> Today at CES, Intel unveiled Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, the first AI PC platform built on Intel 18A process technology that was designed and manufactured in the United States. Powering over 200 designs from leading, global partners, Series 3 will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform Intel has ever delivered.
What in the world is this disaster of an opening paragraph? From the weird "AI PC platform" (not sure what that is) to the "will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform" (is that a promise? a prediction? a threat?).
And you just gotta love the processor names "Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Mobile X9/X7"
I think I have given up on chip naming. I honestly can't tell anymore there are so many modifiers on the names these days. I assume 9 is better than 7 right? Right?
AI PC has been in the buzz for more than 2 years now (despite itself being a near useless concept), and intel has like 75% marketshare for laptop. Both of those are well with in norm for an intel marketing piece.
It’s not really meant for consumer. Who would even visit newsroom.intel.com?
> Are ZBooks good or do I want an OmniBook or ProBook? Within ZBook, is Ultra or Fury better? Do I want a G1a or a G1i? Oh you sell ZBook Firefly G11, I liked that TV show, is that one good?
Intel marketing isn’t the best but I am struggling to understand what issue you’re taking with this.
It’s an AI PC platform. It can do AI. It has an NPU and integrated GPU. That’s pretty straightforward. Competitors include Apple silicon and AMD Ryzen AI.
They’re predicting it’ll sell well, and they have a huge distribution network with a large number of partner products launching. Basically they’re saying every laptop and similar device manufacturer out there is going to stuff these chips in their systems. I think they just have some well-placed confidence in the laptop segment, because it’s supposed to combine the strong efficiency of the 200 series with the kind of strong performance that can keep up with or exceed competition from AMD’s current laptop product lineup.
Their naming sucks but nobody’s really a saint on that.
I really, really want Intel to do well. I like their open oneAPI for unified CPU-GPU programming. It would be nice to have some competition/alternative against NVIDIA and TSMC.
But I wont be investing time and money again on Intel while the same anti-engineering beancounter board is still there. For example, they never owned the recent Raptor Lake serious hardware issues and they never showed clients how this will never happen again.
Great point. This Board nearly destroyed one of the world's great tech companies and they are STILL in charge after not being held accountable or admitting their mistakes over the past decade +
The only reason INTC isn't in a death spiral is because the US Govt. won't let that happen
“With Series 3, we are laser focused on improving power efficiency, adding more CPU performance, a bigger GPU in a class of its own, more AI compute and app compatibility you can count on with x86.” – Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group, Intel
A laser focus on five things is either business nonsense or optics nonsense. Who was this written for?
It's all the things Apple's processors are excellent at and AMD is not far behind Apple. So unless Intel delivers on all those things they can't hope to gain the market share they have lost.
Somewhat ironically if they were laser focused using infared lasers, wouldn't that imply the company was not very specific at all? Infared is something like 700 nm, which would be huge in terms of transistors
I will wait for the actual reviews from users. But I lost faith in Intel chips.
I was in CES2024 and saw snapdragon X elite chip running a local LLM (llama I believe). How did it turn out? Users cannot use that laptop except for running an LLM. They had no plans for translation layer like Apple Rosetta. Intel would be different for sure in that regard, but I just don't think that it will fly against Ryzen AI chips or Apple silicon.
Isn't it a bit exaggerating to say that users cannot use Snapdragon laptops except for running LLMs? Qualcomm and Microsoft already has a translation layer named Prism (not as good as Rosetta but pretty good nevertheless): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/arm/apps-on-arm-x8...
Lost faith from what? On x86 mobile Lunar lake chips are the clear best for battery life at the moment, and mobile arrowlake is competitive with amd's offerings. Only thing they're missing is a Strix halo equivalent but AMD messed that one up and there's like 2 laptops with it.
The new intel node seems to be kinda weaker than tsmc's going by the frequency numbers of the CPUs, but what'll matter the most in a laptop is real battery life anyway
If they are going to be the most broadly adopted AI platform where does that leave nvidia?
What is the AI PC platform? The experience on windows with windows 11 for just the basic UI of the start menu leaves a lot to be desired, is copilot adoption on windows that popular and does it take advantage of this AI PC platform?
