
2H 2024?
2H 2024?
2H 2024?
Q1 2024?
Q1 2023
Q2 2023
Q1 2022
Q1 2021
Q2 2020
Q1 2019
Q4 2018
Intel Fights Back with Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake
Not to be outdone, Intel is gearing up to counter with its own set of innovations. The Intel Arrow Lake-H/HX CPUs, expected to drop in the 2024 timeframe, signal Intel’s efforts to sustain their competitive edge in the high-performance computing market. Although the nitty-gritty specifications remain elusive, it’s apparent that Intel is focusing on enhancing multi-thread performance and graphical capabilities with these chips.
Looking further ahead, Intel’s Lunar Lake-M, anticipated in 2025, showcases the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of mobile computing. Although specific details about this chipset are sparse, the innovation is expected to continue Intel’s pursuit of superior performance and energy efficiency in the laptop domain.
CPU FAMILY
LUNAR LAKE
ARROW LAKE
METEOR LAKE
RAPTOR LAKE
ALDER LAKE
Process Node (CPU Tile)
Intel 20A?
Intel 20A ‘5nm EUV”
Intel 4 ‘7nm EUV’
Intel 7 ’10nm ESF’
Intel 7 ’10nm ESF’
Process Node (GPU Tile)
TSMC 3nm?
TSMC 3nm
TSMC 5nm
Intel 7 ’10nm ESF’
Intel 7 ’10nm ESF’
CPU Architecture
Hybrid
Hybrid (Four-Core)
Hybrid (Triple-Core)
Hybrid (Dual-Core)
Hybrid (Dual-Core)
P-Core Architecture
Lion Cove?
Lion Cove
Redwood Cove
Raptor Cove
Golden Cove
E-Core Architecture
Skymont?
Skymont
Crestmont
Gracemont
Gracemont
LP E-Core Architecture (SOC)
Skymont?
Crestmont?
Crestmont?
N/A
N/A
Top Configuration
TBD
TBD
6+8 (H-Series)
6+8 (H-Series) 8+16 (HX-Series)
6+8 (H-Series) 8+8 (HX-Series)
Max Cores / Threads
TBD
TBD
14/20
14/20
14/20
Planned Lineup
U Series?
H/P/U Series
H/P/U Series
H/P/U Series
H/P/U Series
GPU Architecture
Xe2-LPG (Battlemage)
Xe-LPG (Alchemist)
Xe-LPG (Alchemist)
Iris Xe (Gen 12)
Iris Xe (Gen 12)
GPU Execution Units
64 EUs
192 EUs
128 EUs (1024 Cores)
96 EUs (768 Cores)
96 EUs (768 Cores)
Memory Support
TBD
TBD
DDR5-5600 LPDDR5-7400 LPDDR5X – 7400+
DDR5-5200 LPDDR5-5200 LPDDR5-6400
DDR5-4800 LPDDR5-5200 LPDDR5X-4267
Memory Capacity (Max)
TBD
TBD
96 GB
64 GB
64 GB
Thunderbolt 4 Ports
TBD
TBD
4
4
4
WiFi Capability
TBD
TBD
WiFi 6E
WiFi 6E
WiFi 6E
TDP
TBD
TBD
7W-45W
15-55W
15-55W
Launch
~2025
2H 2024
2H 2023
1H 2023
1H 2022
What This Means for Consumers and the Tech Industry
The coming years in the CPU industry are poised to be incredibly exciting with these impending releases. AMD and Intel, through their upcoming offerings, are not only striving to outshine each other but are also aiming to redefine what users can expect from laptop performance.
For consumers, this signifies not just an improvement in raw computing capabilities, but also potential enhancements in areas like gaming, content creation, and multitasking. As these processors adopt more advanced architectures, users can anticipate laptops that deliver more power, longer battery life, and superior performance across various applications and uses.
The pricing details for these future processors are still undisclosed, leaving tech enthusiasts and experts speculating about the cost versus performance ratio these chips will bring to the table. However, if history is any indication, both AMD and Intel will likely aim to balance premium performance with competitive pricing to capture the attention and wallets of consumers.
As more details unfold, it will be fascinating to see how the rivalry between AMD and Intel shapes the future of processor technology and, by extension, the devices that become integral to our digital lives.
