Intel’s 1st Gen Core Ultra Meteor Lake CPUs Lag Behind Ryzen 7000, Consume Excessive Power

Intel's 1st Gen Core Ultra Meteor Lake CPUs fall short in performance and efficiency compared to AMD's Ryzen 7000 series, according to third-party reviews.

Introduction of 4nm-class Intel 4 process node
Utilization of a modular architecture with iGPU/SoC dies
Official benchmarks suggest modest improvement over Raptor Lake

Intel’s 1st Gen Core Ultra Meteor Lake CPUs Lag Behind Ryzen 7000, Consume Excessive Power

Intel has released its 1st Gen Core Ultra processors, which mark the introduction of the 4nm-class Intel 4 process node. These chips, known as Meteor Lake, are the first from Intel to utilize a modular architecture with the iGPU/SoC dies manufactured on TSMC’s 4nm/6nm nodes. While Intel’s official benchmarks suggest these processors offer a modest improvement over Raptor Lake, unbiased third-party reviews paint a different picture.

According to a review by NBC, the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, one of the Meteor Lake CPUs, falls short in terms of performance and efficiency compared to AMD’s year-old Ryzen 7 7840S across various workloads, including content creation, productivity, and gaming. In benchmarks such as Cinebench 2024 and R23, the Core Ultra 7 155H lags behind the Ryzen 7 7840S, scoring lower in both single-core and multi-core performance.

Furthermore, the Core Ultra 7 155H is also less power-efficient than AMD’s Ryzen 7940HS. The Ryzen processor achieves higher points per watt compared to the Intel chip, indicating a better balance between performance and power consumption. Even at different power limits ranging from 28W to 45W, the Core Ultra 7 155H remains slower than the Ryzen 7 7840U.

The disappointing performance extends to gaming as well. Despite being marketed as a key feature, the Xe-LPG Arc GPU on the Core Ultra 7 155H falls short of AMD’s Radeon 780M (R7 7840) in every game tested. The Intel chip exhibits lower frame rates and poorer power efficiency in games such as Dota 2, Final Fantasy XV, GTA V, and The Witcher 3.

In terms of iGPU power efficiency, the Xe-LPG graphics on the Core Ultra 7 155H score lower than the Radeon 780M, indicating that Intel’s chip is less efficient in delivering performance per watt.

Overall, the Meteor Lake CPUs from Intel seem to be a disappointment, lacking both performance and efficiency upgrades. The third-party review highlights the underwhelming performance of the Core Ultra 7 155H compared to AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series. Intel will need to address these shortcomings if they want to compete effectively in the market.

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Background Information

About AMD: AMD, a large player in the semiconductor industry is known for its powerful processors and graphic solutions, AMD has consistently pushed the boundaries of performance, efficiency, and user experience. With a customer-centric approach, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-performance solutions that cater to the needs of gamers, professionals, and general users. AMD's Ryzen series of processors have redefined the landscape of desktop and laptop computing, offering impressive multi-core performance and competitive pricing that has challenged the dominance of its competitors. Complementing its processor expertise, AMD's Radeon graphics cards have also earned accolades for their efficiency and exceptional graphical capabilities, making them a favored choice among gamers and content creators. The company's commitment to innovation and technology continues to shape the client computing landscape, providing users with powerful tools to fuel their digital endeavors.

About Intel: Intel Corporation, a global technology leader, is for its semiconductor innovations that power computing and communication devices worldwide. As a pioneer in microprocessor technology, Intel has left an indelible mark on the evolution of computing with its processors that drive everything from PCs to data centers and beyond. With a history of advancements, Intel's relentless pursuit of innovation continues to shape the digital landscape, offering solutions that empower businesses and individuals to achieve new levels of productivity and connectivity.

About TSMC: TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, is a semiconductor foundry based in Taiwan. Established in 1987, TSMC is a important player in the global semiconductor industry, specializing in the manufacturing of semiconductor wafers for a wide range of clients, including technology companies and chip designers. The company is known for its semiconductor fabrication processes and plays a critical role in advancing semiconductor technology worldwide.

Technology Explained

GPU: GPU stands for Graphics Processing Unit and is a specialized type of processor designed to handle graphics-intensive tasks. It is used in the computer industry to render images, videos, and 3D graphics. GPUs are used in gaming consoles, PCs, and mobile devices to provide a smooth and immersive gaming experience. They are also used in the medical field to create 3D models of organs and tissues, and in the automotive industry to create virtual prototypes of cars. GPUs are also used in the field of artificial intelligence to process large amounts of data and create complex models. GPUs are becoming increasingly important in the computer industry as they are able to process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

iGPU: An integrated Graphics Processing Unit (iGPU) is a component built into a computer's central processing unit (CPU) or system-on-chip (SoC) that handles graphical tasks. Unlike dedicated graphics cards, which are separate components, an iGPU shares system resources with the CPU, allowing for basic graphics capabilities without the need for an additional card. While typically less powerful than dedicated GPUs, iGPUs are energy-efficient and well-suited for everyday computing tasks

Radeon: AMD Radeon, a product line by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), consists of graphics processing units (GPUs) recognized for their strong performance in gaming, content creation, and professional applications. Powered by innovative technologies like the RDNA architecture, Radeon GPUs deliver efficient and powerful graphics processing. The brand also supports features like FreeSync, enhancing visual fluidity and reducing screen tearing during gaming. Moreover, AMD Radeon GPUs embrace real-time ray tracing for heightened realism in lighting and reflections. With a balance between price and performance, Radeon competes with NVIDIA's GeForce graphics cards and remains a popular choice for a wide range of users.

SoC: A System-on-Chip (SoC) is a highly integrated semiconductor device that encapsulates various electronic components, including processors, memory, input/output interfaces, and often specialized hardware components, all on a single chip. SoCs are designed to provide a complete computing system or subsystem within a single chip package, offering enhanced performance, power efficiency, and compactness. They are commonly used in a wide range of devices, from smartphones and tablets to embedded systems and IoT devices, streamlining hardware complexity and facilitating efficient integration of multiple functions onto a single chip.