It’s a new year, which means one thing: CES 2025, or the Consumer Electronics Show, is here. It’s a big yearly event where tech companies show off what’s coming in 2025 and beyond.
Intel is set to have a big year because it is set to launch the second generation of its Core Ultra processors. The series comprises 24 unique models split across three major builds: the Intel Core Ultra 5, Ultra 7, and Ultra 9. Each one offers mobile and desktop processors. They range from the Intel Core Ultra 5 235U for lightweight notebooks to the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K for PC towers.
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Like the previous series, the second-gen Core Ultra chipsets sport an “AI-optimized architecture where the CPU, GPU, and NPU” work together delivering speedy performance. The company states that the mobile processor features “new CPU architecture,” a next-gen Intel Arc graphics card, plus “a higher capacity NPU” to help people be more productive. Speaking of features, the chips sport on-package memory and introduce support for Wi-Fi 7, ensuring fast wireless connectivity.
The desktop processors are set to house “new NPUs” alongside integrated Intel graphics cards. These machines will also support wired connections via ethernet and wireless connectivity thanks to Wi-Fi 6E. Intel’s desktop chipsets may lack Wi-Fi 7 support, but they compensate for it with better performance.
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The company tested the new hardware against other top-class chipsets from previous years. Intel’s desktop models seem to have a more significant leap in quality compared to its mobile chips. For example, the Intel Core UItra 9 285 has 2.33 times faster processing power than the 14th-Gen Intel Core i9-14900 desktop SoC (system on a chip). On the other hand, the Intel Core Ultra 285H only has a 2.2 times processing boost over the Intel Ultra 9 185H hardware.
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Outside of raw power, Intel is updating hardware security, too. The brand is expanding access to the NPU on the Series 2 chipsets to third-party cybersecurity developers. This will allow security apps to become better at “detecting and responding to threats.” What’s more, all models will “incorporate the [new] Intel Silicon Security Engine” for authenticating system firmware.
At the time of this writing, it’s unknown exactly when the second-generation Intel Core Ultra processors are going to roll out or which computers will house one. So far, Intel has yet to reveal any of its partners. I can say that I am looking forward to the release. I’ve become very familiar with the first generation of hardware last year, and I was impressed with how well they performed. I’m sure this next batch will impress.