Tag: Power Consumption

  • MSI Raider 16 Max HX: Intel Arrow Lake Remains a Powerhouse

    Key Takeaway

    – Arrow Lake Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus outperforms Ryzen 9 9955HX3D and previous Intel CPUs by a few percentage points.
    – Power consumption is significantly higher, reaching up to 276W under load vs. 93W for a comparable Panther Lake system.
    – Performance-per-watt is poor, with 2x to 3x higher power draw for roughly 2x the performance.
    – The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is essentially an overclocked Core Ultra 9 285HX with identical cores and cache.

    A New Champion in Raw Performance

    Panther Lake may be Intel’s newest lineup of CPUs, but there’s still a lot of life left for the last generation Arrow Lake platform. The MSI Raider 16 Max HX is now shipping complete with the Arrow Lake Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus CPU instead of Panther Lake or AMD Zen 5 and the performance results are quite impressive. This chip realy packs a punch for those who need maximum compute grunt, even if it uses a older architecture.

    Benchmark Results and Comparisons

    As shown by the comparison graphs below, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus edges out the competing Ryzen 9 9955HX3D by just a few percentage points to be the new top dog in our raw performance charts. It ever-so-slightly outperforms both the Core Ultra 9 285HX in the much more expensive Titan 18 HX AI as well and the Dell Alienware 16X Aurora which ships with similar Arrow Lake processor options. This is a impressive showing for a chip that is not even the newest generation from Intel.

    Power Draw: The Main Trade-Off

    The main drawback as one might expect is the higher power requirement. Running Prime95 on the Raider 16 HX would consume as much as 276 W compared to only 93 W on the Razer Blade 16 with the slower but more efficient Panther Lake Core Ultra 9 386H. Thus, while the CPU may be 2x faster, expect consumption to be 2x to 3x greater as well for generally poorer performance-per-watt. After all, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus is arguably just an overclocked Core Ultra 9 285HX with an identical number of cores and cache sizes between them. You get the speed, but you pay for it in battery life and heat.

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    • Intel Nova Lake Leak Shows Multiple Chips with Large Cache Sizes

      Intel Nova Lake Leak Shows Multiple Chips with Large Cache Sizes

      Key Takeaway

      1. Intel’s Nova Lake desktop chips will feature significant cache sizes, some surpassing AMD’s Ryzen X3D models, with multiple SKUs ranging from 22-core to 52-core configurations.
      2. Several Nova Lake chips will include a big last-level cache (bLLC), positioning them as direct competitors to AMD’s Ryzen X3D lineup.
      3. The lineup includes new processor prefixes (e.g., Core Ultra DX9, DX7, D9, D7) with varying core counts and power ratings, which may cause confusion among buyers.
      4. There is conflicting information regarding the power consumption (TDP) of the Core Ultra SKUs, with estimates ranging from 125W to 175W, pending further clarification.

      Recently, a leak hints that intel could be releasing at least 12 nova lake desktop CPUs. Among these, three are supposed to come with a big last-level cache, called bLLC, making them direct competitors against AMD’s Ryzen X3D series. A known source of intel leaks, Jaykihn, explains exactly how much cache these chips will have, even for those without the bLLC feature. Interestingly, some of these processors will beat the newly announced Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition, particularly in cache size. It will be fascinating to see if this extra cache will give them a gaming performance edge.

      Different Models and Naming Conventions

      According to Jaykihn, the flagship with 52 cores will be branded as Core Ultra DX9 4xx. Meanwhile, a 44-core version will carry the name Core Ultra DX7 4xx. Simpler models like the 28-core and 24-core will be called Core Ultra D9 4xx and Core Ultra D7 4xx. The lowest-tier 22-core model will simply be called Core Ultra 4xx with no special prefixes. This creates a lineup with three Core Ultra 9 SKUs that feature bLLC and two Core Ultra 7 SKUs, all with different core counts. For first timers, this might be confusing because, apart from D, the letters ‘K’, ‘F’, and ‘KF’ are now all part of Intel’s CPU naming language. It’s a bit tricky to keep track of what each letter means, especially with new additions like D.