Ryzen AI 400 mobile CPU chips are also releasing soon (though RocM is still blah I think)
Nvidia is still playing in the AI space despite all the noise of others on their AI offerings - and despite intel hype, Nividias margins at least recently have been incredible (ie, people still using them) so their platform hasn't yet been killed by intel's "most widely adoptoped" AI platform offering
What actually makes it an AI platform? Some tight integration of an intel ARC GPU, similar to the Apple M series processors?
They claim 2-5x performance for soem AI workloads. But aren't they still limited by memory? The same limitation as always in consumer hardware?
I don't think it matters much if you're limited by a nvidia gpu with ~max 16gb or some new intel processor with similar memory.
Nice to have more options though. Kinda wish the intel arc gpu would be developed into an alternative for self hosted LLMs. 70b models can be quite good but still difficult / slow to use self-hosted.
These processors have NPU (Neural Processing Unit) which is supposed to accelerate some small local neural networks. Nvidia RTX GPUs have much more powerful NPUs, so it's more about laptops without discrete GPU.
Logic Density (may be inaccurate, also it's not the only metric for performance ): Raipidus 2nm ≈ TSMC N2 > TSMC N3B > TSMC N3E/P > Intel 18A ≈ Samaung 3GAP
But 18A/20A already has PowerVia, while TSMC will implement Backside Power Delivery in A16 (next generation of N2)
It’s the final phase of Intel’s 5N4Y plan aimed at reaching parity with TSMC by the end of 2025, so it’s comparable to TSMC’s most advanced node N2 - [0]
As for comparison between the two: According to TechInsights, Intel's 18A could offer higher performance, whereas TSMC's N2 may provide higher transistor density - [1]
Xe3 GPU could be super super super great. Xe2 is already very strong, and this could really be an incredible breakout moment.
The CPU are also probably also fine!
Intel is so far ahead with consumer multi-chip. AMD has done amazing with having an IOD+CCD (io / core complex dies) chiplet split up (basically having a northbridge on package), but is just trying to figure out how in 2027's Medusa Point they're going to make a decent mainline APU multi-chip, can't keep pushing monolithic APU dies like they have (but they've been excellent FWIW). Like Intel's been doing with sweet EIMB, breaking the work up already, and hopefully is reaping the reward here. Stashing some tiny / very low power cores on the "northbridge" die is a genius move that saves incredible power for light use, a big+little+tiny design that let's the whole CCD shut down while work happens. Some very nice high core configs. Panther Lake could be super exciting.
18A with backside power delivery / "PowerVia" could really be a great leap for Intel! Nice big solid power delivery wins, that could potentially really help. My fingers are so very crossed. Really hope the excitement for this future arriving pans out, at least somewhat!
Their end of year Nova Lake with b(ig)LLC and an even bigger newer NPU6 (any new features beyond TOps?) is also exciting. I hope that also includes the incredible Thunderbolt/USB4 connectivity Intel has typically included on mobile chips but not holding my breath. Every single mobile part is capable of 4X Thunderbolt 5. That is sick. I really hope AMD realizes the ball is in it's court on interconnects at some point!! 20 Lane PCIe configs are also very nice to have for mobile.
Lunar Lake was quite good for what it was, very amazing well integrated chip, with great characteristics. As a 2+4 big/little it wasnt enough for developers. But great consumer chip. I think Intel's really going to have a great total system design with Panther Lake. Yes!
Yes. It's one of those things where even if you will never buy an Intel product, everybody in the world should be rooting for Intel to produce a real winner here.
Healthy Intel/GF/TSMC competition at the head of the pack is great for the tech industry, and the global economy at large.
Perhaps even more importantly, with armed conflict looming over Taiwan and TSMC... well, enough said.
For a laptop chip the optimal dsesign is a single die. Apple, Qualcomm, and AMD agree on this. Chiplets are a last resort when you can't afford a single die due to yield or mask costs.
No AVX512, client SKUs are just going to go straight to APX/AVX10, and they are confirmed for Nova Lake which is 2H 2026 (it will probably be "Core Ultra Series 4" or whatever I guess).
Nearly all modern SOCs have built in RAM now. Apple Silicon does it, AMD Strix Halo and beyond do it, Intel Lunar Lake does it, most ARM SOCs from vendors other than Apple do it…
Now, unified memory shared freely between CPU and GPU would be cool, like Apple and AMD SH have, if that’s what you meant.
I wonder how much of the funding that led to this came from the Biden-era Chips & Science Act? I can't find a straight answer amid the AI slop and marketing hype about both of them.
