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Meteor Lake: The Future of Computing with HP and Intel
Linsey Knerl
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March 27, 2024
While Intel® has made some exciting changes to its processor lineup, perhaps the most innovative is its latest mobile processor, which is popping up in HP laptops and slim-form desktops. The Meteor Lake processor moves from the Intel 7 node and embraces new Foveros 3D packaging with EUV lithography. Its tiled, disaggregated chiplet design is new, as well, supporting performance and efficiency goals important to PC users.
The new processor, launched in late 2023, is a notable part of Intel’s "5 nodes in 4 years" roadmap, and it’s like nothing the industry has seen before. In addition to its manufacturing process and capabilities being very different, it’s changing industry expectations for its AI-focused potential.
Here’s what you can expect from this groundbreaking new chip.
Meteor Lake: Key features and innovations
What new developments can you find with Meteor Lake? With a completely revamped way of handling mobile computing, the processor makes quite a few firsts for the company.
Chiplet design
This is a completely new architecture for Intel mobile chips, offering several components (called “tiles”) to reside within the same chip. These individual components can be created independently from one another and then combined through Intel’s Foveros packaging tech.
This may make for easier upgrades and enhancements to the chipsets down the road and certainly makes it easier for techs to pinpoint processor issues.
What’s included in the tiles? They fit into four main categories:
- Computing: The bulk of the power and features Performance and Efficient cores to balance power needs with resources
- Graphics: Continues in the tradition of putting Intel Graphics as an integrated part of the CPU
- I/O: Keeps all externals in communication with the device, including PCl and Thunderbolt 4
- SoC: This is where the Neural Processing AI work gets done, as well as where low power management, WiFi, and integrated memory are handled
As this configuration highlights, there’s a lot going on in the new Meteor Lake processor, with each tile responsible for an important part of the machine’s performance.
Size of process node
Intel's latest process node, the Intel 4, is made of significantly smaller parts. Previously, the Intel 7 had parts as small as 10 nm, but the Meteor Lake tech boasts parts as small as 7 nm. This is notable because it can reduce the overall chip size and provide opportunities for more complex builds in the future.
Low-power islands
In a completely new advancement, Intel has introduced the concept of lower-power E-cores, which aim to handle low-resource tasks in a separate tile from more resource-hungry tasks. This reduces the burden on the computing core, which can get taxed very easily when doing video editing, high-resolution gaming, or data science tasks. It may also give users a more consistent experience during light-duty work or when the device needs to prioritize competing tasks quickly.
It essentially helps the chip route tasks to the cores that are best suited for each job, increasing efficiency and reducing resource mismanagement.
Two new lineups
Because different phone, tablet, and computer makers need different support, Intel has thoughtfully broken out its Meteor Lake processors into two distinct lines. Manufacturers can choose between the Core™ Ultra-H or the Core Ultra-U, with new models planned for even more product design and development flexibility.
As more chip models are created, expect to see a wide range of specs to meet every processing need and budget. With the innovation of the tiled chipset, it will be easier to mix and match characteristics to meet your needs.
AI capabilities
In what’s perhaps the most exciting development for the chip, Meteor Lake processors put the idea of a high-tech Neural Processing Unit (NPU) to the test. How it works from the user side will vary by device. However, having this capability makes it possible to embrace the new AI computing features that consumers will soon demand – without significant redevelopment on the processing side. It’s already slated to handle machine learning models and Microsoft Studio Effects like automatic framing and voice focus.
While not a performance or design feature, Intel has made another interesting change with the Meteor Lake launch; it has dropped the “i” from the names of its CPU products. We will no longer see the “i5” or “i3” naming conventions with these mobile chips.
Implications for future computing
Meteor Lake processors are used in high-quality laptops like those made by HP and aim to revolutionize both the personal computing and enterprise experience.
Specifically, the chip is geared toward the growing demand placed on computers by AI-powered tasks. Since many of these processes use a lot of computing resources and can quickly drain battery life, the Meteor Lake processor is uniquely positioned to overcome both challenges. It's made for more powerful AI use cases, like data science professions, but offers outstanding opportunities for casual gamers and home office workers.
Here are a few AI use cases you can find today, along with the HP computers most adept at handling them.
AI accelerator
The Intel Movidius VPU AI accelerator may sound like something from a sci-fi movie, but it has already had very real implications for the way we work today. It’s standard on the HP ENVY Laptop (16-h1047nr) and helps balance the computer’s components so that each produces its best work. Additional perks include faster video and app integrations so your camera’s video effects appear smooth and natural. It’s also the secret sauce behind the new automatic framing feature and better background blur, giving you a more professional look on every conference call.
AI noise reduction
If distracting background noises keep you from better conference calls, the HP Dragonfly G4 has something special to offer. It uses the Meteor Lake AI capabilities to measure noise in the room, then adjust the mic and speaker settings to amplify and clarify your voice. It's just one part of a larger suite of AI-powered AV tools, including HP Dynamic Audio. This tunes audio for various content types (movies, music) and environments to help you hear what matters most.
HP Presence Technology
It can be tricky to balance a job and home life, especially with more work done at home. If extra security and enhanced collaboration tools seem useful for creating this balance, the HP Presence tech available in the HP EliteBook 860 G10 may be for you.
With enhanced meeting room features and additional AI camera support, it's easier than ever to create amazing spaces to work with anyone in the world. The HP Speaker Frame offers a picture-in-picture experience, and Speaker Tracking follows the presenter even as they move around the room. A more visual interface tells you at a glance if your video or speaker is on and broadcasting, so no one is surprised by a hot mic.
HP Sure Sense
With each tech advancement comes another opportunity for hackers to invade, but the HP Sure Sense tech inside the HP ProBook 450 G10 Notebook takes a proactive approach to prevent attacks. Using deep learning models, it detects even those dangerous files that haven't been seen before and assesses software behavior to sniff out ransomware before it causes harm.
This real-time protection offering also consults a cloud-based database of known threats, which is continually updated with the latest malware, spyware, and security risks.
Enhancing user experiences
Intel's enhancements to its chipset should result in a faster performance experience for both business and personal computer users.
By taking the best technology from its XeHPG graphics and including it inside the Meteor Lake GPU, Intel has created a perfect scenario for improved benchmarks and 2x to 6x the improvements for pixel blending. The chip also supports XeSS, an AI-powered technology that takes low-resolution images and “upsamples” them to create a better image.
Endurance gamers will also find they can game longer, even on laptops, with reduced power needs. How does it do this? By assigning all tasks to the low-power E-cores first and then pushing what's needed to the Performance cores. This almost backward approach to what has been done in the past ensures lower power usage and the ability to keep battery drain under control.
Summary
Meteor Lake has opened the door to a new type of computing, where AI is built in and resources are used more efficiently. From business to personal use cases, there’s a lot to look forward to.
However, the tech is new, and we have yet to see what this type of revolutionary product will do for consumers on a day-to-day basis. A lot depends on how customers choose to use it. For example, what AI tools will they gravitate to over the next year or two? And how will they choose to test the new performance capabilities of HP computers with the new chipset?
Whether they boost gaming speeds or use it to run Generative AI in the background, the bottom line is that Meteor Lake is made to meet the future as we find it.