      Power Consumption and Performance Specs

      However, there’s some conflicting info about how much power these chips will use. One leak from Videocardz mentions that the Core Ultra DX9 and DX7 models will draw about 175 Watts. But Jaykihn’s table suggests they might start at just 125 Watts. The top-tier Core Ultra 5 SKU is said to have a TDP of 125 Watts, while a non-DX Core Ultra X9 with bLLC is limited to 65 Watts. Because these are still early leaks, more details should be available as Nova Lake’s release date gets closer. Until then, it remains to be seen how these power figures will affect real-world performance and efficiency.

      Final Thoughts

      Overall, intel’s upcoming nova lake lineup is shaping up to be impressive with its diverse models and cache configurations. The variation in core counts and power ratings indicates they are aiming to cover a broad market segment. Whether the extra cache will truly excel in gaming or other tasks remains to be tested once the processors are officially released. Fans and tech enthusiasts will definitely want to keep an eye out for more updates in the coming weeks.

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    • Intel Nova Lake PL2 Power Limit Leaks for Core Ultra 400 CPUs

      Intel Nova Lake PL2 Power Limit Leaks for Core Ultra 400 CPUs

      Key Takeaways

      1. The Intel Nova Lake desktop CPU can draw over 700 W at full load, featuring 52 cores, which is significant for its market segment.
      2. The PL2 power limit for Nova Lake CPUs is expected to be higher than 400 W, particularly for models with dual compute tiles.
      3. Nova Lake CPUs will have a higher core count compared to Arrow Lake, increasing energy demands, making a 400+ W PL2 reasonable.
      4. High power limits do not align with average user needs for energy-efficient CPUs, as seen with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Core Ultra 9 285K.
      5. If Intel can maintain acceptable power limits for mainstream Nova Lake-S Core Ultra 5 CPUs while ensuring performance, concerns over high PL2 for 48/52-core models may lessen.

      We recently shared that the leading Intel Nova Lake desktop CPU, featuring 52 cores, can draw over 700 W when fully loaded. This number is truly astonishing, especially since Nova Lake is not aimed specifically at the high-end desktop (HEDT) market. We also pointed out that the PL2 power limit for the Nova Lake Core Ultra 400 CPUs will be lower but still noteworthy.

      Power Limit Insights

      Kopite7kimi suggests that even a PL2 of 400 W is merely a “conservative lower limit,” as Nova Lake CPUs equipped with dual compute tiles will need more than 400 W at full capacity. This represents a significant increase compared to the Core Ultra 9 285K.

      Intel’s official specifications indicate that the Core Ultra 9 285K has a PL2 of 250 W. Clearly, the CPU can draw much higher power under extreme conditions, as we’ve demonstrated in our assessments. Essentially, the Intel Nova Lake desktop CPUs will have a PL2 exceeding 60% compared to the 24-core flagship from Intel Arrow Lake.

      Core Count and Energy Needs

      It’s important to highlight that Nova Lake-S processors are set to have a substantial increase in core count over Arrow Lake. For instance, the top-tier Core Ultra 400 chip is anticipated to boast an impressive 52 cores. Naturally, powering this many cores simultaneously demands considerable energy, making the 400+ W PL2 reasonable.

      However, this high PL2 doesn’t align with the needs of the average user who seeks an energy-efficient CPU that performs adequately. Take the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as an example; it’s considered the top gaming CPU while also being one of the most power-efficient options available. The same can be said for the Core Ultra 9 285K. Even though the chip has seen a decline in gaming performance, it remains remarkably fast in multi-core applications, showing up to 64% more energy efficiency compared to the Core i9-14900K in multi-core tasks.

      Looking Ahead

      If Intel can guarantee that its mainstream Nova Lake-S Core Ultra 5 desktop CPUs, featuring 18, 24, and 28 cores, operate within acceptable power limits while delivering solid performance, the 400+ W PL2 for the 48/52-core models may not be a concern.

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