Tag: Intel

  • Ryzen AI 7 350 ‘Krackan Point’ Outperforms Ryzen 7 & Core Ultra

    Ryzen AI 7 350 ‘Krackan Point’ Outperforms Ryzen 7 & Core Ultra

    CES 2025 is gearing up to be an exciting showdown for high-performance laptop chips, with both AMD and Intel ready to introduce new premium mobile processors. Intel is anticipated to reveal its Arrow Lake-H/X series, while AMD is set to unveil its highly awaited Strix Halo products. Interestingly, there’s buzz about AMD launching a new 8-core APU called Krackan Point, which has recently appeared on Geekbench.

    Details About the New APU

    The 8-core APU, probably branded as the Ryzen AI 350, features four Zen 5 cores and four Zen 5c cores, boasting a maximum clock speed of 5.05 GHz, as shown in a recent Geekbench report shared by our friends at Videocardz. It was evaluated in an Acer Swift laptop, achieving single-core and multi-core scores of 2,677 and 11,742, respectively. This puts the APU ahead of the Ryzen 7 8845HS and the Core Ultra 7 256V ‘Lunar Lake’ chips, though Apple’s entry-level M4 MacBook Pro still leads the pack.

    What’s Next for Krackan Point?

    At this time, specifics about the forthcoming Krackan Point APU remain unclear. However, we suspect that it will likely feature Strix Point‘s XDNA 2 NPU along with a Radeon 860M integrated GPU. The Strix Halo products are expected to carry the Ryzen AI Max label and will likely have a robust iGPU capable of competing with the RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. Intel’s Arrow Lake-HX lineup will also make its appearance, but who will emerge as the champion in this x86 battle is still uncertain.

    Source: Link


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  • TSMC Founder: Intel Should Focus on AI, Not Foundry Business

    TSMC Founder: Intel Should Focus on AI, Not Foundry Business

    Morris Chang, the founder of TSMC, recently critiqued Intel’s approach. He stated that the company should have placed greater emphasis on AI development instead of attempting to pivot into a contract chip manufacturing role. These remarks were made at the launch of his autobiography on Monday.

    Intel’s Leadership Changes

    This statement follows the resignation of Intel’s CEO, Pat Gelsinger. The board was dissatisfied with the progress of Gelsinger’s bold turnaround strategy, which was failing to deliver results. During Gelsinger’s tenure, Intel aimed to regain its status as the leading manufacturer of chips for external clients, a title currently held by TSMC.

    Chang’s Critique

    "Compared to AI, he appeared to concentrate more on becoming a foundry. Obviously, it now looks like Gelsinger should have prioritized AI instead," Chang remarked, taking a shot at Intel’s strategic direction. He also pointed out that Intel lacks both a definitive strategy and a CEO, labeling it a challenging scenario.

    Chang’s comments resonate strongly, particularly in light of Intel’s recent difficulties with AI. The company disclosed that it will not meet its $500 million sales goal for its Gaudi 3 AI accelerators this year, citing software challenges—another indication that the commitment to AI may have been insufficient.

    Insights from Chang’s Autobiography

    Chang’s autobiography, which chronicles his journey from 1964 to 2018, also sheds light on Intel’s historical choices. For instance, he discusses how Intel declined the opportunity to invest in TSMC during the 1980s, only to later become one of its major customers. The book further explores TSMC’s partnerships with firms like Apple and Qualcomm.

    Source: Link

  • Intel Arc B580 GPU Beats RX 7600 XT and Arc A580 in Benchmarks

    Intel Arc B580 GPU Beats RX 7600 XT and Arc A580 in Benchmarks

    After a long wait filled with rumors, Intel has finally launched its next-generation Arc Battlemage GPUs, namely the Arc B580 and Arc B570, just last week. The more robust Arc B580 will be available for purchase starting December 13, with a price tag of only $249. Meanwhile, the Arc B570 is expected to be released sometime in 2025.

