At CES 2020, Intel previewed upcoming mobile PC processors code-named “Tiger Lake.” Tiger Lake’s new capabilities, built on Intel’s 10nm+ process and integrated with new Intel Xe graphics architecture, are expected to deliver massive gains over 10th Gen Intel Core processors. First systems are expected to ship this year. (Credit: Intel Corporation)

11th Gen Intel Core and Iris Xe Graphics Set New Performance Standards

The next 11th generation of Intel-based mobile laptops will start arriving in time for the holiday season. The 11th Gen Intel Core and Iris Xe Graphics represent an impressive multi-level performance leap over last year’s Intel chips as well as rival AMD.

In a recent virtual four-hour deep dive for the Intel Global conference, the chip giant described the new 11th Gen Intel Core processors as the “world’s best processor for thin and light laptops,”

The presentation included accolades from major laptop makers Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Samsung, Dell, and more than half a dozen Intel team leaders and spokespersons. Intel showed live side-by-side performance comparisons between laptops armed with the new 11th Gen Intel Core (code-named “Tiger Lake”) against current Intel laptops and those from competitors.

The new processor, with speeds up to 4.8GHz, when combined with the new integrated Xe graphics, Thunderbolt 4 support, and Wi-Fi 6, will deliver impressive performance over previous Ice Lake chips as well as AMD laptops.

“11th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics are a major leap forward in real-world processor performance and are the best laptop processors we have built,” said Gregory Bryant, Intel Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Client Computing Group. “From productivity and content creation to entertainment and gaming, when you pick a system powered by 11th Gen Intel Core – especially one of our new Intel Evo co-engineered and verified designs – you know you are getting the best laptop experience possible.”

The 11th Gen Intel Core and Iris Xe Graphics nestled on a motherboard

How Fast Are These Chips?

Intel noted up to 2.7x faster content creation, more than 20% faster office productivity, and more than 2x faster gaming plus streaming in real-world workflows over competitive products. They indicated their much improved integrated Xe graphics, which visually surpassed most traditional third party graphics add-ons, would offer customers more value. The current line of all Intel-based laptops requires third party powerful graphics processors from AMD and Nvidia to satisfy gamers. One of the demos shown at the Intel announcement showed an 11th Gen processor with similar or better graphics performance than a 10th Gen Intel processor working simultaneously with an Nvidia MX350 GPU.

With up to 2x game performance over the previous Intel generation gamers can now play Borderlands 3, Far Cry New Dawn, Hitman 2 and other popular game titles for the first time at 1,080p on Intel’s new integrated Xe graphics, more than 2x faster than competitive products.

Chris Walker, Intel Vice President and General Manager of Mobile Client Platforms with a wafer based on the 10nm 11th Gen Intel Core processors

Check out measured industry benchmarks, Representative Usage Guide testing, and unique features of the Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor, including  comparisons to AMD Ryzen 7 4800U, across five key usages: productivity, creation, gaming, collaboration, and entertainment.

Intel Core i7 1185G7 vs. AMD Ryzen 7480U

New Intel Evo Label Ensures You Get What You Pay For

Intel also introduced the Intel Evo platform brand based on 11th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Iris Xe graphics and verified through the Project Athena innovation program’s second-edition specification. The Intel Evo brand on the next generation laptops will clearly indicate what consumers can expect.

  • Consistent responsiveness on battery
  • System wake from sleep in less than one second
  • Nine or more hours of real-world battery life on systems with FHD displays
  • Fast charging with up to a four-hour charge in under 30 minutes on systems with FHD displays
New 11th Gen Intel laptops out for the Holiday season

Out of more than 150 laptop designs from laptop makers, look for Acer Swift 5, Asus Zenbook Flip S, Lenovo Yoga 9i, Samsung Galaxy Book Flex 5G, Dell XPS 13, and Dell XPS 13 2-in1 to be the first out of the gate with the new Intel Evo Platform Brand. Expect to also see new Chromebooks running the 11th Gen processors.

What Makes This New Chip Tick?

The following specs would make today’s full blast Intel 10th Gen desktop processors envious. Intel indicated plans to roll out similar enhanced technologies to more of its processor lines. Apps like Chrome, Zoom, Spotify, or Twitter can easily run in the background with 11th Gen Intel Core chips.

  • Leveraging Intel’s new SuperFin process technology, 11th Gen Intel Core processors optimize power efficiency with increased performance and responsiveness while running at significantly higher frequencies and lower power consumption versus prior generations.
  • 5x better AI performance including AI-enhanced audio with CPU offload for background noise suppression via Intel Gaussian and Neural Accelerator 2.0 (Intel GNA) as well as AI-accelerated background blur and video super-resolution and the latest video decode.
  • 8K HDR displays and up to four simultaneous 4K HDR displays with speedy Thunderbolt 4 connectivity including charging, data and video.
  • Hardware-supported Dolby Vision, improving system-level power by approximately 20% versus the previous generation.
  • Hardware based AI on stream video means an extra hour of streaming video when watching on battery.
11th Gen Intel Core mobile processors, built on Intel’s 10nm SuperFin process, introduce the all-new Willow Cove architecture, which includes new CPU and GPU optimization and capabilities, greater AI acceleration, the fastest connectivity and more. They were introduced on Sept. 2, 2020. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
  • New Intel Iris Xe graphics outperform 90% of the discrete graphics paired in this segment and offer up to 96 EUs and up to 16MB of L3 cache.
  • Hardware-hardened security with integrated Intel® Control Flow Enforcement Technology (CET) and Intel Total Memory Encryption.
  • Support for the high-performance AV1 CODEC that enables power-efficient support for 4K, even in constrained bandwidth environments.
  • The first with image processing solution enabling vision sensing and adaptive dimming.
  • The first mobile client SoC with CPU-attached PCIe Gen 4 interface and with up to four lanes. Current Intel desktop motherboards are still waiting for that!
  • A 7- to 28-watt thermal envelope, nine processor configurations across two package designs for form factor flexibility and up to 4.8 GHz turbo frequency, 11th Gen Intel Core processors provide a wide choice for consumers needs and budgets.