You could spend all day with Intel CES 2022 and not begin to scratch the surface of its remarkable transformation, range of processors and graphics tech.
Now, I pride myself on keeping up with tech, particularly Intel tech, as it powers most Windows PCs and laptops. But Intel’s 12th Generation laptop line-up is 28 plus different processors – let’s not even look at desktop Core S and T-series today.
The best way to start is to look at the laptop processor model number.
- Core i3, i5, i7 and i9 – assume this is akin to 4, 6, 8 and 12-cylinder engines
- Pentium – three-cylinder 5 core, 6 thread, 9-29W and 15-55W
- Celeron two-cylinder 5 core, 6 thread, 9-29W and 15-55W
- H-series – the most powerful for gamers and creators with 8-14 cores (a mix of performance and efficiency cores), 12-20 threads, 1.8-5GHz, and 45-115W TPD (like fuel consumption)
- P-series – performance 10-14 cores, 12-20 threads, 1.1-4.8GHz, 28-64W
- U-series – low power draw 15-55W, 6-10- cores, 8-12 thread, .9-4.8GHz
- U-series – lowest power draw 9-29W, 6-10 cores, 8 to 12 threads, .7-4.7Ghz
Each has an embedded graphic processor unit (GPU) which has Execution Units (EU) and Graphics frequency.
- H-series from 48-96EU and 1.2GHz to 1.45Ghz
- P-series from 64-96EU and 1.1GHz to 1.45Ghz
- U-series (55W) from 48-96EU and 1.1Ghz to 1.25Ghz
- U-series (29W) from 64-96EU and .85 to .95Ghz
- Pentium and Celeron 48EU and .8-1.10Ghz
Now there is an awful lot more to a processor
Intel has moved from monolithic wafers to a scalable platform that includes various chips mounted on a high-speed bus (highway). Not every brand and model will implement all features. These building blocks include (most figures are ‘up to’):
- Memory (LP4x, LP5 DDR4-4267 and DDR5-4800)
- Four Thunderbolt (TB) 4 channels 40Gbps (includes use as TB3, USB 3.1 and USB 4.0)
- Ten PCIe Gen 4 channels
- 12 PCIe Gen 3 channels
- Two SATA 3.0 channels
- Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+ 6GHz), Gigabit LAN, BT 5.x
- HDMI 2.0b and DP 1.4b
- Up to 10 USB 2.0 and 4 USB 3.0 channels
Got it? The most potent laptop processor is an i9-12900HK with 14 cores, 20 threads, .8-5Ghz, 96EU/1.45GHz and chews 115W maxed out. The least powerful is a Celeron 7300, 5 core, 6 threads, .7-1GHz, 48EU/.8Ghz and chews 29W maxed out.
Other Intel terms
You will see vPro Enterprise and Essentials – most i5, i7 and i9 have this, and it is for device and OS security and management. It is not so much of a consumer thing.
Intel is changing its chips to support multiple screen devices like foldable dual angle and journal styles.
It enhances its camera support to include higher megapixels and AI-based dynamic background noise cancellation.
New Wi-Fi 6E uses 2.4, 5GHz channels (as per Wi-Fi AC) and a new 6GHz channel (needs a 6E compatible router) described as the most significant advance in Wi-Fi ever. It will also prioritise traffic – voice, video, streaming, gaming and productivity.
Intel ARC takes on AMD and NVIDIA discrete graphics cards
Intel ARC offers similar power to high-end AMD Radeon and NVIDIA Ge-Force graphics cards. It features hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing, Xe Super Sampling (XeSS AI-driven upscaling) and Intel Deep Link (to the 12th gen processor). Most games studios will support XeSS.
Evo is the go for always-on, all day laptops
Intel Evo platform incorporates new specification technologies and key experience indicators (KEI), including intelligent collaboration.
More than 100 co-engineered designs with 12th Gen Intel Core mobile processors – including new foldable displays and, for the first time, H-series in addition to U- and P will start passing Intel Evo verification. Most will be available for purchase in H1, 2022.
12th Gen Intel Core Desktop Processor Family Additions and New Platform Options
Twenty-two new processors join the 12th Gen Intel Core desktop processor family and range from Intel Core i9 to Pentium and Celeron. These processors (base 65-watt and 35-watt) deliver scalable power and great performance for gaming, creation and productivity. Intel also introduced new Intel Laminar Coolers that accompany the new 65-watt processors.
Intel introduced the new Intel H670, H610 and B660 chipsets to support 12th gen processors. The new chipset options deliver many of the great Z-series platform capabilities, like PCIe 4.0 lanes, integrated Intel Wi-Fi 6E (Gig+) and Intel Volume Management Device (VMD), and support for memory and processor overclocking.
Cybershack Intel news and reviews
Intel CES 2022, Intel CES 2022
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