While Intel’s new Core Ultra Series 2 processors, codenamed Lunar Lake, have generated excitement for their efficiency and AI performance, the real star might be their integrated GPU. This new Xe2 graphics architecture, showcased at a pre-IFA 2024 event in Berlin, holds the potential to solidify Intel’s position as a leader in graphics for ultra-thin laptops.
The integrated GPU packs a punch with up to 8 cores, 64 vector engines, 8MB of cache, and DirectX 12 Ultimate support, all while leveraging LPDDR memory. It also boasts enhanced XeSS (Xe Super Sampling) performance and XMX (Xe Matrix Extensions) AI engines, boosting upscaling and raytracing capabilities. There are two variants: the 8-core Intel Arc 140V and the 7-core Intel Arc 130V, with varying clock speeds depending on the specific SKU.
Intel demonstrated the GPU’s prowess by testing a range of games at 1080p with medium graphics settings on the Core Ultra 9 288V (140V GPU). The results were impressive, showing a 31% performance improvement over the previous generation Core Ultra 7 155H. The performance surpassed Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 by 68% and even outperformed AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 by 16%. While AMD’s Strix Point holds its ground in certain titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Hogwarts Legacy, Intel’s integrated GPU dominates in most benchmarks, particularly against Qualcomm’s struggling Snapdragon X Elite.
What makes these results particularly noteworthy is that they were achieved without any super sampling enabled. Intel’s new integrated GPU can even run ray-traced games at acceptable frame rates. Considering these processors are designed for thin and light notebooks, not dedicated gaming rigs, the performance is remarkable.
Intel’s Xe2 GPU is set to power at least one gaming device, the upcoming MSI Claw 8 AI+ gaming handheld, which will utilize the Core Ultra 200V. Robert Hallock, VP and General Manager at Intel’s Client AI and Technical Marketing, confirmed this, although the specific SKU remains unconfirmed.
Beyond gaming, Intel showcased the efficiency and power of the Core Ultra Series 2 chips through demos at the launch event. One demo compared two Lunar Lake-powered laptops, one with a Core Ultra 9 288V and the other with a Core Ultra 7 258V, against laptops running Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite and AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. Both Intel-powered machines achieved 5-10% higher average frame rates while consuming similar or lower power compared to their competitors.
Another demo highlighted the impressive generational power efficiency improvement when running a 4K YouTube video using the AV1 codec. The Lunar Lake laptop consumed only half the power of the previous generation Meteor Lake model.
Overall, initial impressions of Intel’s Xe2-powered GPU and the new Core Ultra Series 2 processors are extremely positive. Intel has finally provided consumers with a thin and light notebook option that balances long battery life with the performance needed to run games smoothly. The Lunar Lake-powered notebooks are anticipated to hit the market soon, allowing for verification of these performance claims. Stay tuned for further updates as these devices become available.
