Intel
Intel Lunar Lake 15th Gen Mobile CPUs
Key Features of Intel Lunar Lake:
- Intel 18A Process Node:
- Lunar Lake will be one of the first CPUs to use Intel’s 18A (1.8nm) process node, which promises significant improvements in power efficiency and performance.
- Lion Cove P-Cores and Skymont E-Cores:
- New Lion Cove performance cores (P-cores) and Skymont efficiency cores (E-cores) for better single-threaded and multi-threaded performance.
- Battlemage GPU Architecture:
- Integrated GPU based on Intel’s next-gen Battlemage architecture, expected to deliver a significant boost in graphics performance.
- AI Focus:
- Enhanced NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for AI workloads, with up to 3x the AI performance of Meteor Lake.
- Low Power Consumption:
- Targeting ultra-low-power designs (TDP as low as 5-10W), making it ideal for fanless laptops and tablets.
Key Differences Between Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake:
| Feature | Meteor Lake (14th Gen) | Lunar Lake (15th Gen) |
|---|---|---|
| Process Node | Intel 4 (7nm) | Intel 18A (1.8nm) |
| CPU Architecture | Redwood Cove (P) / Crestmont (E) | Lion Cove (P) / Skymont (E) |
| GPU Architecture | Arc Xe-LPG | Battlemage |
| AI NPU | 1st Gen NPU | Enhanced NPU (3x AI performance) |
| TDP Range | 15W-28W (U/P-series) | 5W-15W (Ultra-low power) |
| Launch Date | Late 2023 | Late 2024 |
Expected Lunar Lake Lineup:
While Intel has not officially released the full lineup, Lunar Lake is expected to focus on ultra-low-power (U-series) and low-power (P-series) mobile CPUs for thin-and-light laptops and 2-in-1 devices. Here are some expected models:
U-Series (Ultra-Low Power):
- Core Ultra 7 166U:
- 12 cores (4P + 8E)
- Base clock: ~1.0 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.0 GHz
- Integrated Battlemage GPU with 8 Xe cores
- Core Ultra 5 164U:
- 10 cores (2P + 8E)
- Base clock: ~0.9 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 4.8 GHz
- Integrated Battlemage GPU with 6 Xe cores
P-Series (Low Power):
- Core Ultra 7 156P:
- 14 cores (6P + 8E)
- Base clock: ~1.5 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.2 GHz
- Integrated Battlemage GPU with 8 Xe cores
- Core Ultra 5 154P:
- 12 cores (4P + 8E)
- Base clock: ~1.4 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.0 GHz
- Integrated Battlemage GPU with 6 Xe cores
Expected Performance Benchmarks:
Here are some projections based on Intel’s claims and architectural improvements:
CPU Performance:
- Single-Core Performance:
- Up to 20-25% improvement over Meteor Lake (14th Gen) due to the Lion Cove P-cores and Intel 18A process.
- Multi-Core Performance:
- Up to 30-40% improvement over Meteor Lake, thanks to higher core counts and the Skymont E-cores.
GPU Performance:
- The integrated Battlemage GPU is expected to deliver 2-3x the performance of Meteor Lake’s Arc Xe-LPG GPU, making it competitive with mid-range discrete GPUs.
AI Performance:
- The enhanced NPU is expected to deliver 3x the AI performance of Meteor Lake, making Lunar Lake ideal for AI-driven tasks like real-time language translation, advanced video editing, and AI-enhanced productivity.
Energy Efficiency:
- Lunar Lake is designed for ultra-low-power devices, with TDPs ranging from 5W to 15W.
- Intel claims up to 30% better power efficiency compared to Meteor Lake, thanks to the Intel 18A process and architectural optimizations.
Comparison with Competitors:
- Apple M3/M4: Lunar Lake is expected to compete directly with Apple’s next-gen M-series chips in terms of performance and efficiency.