    Affordable Choice for Gamers

    At just $249, the Arc B580 is likely to attract gamers who are budget-conscious, as Intel asserts that this GPU outperforms the previous Arc A750 and the RTX 4060. In addition, the Arc B580 comes with 12 GB of RAM, which is becoming increasingly important for gamers since 8 GB VRAM is no longer sufficient for demanding AAA games.

    Performance Claims Under Scrutiny

    Even though Intel’s performance claims for the Arc B580 seem promising, we cannot fully trust what the company says. Luckily, as we approach the release date for the Arc B580, we can expect to see benchmark results that will showcase the GPU’s performance. A recent leak has given us a preliminary insight into the synthetic performance of the Arc B580.

    The Intel Arc B580 achieved OpenCL and Vulkan scores of 98,343 and 103,445, respectively. According to Geekbench’s database, these scores indicate that the Intel Arc B580 is approximately 9% faster than the Arc A580 in OpenCL tests and a significant 30% faster in Vulkan tests.

    Competing Well Against Rivals

    The benchmarks for the Arc B580 also show competitive results against the RX 7600 and RX 7600 XT (which can be found on Amazon). In the OpenCL benchmark, the Arc B580 is 20% faster than the RX 7600 and 17% quicker than the RX 7600 XT. In Vulkan benchmarks, the Arc Battlemage GPU leads by about 18.5% against the RX 7600 XT and 14% against the RX 7600.

    In conclusion, the Arc B580 is slightly behind the RTX 4060 in OpenCL performance by about 3%. However, it appears to be 6.5% faster than the RTX 4060 in the Vulkan benchmark.

    All things considered, the Intel Arc B580 looks to be a significant improvement over the Arc A580. But remember, synthetic benchmarks don’t provide the entire picture. We will need to wait for the retail samples of the Arc B580 to be reviewed, with those reviews expected to arrive this week.

    Source: Link


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  • Intel Secures $7.9 Billion Grant for Semiconductor Projects

    Under the 2022 U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, the Department of Commerce has given Intel $7.86 billion for its semiconductor manufacturing projects. This funding is aimed at supporting advanced packaging efforts at various Intel locations including Arizona, New Mexico, Ohio, and Oregon. This is the largest direct funding amount ever provided by the U.S. government to a single company, following a preliminary agreement made in March 2024.

    Intel’s Commitment to Semiconductor Production

    This funding is part of Intel’s dedication to reinstating America’s role as a leader in semiconductor manufacturing. This initiative is projected to create tens of thousands of jobs while boosting national security. Intel expects that through the CHIPS Act, it will generate over 10,000 direct jobs, almost 20,000 construction positions, and more than 50,000 indirect jobs in related sectors.

    CEO Highlights Economic Growth

    Pat Gelsinger, the CEO of Intel, underlined the importance of this funding, stating, “With Intel 3 already in high-volume production and Intel 18A set to follow next year, leading-edge semiconductors are once again being made on American soil.” He pointed out that these investments will not only foster economic growth but also strengthen national security by increasing the production of chips within the country.

    Additional Financial Support

    Along with the grant, Intel will also gain from a 25% investment tax credit, which will aid the company’s plans to invest over $100 billion in semiconductor manufacturing and research and development within the U.S. in the coming years.invest over $100 billion

    Intel is also engaged in various projects, including the Secure Enclave program, which has been awarded a separate $3 billion contract. These initiatives are designed to address the rising demand for secure and trusted semiconductor manufacturing. The company’s advancements in new technologies, like the Intel 3 and Intel 18A process nodes, further solidify Intel’s position as a leader in the semiconductor market.

    Source: Link,Link

  • Intel Core Ultra 7 255H: Boosts Performance Over Meteor Lake

    Intel Core Ultra 7 255H: Boosts Performance Over Meteor Lake

    Yesterday, the Core Ultra 5 225H was spotted on Geekbench. It showed a good performance improvement compared to its Meteor Lake-based version, the Core Ultra 5 125H. However, it fell short when matched against AMD’s Strix Point lineup. Now, the stronger version, the Core Ultra 7 255H, has appeared on the same benchmarking site.