It's 96 GB max when using LPDDR5, or 128 GB when using DDR5. These are consumer chips with the same 128-bit memory bus width that x86 consumer chips have been using for many years, and this is a laptop-specific product line so they're not trying to squeeze in as many ranks of memory as possible.
Intel never made EUV machines, never claimed to make EUV machines, never aspired to make EUV machines, and have run multiple marketing campaigns bragging about the ASML EUV machines they purchased.
DrammBA|1 month ago
What in the world is this disaster of an opening paragraph? From the weird "AI PC platform" (not sure what that is) to the "will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform" (is that a promise? a prediction? a threat?).
And you just gotta love the processor names "Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Mobile X9/X7"
jmward01|1 month ago
cherioo|1 month ago
It’s not really meant for consumer. Who would even visit newsroom.intel.com?
octoberfranklin|1 month ago
> Are ZBooks good or do I want an OmniBook or ProBook? Within ZBook, is Ultra or Fury better? Do I want a G1a or a G1i? Oh you sell ZBook Firefly G11, I liked that TV show, is that one good?
https://geohot.github.io/blog/jekyll/update/2025/11/29/bikes...
dangus|1 month ago
It’s an AI PC platform. It can do AI. It has an NPU and integrated GPU. That’s pretty straightforward. Competitors include Apple silicon and AMD Ryzen AI.
They’re predicting it’ll sell well, and they have a huge distribution network with a large number of partner products launching. Basically they’re saying every laptop and similar device manufacturer out there is going to stuff these chips in their systems. I think they just have some well-placed confidence in the laptop segment, because it’s supposed to combine the strong efficiency of the 200 series with the kind of strong performance that can keep up with or exceed competition from AMD’s current laptop product lineup.
Their naming sucks but nobody’s really a saint on that.
CyberDildonics|1 month ago
hnuser123456|1 month ago
alecco|1 month ago
But I wont be investing time and money again on Intel while the same anti-engineering beancounter board is still there. For example, they never owned the recent Raptor Lake serious hardware issues and they never showed clients how this will never happen again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raptor_Lake#Instability_and_de... "Intel has decided not to halt sales or recall any units"
skystarman|1 month ago
The only reason INTC isn't in a death spiral is because the US Govt. won't let that happen
w-m|1 month ago
A laser focus on five things is either business nonsense or optics nonsense. Who was this written for?
pritambarhate|1 month ago
throwaway81523|1 month ago
HDThoreaun|1 month ago
sidewndr46|1 month ago
dudeinjapan|1 month ago
Intel called it a “one-off mistake”, it’s the best mistake Intel ever made.
tanh|1 month ago
shihab|1 month ago
sbinnee|1 month ago
I was in CES2024 and saw snapdragon X elite chip running a local LLM (llama I believe). How did it turn out? Users cannot use that laptop except for running an LLM. They had no plans for translation layer like Apple Rosetta. Intel would be different for sure in that regard, but I just don't think that it will fly against Ryzen AI chips or Apple silicon.
ZuLuuuuuu|1 month ago
I agree with losing faith in Intel chips though.
Numerlor|1 month ago
The new intel node seems to be kinda weaker than tsmc's going by the frequency numbers of the CPUs, but what'll matter the most in a laptop is real battery life anyway
unknown|1 month ago
[deleted]
WithinReason|1 month ago
glzone1|1 month ago
What is the AI PC platform? The experience on windows with windows 11 for just the basic UI of the start menu leaves a lot to be desired, is copilot adoption on windows that popular and does it take advantage of this AI PC platform?
Ryzen AI 400 mobile CPU chips are also releasing soon (though RocM is still blah I think)
Nvidia is still playing in the AI space despite all the noise of others on their AI offerings - and despite intel hype, Nividias margins at least recently have been incredible (ie, people still using them) so their platform hasn't yet been killed by intel's "most widely adoptoped" AI platform offering
Traster|1 month ago
>Series 3 will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform Intel has ever delivered.
The true competitor is Ryzen AI, Nvidia doesn't produce these integrated CPU/GPU/AI products in the PC segment at all.
zamadatix|1 month ago
zapnuk|1 month ago
What actually makes it an AI platform? Some tight integration of an intel ARC GPU, similar to the Apple M series processors?
