Intel’s latest Arrow Lake mobile processor, the Core Ultra 7 255H, has showcased remarkable performance improvements in recent PassMark benchmarks, achieving a 32% increase in single-core performance compared to its Meteor Lake counterpart. The breakthrough results signal a significant advancement in Intel’s mobile computing capabilities.
The new processor, featuring Intel’s advanced Arrow Lake architecture, combines Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores in a sophisticated design that maintains the Low Power Efficient (LPE) core cluster from its predecessor. This architectural evolution represents Intel’s continued commitment to balancing performance and efficiency in mobile computing.
Built on TSMC’s N3B process node, a significant upgrade from the Intel 4 process used in Meteor Lake, the Core Ultra 7 255H boasts a configuration of 16 cores, including six P-cores, eight E-cores, and two LPE-cores. Unlike its predecessor, the new chip operates without hyperthreading support, resulting in 16 threads compared to the 155H’s 22 threads. Despite this reduction in thread count, the processor’s enhanced architecture and increased boost clock speeds have delivered substantial performance gains.
The benchmark results reveal impressive numbers, with the 255H scoring 4,631 points in PassMark’s single-core test compared to the 155H’s 3,500 points. This 32% improvement in single-core performance translates to an overall 15% advantage in PassMark’s comprehensive CPU Mark rating, demonstrating the effectiveness of the architectural improvements and process node advancement.
Graphics capabilities have also seen refinement, with Arrow Lake-H incorporating up to eight Xe-LPG+ cores supporting XMX technology. However, the neural processing unit (NPU) maintains the same 13 TOPS of INT8 performance as its predecessor, significantly lower than the 45 TOPS offered by the upcoming Lunar Lake platform.
Despite these impressive performance gains, efficiency remains a challenging aspect for Intel’s new chip. Recent testing revealed that the higher-end Core Ultra 9 285H struggled to outperform AMD’s 10-core Ryzen AI 9 365 when operating under a 50W power constraint. This efficiency gap highlights the ongoing competition between Intel and AMD in the mobile processor market.
The processor’s market positioning and pricing strategy will play crucial roles in its success, particularly as AMD’s Strix Point devices maintain competitive entry-level pricing around $1,000. Intel’s approach to the budget segment includes an interesting development with the Core Ultra 200U series, which reportedly utilizes Meteor Lake architecture with Redwood Cove+ P-cores and Crestmont+ E-cores, manufactured on Intel’s 3 process node.
This strategic use of different manufacturing processes and architectures across the product line suggests Intel’s efforts to optimize production costs while maintaining competitive pricing. However, the current market availability of Arrow Lake laptops remains limited, particularly in the more affordable segments.
As manufacturers begin integrating these new processors into their laptop designs, the real-world impact of these performance improvements will become clearer. The significant gains in single-core performance could particularly benefit applications that rely heavily on single-threaded performance, such as gaming and certain productivity software.
The launch of the Core Ultra 7 255H represents another step in Intel’s mobile computing evolution, demonstrating the company’s ability to deliver meaningful performance improvements while navigating the challenges of power efficiency and market competitiveness. As more devices featuring this processor enter the market, consumers will have the opportunity to experience these advances firsthand.
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