    Specifications and Performance

    Looking at the specs, the Core Ultra 7 255H features 6 Lion Cove P-cores and 10 Crestmont E-cores. According to Geekbench, this CPU can reach a boost of up to 5.1 GHz. Nevertheless, it seems to struggle to maintain that speed. This behavior was also noted previously with the Core Ultra 9 285H, suggesting that Intel might need to resolve some issues with the Arrow Lake-H series.

    Benchmarking Insights

    In the single-core test on Geekbench, the Core Ultra 7 255H achieved a score of 2,754 points. This makes it 14% quicker than the Core Ultra 7 155H and nearly as fast as the Lunar Lake-based Core Ultra 7 258V. Likewise, the Core Ultra 5 255H goes head-to-head with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 365, which scored 2,797 points in the same test.

    Multi-Core Results

    For multi-core performance, the Core Ultra 7 255H garnered 15,040 points. This result is 22% higher than the Core Ultra 7 155H and 12% faster than the Ryzen AI 9 365. These results are impressive, especially considering the absence of hyperthreading. We can expect to see this CPU in action, along with its Arrow Lake-HX and Arrow Lake-U versions, at CES 2025.


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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.

  • AMD Achieves 28.7% Share of Desktop CPU Market

    AMD Achieves 28.7% Share of Desktop CPU Market

    AMD has recently achieved its largest quarterly increase in desktop CPU market share since 2016, capturing 28.7 percent of the market in Q3 2024, as reported by Mercury Research. This marks a notable increase of 5.7 percent from the previous quarter and a 9.6 percent rise compared to the same time last year.

    Desktop Revenue Growth

    The chip manufacturer also saw its portion of desktop revenue rise to 27.3 percent, which is 7.7 percent higher than the previous year. This growth indicates strong demand for their premium processors, particularly the 3D V-Cache models and the newly launched Ryzen 9000 series.

    Mobile Market Gains

    In the mobile CPU sector, AMD captured 22.3 percent of the market, up from 20.3 percent in Q2 2024. Their revenue share in this area also improved, reaching 19.2 percent, a rise from 17.7 percent in the last quarter. Much of this success can be attributed to their Ryzen AI 300-series APUs.

    Server Market Success

    The server market brought further positive news, with AMD’s share reaching 24.2 percent in Q3 2024, an increase from 23.3 percent year-over-year. Even more noteworthy, their server revenue share climbed to 33.9 percent, up from 31.2 percent in Q3 2023. For the first time, AMD’s data center business surpassed Intel’s data center and AI division, generating $3.549 billion, compared to Intel’s $3.3 billion.

    Despite this progress, Intel continues to dominate, holding 71.3 percent of the desktop market and 77.7 percent of the mobile segment. Mercury Research noted that Intel attributed its decline in desktop market share to some adjustments in inventory at a client’s location, suggesting a potential recovery in Q4 2024.

  • Intel’s €10B German Chip Plant Delayed to 2029 Amid Funding Changes

    Intel’s €10B German Chip Plant Delayed to 2029 Amid Funding Changes

    The future of Intel’s semiconductor factory in Magdeburg, Germany, is becoming uncertain as government leaders think about changing the €10 billion subsidy meant for it. This situation arose after Intel announced the delay of construction until 2029-2030, which has led to talks about possibly moving the funds from the Climate and Transformation Fund.

    Financial Moves in Question

    Finance Minister Christian Lindner is advocating for redirecting those subsidies, including the initial €3.96 billion planned for 2024, back into the federal budget. This approach is not favored by Economic Affairs Minister Robert Habeck, whose department manages the fund and aims to maintain its emphasis on fostering economic development and supporting environmental initiatives.

    Uncertain Future for Intel

    Alexander Schiersch, from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), notes that Intel’s current financial issues make it about a 50/50 chance that they will proceed with the Magdeburg project at all. This ambiguity raises worries regarding Germany’s broader ambitions for its semiconductor industry and the local development strategies being implemented.