They claim 2-5x performance for soem AI workloads. But aren't they still limited by memory? The same limitation as always in consumer hardware?
I don't think it matters much if you're limited by a nvidia gpu with ~max 16gb or some new intel processor with similar memory.
Nice to have more options though. Kinda wish the intel arc gpu would be developed into an alternative for self hosted LLMs. 70b models can be quite good but still difficult / slow to use self-hosted.
vbezhenar|1 month ago
unknown|1 month ago
[deleted]
cubefox|1 month ago
ytch|1 month ago
Logic Density (may be inaccurate, also it's not the only metric for performance ): Raipidus 2nm ≈ TSMC N2 > TSMC N3B > TSMC N3E/P > Intel 18A ≈ Samaung 3GAP
But 18A/20A already has PowerVia, while TSMC will implement Backside Power Delivery in A16 (next generation of N2)
signatoremo|1 month ago
As for comparison between the two: According to TechInsights, Intel's 18A could offer higher performance, whereas TSMC's N2 may provide higher transistor density - [1]
[0] - https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-announ...
[1] - https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/intels-18a-and-ts...
tuananh|1 month ago
jauntywundrkind|1 month ago
The CPU are also probably also fine!
Intel is so far ahead with consumer multi-chip. AMD has done amazing with having an IOD+CCD (io / core complex dies) chiplet split up (basically having a northbridge on package), but is just trying to figure out how in 2027's Medusa Point they're going to make a decent mainline APU multi-chip, can't keep pushing monolithic APU dies like they have (but they've been excellent FWIW). Like Intel's been doing with sweet EIMB, breaking the work up already, and hopefully is reaping the reward here. Stashing some tiny / very low power cores on the "northbridge" die is a genius move that saves incredible power for light use, a big+little+tiny design that let's the whole CCD shut down while work happens. Some very nice high core configs. Panther Lake could be super exciting.
18A with backside power delivery / "PowerVia" could really be a great leap for Intel! Nice big solid power delivery wins, that could potentially really help. My fingers are so very crossed. Really hope the excitement for this future arriving pans out, at least somewhat!
Their end of year Nova Lake with b(ig)LLC and an even bigger newer NPU6 (any new features beyond TOps?) is also exciting. I hope that also includes the incredible Thunderbolt/USB4 connectivity Intel has typically included on mobile chips but not holding my breath. Every single mobile part is capable of 4X Thunderbolt 5. That is sick. I really hope AMD realizes the ball is in it's court on interconnects at some point!! 20 Lane PCIe configs are also very nice to have for mobile.
Lunar Lake was quite good for what it was, very amazing well integrated chip, with great characteristics. As a 2+4 big/little it wasnt enough for developers. But great consumer chip. I think Intel's really going to have a great total system design with Panther Lake. Yes!
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/intel-double...
JohnBooty|1 month ago
Healthy Intel/GF/TSMC competition at the head of the pack is great for the tech industry, and the global economy at large.
Perhaps even more importantly, with armed conflict looming over Taiwan and TSMC... well, enough said.
wmf|1 month ago
phkahler|1 month ago
icegreentea2|1 month ago
P-Core Max Frequency 5.1 on the highest end, and the lowest at 4.4.
There's no hyperthreading: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/processors/now-youve-got-so...
Dunno about AVX and APX. They're not making it easy to find, so... probably not.
2OEH8eoCRo0|1 month ago
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/sku/245716/...
aseipp|1 month ago
sandGorgon|1 month ago
klardotsh|1 month ago
Now, unified memory shared freely between CPU and GPU would be cool, like Apple and AMD SH have, if that’s what you meant.
usagisushi|1 month ago
edit: fix typo
kleinmatic|1 month ago
Update: Looks like Trump admin converted billions in unpaid CHIPS act grants into an equity in Intel last year https://techhq.com/news/intel-turnaround-strategy-panther-la...
akkad123|1 month ago
[deleted]
makeitrain|1 month ago
[deleted]
GeorgeOldfield|1 month ago
wtallis|1 month ago
etempleton|1 month ago
fancyfredbot|1 month ago
1) Battery life claims are specific and very impressive, possibly best in class 2) Performance claims are vague and uninspiring.
Either this is an awful press release or this generation isn't taking back the performance crown.
daneel_w|1 month ago
smallmancontrov|1 month ago
T-A|1 month ago