The Intel Core Ultra 7 268V CPU is going to be the second-fastest chip within the Lunar Lake "Core Ultra 200V" family which comprises nine different SKUs, all sharing similar core configurations for the CPU but slight differences within the GPU configs and on-package memory.
Starting with the specifications, the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V "Lunar Lake" CPU features 8 cores (4P+4E), 8 threads, 12 MB of L3 cache, clocks rated at 3.30 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz boost, and 32 GB of on-package LPDDR5X-8533 memory. The chip will be equipped with an Arc 140V iGPU with up to 8 Xe2 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and the chip will have TDPs configured at 17W PL1 and 30W PL2.
The CPU has once again been benchmarked at Geekbench 6 where it now scores 2915 points in the single-core and 11,448 points in the multi-core tests. The testing was performed on a Khadas Mind MakerKit platform which is a compact AI workstation and development kit that comes with active cooling. The current Mind platform features Intel Meteor Lake CPUs so it looks like Lunar Lake will be incorporated by the company for its upcoming AI platforms. Intel will also release its own Lunar Lake DevKit next month.
Performance Gains
As you can see from the benchmarks above, the Intel Core Ultra 7 268V "Lunar Lake" CPU sees a 7.4% boost in single-core and 14.0% boost in multi-core performance versus the previous scores which is a great improvement. The chip was still fluctuating between 4.6 and 5.0 GHz so there is room for improvement for the final retail products.
Graphics Performance
As for graphics performance, the same chip scored 29,316 points which puts it on par with the Arc A370M and Arc A310 graphics. The GPU was tested in OpenCL which isn't necessarily a strong suite for Intel's Arc drivers but we can see improvements once the Xe2 GPU gets tested in the Vulkan API.
Retail Listings and Price Estimates
Intel's Lunar Lake CPUs have started appearing on various online retailers as the launch is planned for next week on the 3rd of September so stay tuned for more information & some official figures on Intel's brand new low-power SOC design for thin and light platforms.
A quartet of Intel Lunar Lake laptops has been listed by a major tech retailer in France. The four Intel Core Ultra 200V family portables were spotted on PC21.fr. Converting the cheapest and most expensive of the listing prices (before VAT) to USD, gives us a range of $930 to $1,272 for this first batch of machines.
Intel Lunar Lake Laptop Specs
Here are the newly unearthed laptops from Acer and Asus:
The above Asus ExpertBook and Acer Swift machines make use of one of two processors, according to these early retail listings: the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V CPU, or the Intel Core Ultra 5 226V CPU. The former chip is the more powerful, with eight cores, 12MB cache, up to 4.8 GHz boost clock, Arc 140V graphics, and 32GB of on-package LPDDR5X. Meanwhile, the Ultra 5 226V will also deliver eight cores but with a smaller 8MB cache, slower 4.5 GHz boost clock, Arc 130V graphics, and just 16GB of on-package LDDR5X. The on-package RAM makes it all the more important to make sure you spec enough when you make your purchase decision, but at least there are no 8GB SKUs.
Asus showcased the above-mentioned ExpertBook P5 machines last month, after a very brief reveal at the Computex show. The current product pages boast of lots of compelling features but the firm avoids any explicit mention of the Lunar Lake architecture, as it is very likely waiting for Intel to officially uncork these chips.
AI Acceleration
The Asus listings on PC21.fr confirm specs like cache sizes, RAM and SSD capacities, and other features. However, the Acer listings don’t include even a threadbare specs list, so you have to check the lengthy product titles for spec clues. In both cases, the listing title appears to suggest the on-board Intel NPU is capable of 42 TOPS for AI acceleration. That doesn’t tally with previous Lunar Lake SKU specs we have seen, but may be a simple listing error.
Intel Lunar Lake's Potential
In summary, retailers seem to be getting ready for Intel Lunar Lake going official. We should see that happen in early September, just ahead of the IFA 2024 conference in Berlin, where there should be new laptops galore. The good news seems to be that the Intel Core Ultra 200V family portables won’t have any big price premiums. In a best-case scenario, Intel could also snatch the efficiency torch from Qualcomm's hands.
Intel Lunar Lake's Xe2 GPU Architecture
As the dust begins to settle on AMD’s first batch of Zen 5 processors, the spotlight slowly moves on to Intel Lunar Lake. While the company’s new CPU architecture should see its Core Ultra 200V processors pull ahead of current generation stock, it’s arriving hand-in-hand with the brand’s Xe2 GPU architecture. Ahead of launch, Team Blue has made a bold claim about the generational improvements we can expect in terms of graphics performance.
Xe2 Performance Gains
Intel is yet to formally reveal Lunar Lake SKUs, but alleged specifications have already leaked. If true, Core Ultra 200V processors will arrive with either Arc 140V or 130V graphics. Potential benchmarks for the former place its performance in the same ballpark as a mobile Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650. However, we’ll need to wait until the chip launches before making any definitive comparisons.
Conclusion
With the above in mind, we shouldn’t have long to wait. Intel will reveal its Core Ultra 200V series on September 3, 2024. Laptops and handhelds sporting the chips will follow shortly after, if Acer is to be believed.
If Xe2 stands up to scrutiny as integrated graphics for Lunar Lake, it’d spell potentially great things for Intel Battlemage graphics cards. With a larger die and more power at their disposal, Team Blue could finally gain a foothold in the GPU space where its Alchemist cards failed to do so.
Could Lunar Lake be the beginning of a turnaround in Intel’s fortunes? We’ll have to wait and see.