    Potential Consequences of Delays

    Delays like this can create many complications. If Intel decides to proceed, they would need to negotiate a new subsidy agreement. However, if the project is canceled, the specially prepared site might be difficult to repurpose, complicating local development efforts.

    In addition to these challenges, the changing global economy adds more complexity to the situation, affecting both Intel and German officials. Intel’s decision to reduce its foundry activities only increases the uncertainty surrounding the future of the facility.

    (Source: TomsHardware in English via HardwareLUXX in German)

  • Lenovo Product Manager Hints at Early 2026 Panther Lake-H Release

    Lenovo Product Manager Hints at Early 2026 Panther Lake-H Release

    We recently got to see Intel’s new Arrow Lake-H CPU, the Core Ultra 9 285H, on Geekbench for the first time. This CPU is expected to be launched at CES 2025, along with the Arrow Lake-HX and upgraded Raptor Lake CPUs. Additionally, the next generation, Panther Lake (Core Ultra 300), is rumored to debut around the same timeframe next year.

    Insights from Lenovo

    This information was shared by a Lenovo product manager through ITHome, with a mention of @harukaze5719 on X. On the other hand, the user @SquashBionic, who has a good track record of leaking Intel-related information, suggests that Panther Lake might see an earlier paper launch within the year. This seems possible, and Intel might introduce Panther Lake close to the launch date of Lunar Lake.

    CEO’s Promises

    SquashBionic’s comments align with what Intel’s CEO Pat Gelsinger has stated about a Panther Lake launch in 2025. Given that a Panther Lake chip has been powered on already, we shouldn’t expect mass production and an official launch to be very far off. Alternatively, Intel might reveal some of the Panther Lake series in 2025 and unveil the remaining models in 2026. Currently, at least five Panther Lake SKUs are known, with the highest-spec version limited to 45 Watts.

    Memory Restrictions

    According to the ITHome report, Panther Lake will not feature on-package memory like Lunar Lake does. However, there is a specific case that isn’t part of Panther Lake-U, which means at least one CPU from the Panther Lake lineup will come with non-upgradable RAM. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also echoed this in a recent Medium article, noting that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) weren’t too happy about the memory limitations and that Intel had limited influence over DRAM pricing.

  • Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Launches: 16-Core CPU and Throttling Issues

    Intel Core Ultra 9 285H Launches: 16-Core CPU and Throttling Issues

    A recent leak had indicated that Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake-H processors would feature a combination of three distinct CPU core designs: Lion Cove (P-core), Skymont (E-core), and Crestmont (LP E-core). However, new information from a Geekbench listing for the Core Ultra 9 285H suggests a different outcome. Intel is set to unveil Arrow Lake-H, Arrow Lake-HX, and an additional Raptor Lake refresh during CES 2025.

    Performance Metrics

    The top-tier Arrow Lake-H CPU appeared on Geekbench, achieving scores of 2,665 in single-core and 15,330 in multi-core tests. It was tested in conjunction with a Dell laptop equipped with 64 GB of DDR5-6400 memory, hinting that it might be targeted towards workstation users. The Core Ultra 9 285H features a total of 16 CPU cores arranged in a 6+10 setup, with the P-core boost clock advertised at 5.4 GHz. Nevertheless, it appears that the CPU is experiencing significant throttling, failing to reach the promised boost clock speeds.

    Comparison with Competitors

    Due to this throttling issue, the Core Ultra 9 285H is only 6% faster than the Meteor Lake-based Core Ultra 9 185H (which scored 2,506 in single-core and 13,972 in multi-core tests) and 9% faster in multi-core performance. It falls short when compared to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, which managed to score 2,857 and 15,221 points in the same benchmarks. Curiously, even the Lunar Lake-based Core Ultra 9 288V outperforms it in single-core tasks.

    Future Expectations

    While it’s expected that performance will likely improve by the time of launch, the Core Ultra 9 285H does not seem to offer a substantial upgrade over Meteor Lake. It is hoped that there will be a notable enhancement in power efficiency, which Intel has been focusing on since the launch of Lunar Lake earlier this year.


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