- AMD Ryzen 8000 Series: AMD’s next-gen mobile CPUs, based on the Zen 5 architecture, will be a key competitor in the ultra-low-power segment.
Key Features of Intel 14th Gen Mobile CPUs (Meteor Lake):
- Intel 4 Process Node:
- First Intel mobile CPUs to use the Intel 4 (7nm) process, offering improved power efficiency and performance.
- Chiplet Design:
- Uses a modular architecture with separate tiles for CPU, GPU, and I/O, similar to AMD’s Ryzen processors.
- Intel Arc Graphics:
- Integrated Intel Arc Xe-LPG GPU with up to 8 Xe cores, offering significant improvements in graphics performance.
- AI Acceleration:
- Includes a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) for AI workloads, making it ideal for tasks like AI-enhanced video conferencing and content creation.
- Improved Efficiency:
- Focus on better power efficiency, making these CPUs ideal for thin-and-light laptops and ultrabooks.
Intel 14th Gen Mobile CPU Lineup
Intel has divided the 14th Gen mobile CPUs into three main series:
- H-series: High-performance CPUs for gaming and content creation laptops (TDP: 45W+).
- P-series: Balanced performance for thin-and-light laptops (TDP: 28W).
- U-series: Ultra-low-power CPUs for ultrabooks and fanless designs (TDP: 15W).
- V-series: Category for ultra-low-power devices (TDP: ~9W).
H-Series (High Performance):
- Core i9-14900HX:
- 24 cores (8P + 16E)
- Base clock: 2.2 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.8 GHz
- Integrated Arc GPU with 8 Xe cores
- Core i7-14700HX:
- 20 cores (8P + 12E)
- Base clock: 2.1 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.5 GHz
- Integrated Arc GPU with 8 Xe cores
- Core i5-14600HX:
- 14 cores (6P + 8E)
- Base clock: 2.0 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.2 GHz
- Integrated Arc GPU with 8 Xe cores
P-Series (Balanced Performance):
- Core i7-1470P:
- 14 cores (6P + 8E)
- Base clock: 1.8 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.3 GHz
- Integrated Arc GPU with 8 Xe cores
- Core i5-1460P:
- 12 cores (4P + 8E)
- Base clock: 1.7 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.0 GHz
- Integrated Arc GPU with 8 Xe cores
U-Series (Ultra-Low Power):
- Core i7-1460U:
- 10 cores (2P + 8E)
- Base clock: 1.2 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 5.0 GHz
- Integrated Arc GPU with 4 Xe cores
- Core i5-1440U:
- 10 cores (2P + 8E)
- Base clock: 1.1 GHz, Boost clock: Up to 4.8 GHz
- Integrated Arc GPU with 4 Xe cores
V-Series (Ultra-Low-Power)
- Core Ultra 7 258V:
- Cores/Threads: 12 cores (4P + 8E) / 16 threads.
- Base Clock: ~1.1 GHz, Boost Clock: Up to 5.0 GHz.
- Integrated GPU: Intel Arc Xe-LPG with 4 Xe cores.
- TDP: 9W (configurable down to 5W).
- Core Ultra 5 238V:
- Cores/Threads: 10 cores (2P + 8E) / 12 threads.
- Base Clock: ~1.0 GHz, Boost Clock: Up to 4.8 GHz.
- Integrated GPU: Intel Arc Xe-LPG with 4 Xe cores.
- TDP: 9W (configurable down to 5W).
Comparison with U-Series / V-Series:
| Feature | U-Series (15W) | V-Series (9W) |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 15W | 9W (configurable down to 5W) |
| Target Devices | Ultrabooks, thin-and-light laptops | Fanless laptops, tablets, hybrid devices |
| Performance | Balanced performance for everyday tasks | Optimized for lightweight tasks and efficiency |
| GPU Cores | 8 Xe cores (higher-end models) | 4 Xe cores |
Performance Benchmarks (Early Estimates):
- Single-Core Performance:
- Up to 15-20% improvement over 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) due to the Intel 4 process and architectural enhancements.
