This name change, as we mentioned, concerns the E-Core and P-Core of the new Intel processors. We now have two new types of cores in each chip. But this won’t be the company’s only addition to its processors, other elements will arrive. That’s where these new names come in.
The revival of Core processors
The new name of the processors is accompanied by the Meteor Lakethe company’s 14th generation of chips for laptop. It will not only be used in laptops, it will also reach the desktop processorswith the landing of Arrow Lake of 15th Generation, planned for the end of this year.
We will now have the names Intel Core and Core Ultra. Due to this change in name and structure, various elements disappear. First of all, the letter “i” disappears in the name of the processor, forever (or so it seems). So, from now on there will no longer be a Core i9, we will have the Core 9 or the Core Ultra 9.
It also seems that in the Core Ultra we will not have “low-end” processors like the Core i3. It seems that this name remains for the “normal” Core, leaving it with the Core 3 range. Additionally, the “normal” Core will not have a version of the Core i9, being exclusive to the Core Ultra.
How are Intel Core and Core Ultra processors different?
Several elements change between these two processor ranges. The main difference lies in the neural processing units o NPU. These are cores specifically intended to work with artificial intelligence.
Intel emphasizes that NPUs are used to “unleash the power of AI, create immersive graphics experiences, and enable high-performance, low-power processing.”
Intel Core Ultra processors will have NPU, in addition to other elements such as AI Boost Engine. It is an engine designed to reduce the strain of artificial intelligence workflows. It allows the rest of the cores to devote themselves to other tasks and thus maximize the computer’s performance. Obviously, the Intel Core will not have these cores.
Another item that seems exclusive to the Core Ultra are the LPE cores. These are ultra-low power cores for mobile chips. These are apparently very powerful cores that consume a lot of energy, although we don’t know much about them.
Only minor changes
Additionally, the specification tables for these “new” processors will become much more detailed. Data such as Base and Boost frequencies are provided based on core type, number of cores and graphics frequency, number of NPUs and many other data.
The nomenclature also changes significantly. For example, the “13” on the Core i9-13900K told us the family it represented. We will now have the name Core Ultra 7 165H, for example.
The name is simplified, indicating that the high-end with the “Ultra 7”, that it is intended for high-performance laptops with the “H” and that it belongs to the Series 1 with the “165”. At the moment, it is not known what the numbers “65” in the name would mean, beyond a classification of the processor in the range based on its characteristics.
These are the “big” changes
| Features | Intel Core Ultra | Intel Core |
|---|---|---|
| Cores | P-Cores, E-Cores and LPE-Cores | P-Cores and E-Cores |
| NPU cores | They will have specific cores for AI | They will not have specific cores for AI |
| Frequencies | They could be older | They could be cropped |
| AI algorithm | Built-in AI Boost | They won’t have AI Boost |
| GPU | Ideal for gaming | They could be discounted to provide a limited experience |
| Connectivity | They would support WiFi 7 and USB4 | They may not support WiFi 7, remaining on WiFi 6E |
| Efficiency | High charging efficiency with AI | High efficiency in AI-free charging |
We will now have two families with different ranges of chips within the same generation of processors. Getting used to all these name changes shouldn’t be a big problem. It may be a little more difficult to explain the differences between processors to fewer users.
Although, generally speaking, the big difference is that the Core Ultra will have cores and other specific elements for AI and the “normal” Core will not. Please note, this does not mean that “normal” Cores are not compatible with AI, it means that they will allocate part of the resources to this task, thus losing a little performance.
Table of Contents
