Intel and AMD, the two prominent companies of central processing unit (CPU), are competing again in the laptop market. At CES 2022, CPU products that will target the rapidly growing laptop and mobile information technology (IT) device market were unveiled. The two companies, which competed in the desktop PC and server markets, expanded their front lines to laptops.
Intel and AMD also predicted competition in the graphics processing unit (GPU) market. Intel, which has successfully re-entered the external GPU market, challenges the dominance of NVIDIA and AMD. Neck-to-neck competition in the computer semiconductor chip market is expected.
◇Intel “Faster than AMD”
At an online press conference ahead of the opening of CES 2022 on the 4th (local time), Intel unveiled a large number of new CPU for laptops and additional CPUs for desktop PCs. Intel released the 12th generation Intel Core processor (code name Alder Lake) for desktop PC using the Intel 7 process (10nm) in November of last year. In the midst of favorable market reviews, this time, they introduced a CPU (H series) for laptops and mobiles. The highest spec product, 'Core i9-12900HK', provides up to 28% faster gaming performance than existing Intel products.
Gregory Bryant, leader of Intel's Client Computing Group (Executive Vice President), said that it is "the fastest mobile processor" and outperforms AMD and Apple's own chip, the M1 Max. He emphasized that the gaming speed is 20 to 65% faster compared to AMD. The mention of competitors is interpreted as a strategy to preoccupy market dominance by putting performance competitiveness first. All of these products are expected to be released within the first quarter. This means that Intel's market entry is imminent.
Intel also introduced an upgraded version (S series) for desktop PC. Performance with low power consumption was emphasized more. It can be applied to various products such as an all-in-one PC. This is an attempt to expand the market for Intel CPU applications. It was also announced that Intel's first external GPU, 'Arc', has started supplying to the market. It’s produced by using a 6-nano advanced process. Including Samsung Electronics, more than 50 laptops and desktop PCs such as Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, and MSI will be equipped with Intel Arc. It is noteworthy whether it will establish itself as a new competitor in the GPU market led by NVIDIA and AMD. Intel has also established a roadmap for developing external GPU products for servers and supercomputers as well as for PC.
◇ AMD announced this year's roadmap which utilizes 5nm advanced process
AMD, which has quickly emerged as a powerful CPU and GPU company, also unveiled a new CPU for laptops on the same day as Intel. AMD's CEO Lisa Su came out in person. The Ryzen 6000 processor was made based on 'Zen 3 Plus', which improved the existing AMD design structure (architecture) 'Zen 3'. It is mass-produced using the TSMC 6-nano process. It boosts up to 11% higher single-thread performance compared to its predecessor, the Ryzen 5000. Multi-thread performance improved by 28%. The new product also supports DDR5 memory.
AMD also formalized the announcement of a 5-nm process-based CPU, which is a game-changer against Intel in the second half of the year. It is the next-generation architecture, the 'Zen 4' core-based Ryzen 7000. In the first half of the year, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D desktop PC processor that provides a fast gaming experience will also be unveiled. These products are known to drive domestic semiconductor packaging investment demand.
AMD also announced GPU Radeon updates. AMD Radeon RX 6000M is a premium laptop GPU designed to enhance gaming performance. With the Radeon RX 6000S, it targets the lightweight and slim laptop market. They also introduced a graphics card dedicated to desktop PC △ Radeon RX 6500 XT, and the Radeon RX 6400.
CEO Lisa Su said, "In the past two years, PC shipments have recorded remarkable growth to 350 million units. 2022 will be an important year for the PC industry and AMD."
Meanwhile, NVIDIA also unveiled a new flagship GPU, the GeForce RTX3090 Ti. Equipped with GDDR6X, the memory clock is 7.7% faster than its predecessor. Overall performance is improved by 10%. NVIDIA announced that Samsung Electronics TV will be equipped with GeForce Now, a cloud gaming service.
By Staff Reporter Dong-jun Kwon (djkwon@etnews.com)