- Multi-Core Performance:
- Up to 30% improvement in multi-threaded workloads, thanks to the chiplet design and higher core counts.
- GPU Performance:
- The integrated Arc GPU offers 2x the performance of Intel’s previous Iris Xe graphics, making it competitive with entry-level discrete GPUs like the NVIDIA MX series.
Energy Efficiency:
- Intel claims up to 20% better power efficiency compared to 13th Gen CPUs, thanks to the Intel 4 process and the new chiplet design.
- TDP Ranges:
- H-series: 45W+ (configurable up to 55W or higher for gaming laptops).
- P-series: 28W (ideal for thin-and-light laptops).
- U-series: 15W (designed for ultrabooks and fanless devices).
AI and NPU Performance:
- The dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit) accelerates AI workloads, such as:
- AI-enhanced video conferencing (e.g., background blur, noise reduction).
- Content creation (e.g., AI-based photo and video editing).
- Local AI inference tasks (e.g., voice assistants, real-time translation).
Intel’s mobile CPUs are part of their Core and Pentium/Celeron families, designed for laptops and 2-in-1 devices.
Intel Core Processors (Latest Generations):
- Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 (13th Gen Raptor Lake):
- Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 (12th Gen Alder Lake):
- Core i3-1215U
- Core i5-1235U
- Core i7-1255U
- Core i9-12900HK
- Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 (11th Gen Tiger Lake):
- Core i3-1115G4
- Core i5-1135G7
- Core i7-1165G7
- Core i7-1185G7
Intel Pentium/Celeron (Budget Mobile CPUs):
- Pentium Gold 7505
- Celeron 6305
AMD Mobile CPUs
AMD’s mobile CPUs are part of their Ryzen and Athlon families, designed for laptops and ultraportable devices.
AMD Ryzen Mobile Processors (Latest Generations):
- Ryzen 7000 Series (Zen 4):
- Ryzen 5 7640U
- Ryzen 7 7840U
- Ryzen 9 7940HS
- Ryzen 6000 Series (Zen 3+):
- Ryzen 5 6600U
- Ryzen 7 6800U
- Ryzen 9 6980HX
- Ryzen 5000 Series (Zen 3):
- Ryzen 5 5600U
- Ryzen 7 5800U
- Ryzen 9 5900HX
AMD Athlon Mobile Processors (Budget CPUs):
- Athlon Gold 7220U
- Athlon Silver 7120U
ARM-Based Mobile CPUs
ARM designs CPU cores (e.g., Cortex-A78, Cortex-X2) that are licensed to companies like Qualcomm, Apple, Samsung, and MediaTek. These companies then integrate ARM cores into their own SoCs.
