A beforehand unannounced Intel gaming CPU has appeared in on-line benchmark outcomes, and it seems ideally suited for handhelds. The eight-core Intel Core Extremely 7 254V processor, fitted with an built-in Intel Arc Battlemage GPU, may show to be an entry-level choice for Steam Deck rivals and funds gaming laptops, based mostly on the outcomes we have seen up to now.
Not like another Intel CPUs in the previous few months, Intel Lunar Lake has proven real promise on laptops and handhelds. These power-efficient CPUs aren’t heavy on uncooked energy, however they do provide efficiency that may compete with comparable AMD chips, particularly on handhelds. Just some days in the past, an MSI handheld benchmark leak confirmed the potential of the Intel Core Extremely 7 285V on the MSI Claw 8 AI+, and it would not be stunning to see fashions in our greatest handheld information operating Lunar Lake chips within the close to future.
This new Intel Core Extremely 7 254V chip was noticed by x86deadandback on X (previously Twitter), exhibiting PassMark take a look at outcomes for the 254V in comparison with the 256V and 258V, though the outcomes for the 254V have since been eliminated.
These two chips are already out within the wild, nonetheless, that includes eight cores (4 P-Cores and 4 E-Cores) and pretty comparable specs. The clock speeds differ, nonetheless, with the 256V delivery with a 2.2GHz base clock, whereas the 258V is clocked at a a lot greater 3.7GHz, with each boosting to 4.8GHz. Each CPUs additionally characteristic the identical 12MB L3 cache dimension.
There’s no info on the clock speeds for the Intel Core Extremely 7 254V, however the PassMark knowledge does present it options the identical eight cores and eight threads as the opposite Lunar Lake chips. Of the pattern examined, the 254V scored 4,089 in PassMark’s single-core take a look at, whereas scoring 17,327 within the multi-core take a look at. The 254V’s single-core take a look at result’s virtually an identical to the 254V and 256V’s common scores, however the 17,327 multi-core result’s about 10% lower than the 19,158 common rating for the 258V.
The built-in GPU is not confirmed, however given the shut relationship to the 256V and 258V, we might count on the 254V to additionally embody the built-in Intel Arc 140V GPU used within the different two chips. With Intel’s earlier naming technique, it is solely been the 230-series Lunar Lake chips which have stepped right down to the Arc 130V GPU.
The specs are fascinating, however the actual worth is the place we are able to see this chip ending up, and the way a lot RAM it is going to have at its disposal. Lunar Lake options the RAM built-in on the chip itself, and has up to now packaged the quantity of RAM in accordance with its suffix: 32GB with the 258V (2x8V), and 16GB with 256V (2x6V). The 254V (2x4V) title suggests a smaller reminiscence configuration of 8GB.
That may be a fairly low bar for contemporary gaming laptops, particularly because the RAM cannot be upgraded. Nonetheless, on a power-efficient handheld and funds Steam Deck various, it may have potential, providing sufficient headroom for some titles, whereas preserving energy consumption and warmth output low.
Intel has but to verify the existence of the Intel Core Extremely 7 254V, together with any merchandise that may ship with it. We’ll be curious to see the place it finally ends up, nonetheless, and the way highly effective it is perhaps, and we’ll be prepared to check it for ourselves as soon as it launches.
When you’re on the lookout for a brand new Intel-powered gaming laptop computer, then be certain to take a look at our greatest gaming laptop computer information, the place you will discover our prime suggestions for a spread of budgets.
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