It looks like Intel is taking the fight to AMD

Intel has officially launched 11 new, highly integrated 10th Gen Intel Core processors designed for remarkably sleek 2 in 1s and laptops. The processors bring high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) to the PC at scale, feature new Intel Iris Plus graphics for stunning entertainment and enable the best connectivity with Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) and Thunderbolt 3.  

“These 10th Gen Intel Core processors shift the paradigm for what it means to deliver leadership in mobile PC platforms. With broad-scale AI for the first time on PCs, an all-new graphics architecture, best-in-class Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) and Thunderbolt 3 – all integrated onto the SoC, thanks to Intel’s 10nm process technology and architecture design – we’re opening the door to an entirely new range of experiences and innovations for the laptop.”

Chris Walker, Intel corporate vice president and general manager of Mobility Client Platforms in the Client Computing Group

Intelligent Performance

10th Gen Intel Core processors are the first purpose-built processors for AI on thin-and-light laptops and 2 in 1s. They deliver the intelligent performance needed for modern AI-infused applications, with a suite of features and capabilities:

• Intel Deep Learning Boost, a new, dedicated instruction set that accelerates neural networks on the CPU for maximum responsiveness in scenarios such as automatic image enhancements, photo indexing and photorealistic effects.
• Up to 1 teraflop of GPU engine compute for sustained, high-throughput inference applications like video stylization, analytics and real-time video resolution upscaling.
• Intel® Gaussian & Neural Accelerator (GNA) delivers a dedicated engine for background workloads such as voice processing and noise suppression at ultra-low power, for maximum battery life.

All-New Graphics for Stunning Entertainment

With double the graphics performance[ii], 10th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel® Iris Plus graphics make a reality gaming in 1080p and higher-level content creation, like 4K video editing, quick application of video filters and high-resolution photo processing on the go. Plus:

• These are the first GPUs from Intel to support VESA’s Adaptive Sync display standard, which enables a smoother gaming experience across games like Dirt Rally 2.0 and Fortnite.
• Based on Intel’s Gen11 graphics architecture, they are also the industry’s first integrated GPU to incorporate variable rate shading for improved rendering performance.
• With support for the BT.2020* specification, watch 4K HDR video in a billion colors.

Best Connectivity

Increased board integration[iii] helps PC manufacturers innovate on form factor for sleeker designs with Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) connectivity and up to four Thunderbolt 3 ports—the fastest and most versatile USB-C connector available[iv].

Intel is also introducing a new processor number naming structure starting with this first set of 10th Gen Intel Core processors. If you’re interested in learning more about it, you can read more about it here.

The announcement of Ice Lake is just the beginning. Intel is set to announce a new, higher frequency core chip towards the end of August as well. It will apparently deliver increased productivity and performance scaling for demanding, multithreaded workloads. Expect to hear more details this month.