Qualcomm Snapdragon (Mobile SoCs):
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (Flagship, 2023):
- Cortex-X3, Cortex-A715, Cortex-A510 cores
- Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 (Mid-range, 2023):
- Cortex-X2, Cortex-A710, Cortex-A510 cores
- Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 (Budget, 2022):
- Cortex-A78, Cortex-A55 cores
Apple Silicon (ARM-Based SoCs):
- Apple M2 (2022):
- 8-core CPU (4x high-performance + 4x high-efficiency)
- Apple M1 (2020):
- 8-core CPU (4x high-performance + 4x high-efficiency)
- Apple A16 Bionic (iPhone 14 Pro, 2022):
- 6-core CPU (2x high-performance + 4x high-efficiency)
- Apple A15 Bionic (iPhone 13, 2021):
- 6-core CPU (2x high-performance + 4x high-efficiency)
Samsung Exynos (ARM-Based SoCs):
- Exynos 2200 (2022):
- Cortex-X2, Cortex-A710, Cortex-A510 cores
- Exynos 2100 (2021):
- Cortex-X1, Cortex-A78, Cortex-A55 cores
MediaTek Dimensity (ARM-Based SoCs):
- Dimensity 9200 (2022):
- Cortex-X3, Cortex-A715, Cortex-A510 cores
- Dimensity 8100 (2022):
- Cortex-A78, Cortex-A55 cores
Google Tensor (ARM-Based SoCs):
- Tensor G2 (Pixel 7, 2022):
- Custom ARM cores (2x Cortex-X1, 2x Cortex-A78, 4x Cortex-A55)
- Tensor G1 (Pixel 6, 2021):
- Custom ARM cores (2x Cortex-X1, 2x Cortex-A76, 4x Cortex-A55)
ARM Cortex CPU Cores (Used in Mobile SoCs):
- High-Performance Cores:
- Cortex-X3, Cortex-X2, Cortex-X1
- Cortex-A78, Cortex-A77, Cortex-A76
- High-Efficiency Cores:
- Cortex-A55, Cortex-A53
Intel Mobile CPUs Benchmarks
Intel’s mobile CPUs are known for their strong single-threaded performance and are widely used in laptops.
Performance Benchmarks:
- Intel Core i9-13900H (13th Gen):
- Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core): ~20,000 points
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~2,000 points
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~15,000 points
- Intel Core i7-1165G7 (11th Gen):
- Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core): ~6,500 points
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,500 points
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~5,500 points
Energy Consumption:
- Intel’s U-series (e.g., i7-1165G7) typically has a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 15-28W.
- Intel’s H-series (e.g., i9-13900H) has a TDP of 45W (can go higher with Turbo Boost).
AMD Mobile CPUs Benchmarks
AMD’s Ryzen mobile CPUs are known for their excellent multi-threaded performance and energy efficiency.
Performance Benchmarks:
- Ryzen 9 7940HS (Zen 4):
- Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core): ~18,000 points
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,800 points
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~12,000 points
- Ryzen 7 6800U (Zen 3+):
- Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core): ~10,000 points
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,500 points
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~7,500 points
Energy Consumption:
- AMD’s U-series (e.g., Ryzen 7 6800U) typically has a TDP of 15-28W.
- AMD’s HS-series (e.g., Ryzen 9 7940HS) has a TDP of 35W (can go higher with boost).
ARM-Based Mobile CPUs Benchmarks
ARM-based CPUs are designed for smartphones, tablets, and some laptops (e.g., Apple M-series). They are highly energy-efficient and optimized for low-power devices.
Performance Benchmarks:
- Apple M2:
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,900 points
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~9,000 points
- Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core): ~8,500 points
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2:
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,500 points
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~5,000 points
- Samsung Exynos 2200:
- Geekbench 5 (Single-Core): ~1,200 points
- Geekbench 5 (Multi-Core): ~4,000 points
Energy Consumption:
- ARM-based CPUs are extremely power-efficient, with typical power consumption ranging from 3W to 10W under load.
- Apple’s M2, for example, has a TDP of around 15W in fanless designs (e.g., MacBook Air) and up to 20-25W in actively cooled designs (e.g., MacBook Pro).
Comparison of Energy Efficiency
- ARM-based CPUs (e.g., Apple M2, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) are the most energy-efficient, making them ideal for smartphones and thin laptops.
- AMD Ryzen CPUs (e.g., Ryzen 7 6800U) are more efficient than Intel’s counterparts in multi-threaded workloads, making them great for ultrabooks and gaming laptops.
- Intel Core CPUs (e.g., i9-13900H) excel in single-threaded performance and are often used in high-performance laptops, but they consume more power under load.
Real-World Performance and Battery Life
- Apple M2 (MacBook Air): Up to 18 hours of battery life for light tasks.
- AMD Ryzen 7 6800U (Ultrabook): Up to 12-14 hours of battery life for light tasks.
- Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Ultrabook): Up to 10-12 hours of battery life for light tasks.
