In recent months, Intel has faced a challenging issue with its high-end 13th and 14th-generation processors, which were experiencing frequent crashes. The company invested considerable time and effort in investigating the problem, eventually releasing a microcode update to fix it. After extensive work, it appears that Intel has fully resolved the issue, which is great news for users affected by the crashes.
In addition to this positive development, Intel has also announced the launch of its new Core Ultra processors for desktop computers. These processors, part of the Core Ultra 200S series, come with built-in AI capabilities, marking a significant step forward in integrating artificial intelligence in desktop computing. Below, we’ll dive into more details about these exciting new processors and what they bring.
Intel’s Core Ultra processors for PCs with AI are now official
Today, October 10, 2024, Intel officially unveiled its Core Ultra chips for desktop computers, which are part of the Core Ultra 200S series, according to Thurrott. These new processors are set to hit the market on October 24. Codenamed ‘Arrow Lake-S,’ these chips are designed to compete with Intel’s previously announced ‘Lunar Lake‘ processors for the Copilot+ PC.
A key feature of these Core Ultra 200S processors is their integration of NPUs (Neural Processing Units), making them Intel’s first desktop chips specifically designed to handle AI-related tasks. The NPU in these processors can perform up to 13 billion operations per second, enabling the smooth execution of AI-driven features in Windows 11 and offering strong performance in AI-focused applications.
These processors represent a significant step for AI enthusiasts, who can now harness AI capabilities directly on desktop computers. Additionally, they come with benefits such as enhanced energy efficiency, making them a compelling choice for users looking to explore AI while maintaining optimal performance.
Intel has made significant strides with its Core Ultra 200S series, focusing on energy efficiency without compromising performance. This balance between power and energy savings is a notable improvement that users will certainly appreciate.
The Core Ultra 200S lineup includes five different SKUs, each offering distinct performance specs. For instance, the Core Ultra 9 285K stands out with 24 cores, 24 threads, and a maximum clock speed of 5.7 GHz. These numbers translate to impressive performance gains, with up to 6% faster single-thread performance and a 14% improvement overall compared to the previous generation.
In addition to the Ultra 9, Intel has introduced two 20-core Core Ultra 7 chips and two 14-core models. What sets this new series apart is its remarkable energy efficiency—Intel claims these processors can consume up to 58% less power in everyday applications, a huge leap from earlier versions. This speed and energy savings combination makes the Core Ultra 200S series a game-changer for power users and those seeking energy-efficient performance.
