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On Saturday, Intel removed the wraps from its Intel Iris Xe MAX graphics. We saw these discrete GPUs hitting laptops in early October, but because NDA makers like Asus and Acer were unable to meaningfully describe the technology with specs or test performance claims.
Intel Iris Xe MAX graphics have been confirmed to be based on the same Xe-LP microarchitecture used for Intel Iris Xe graphics in 11th Gen Intel Core mobile processors. In its MAX configuration, Intel is tucking it into thin and light laptops to tackle “a growing segment of creators who want greater portability”, writes Vice President and General Manager of XPU Customer Products and Solutions at Intel, Roger Chandler. It will fit into this bill thanks to both the GPU technology itself and Intel’s platform-level innovation, specifically something called Deep Link.
Above: Mobile SoC vs discrete Xe-LP
Deep link
You can see above that Intel Iris mobile SoCs are not that different than discrete Xe-LPs, so having both in a mainstream laptop would seem like an odd choice. However, it is claimed that Intel’s Deep Link technology combines GPUs to make the discrete GPU worthwhile, especially for mobile device creators.
The official description of Deep Link is that “It adds multiple processing engines through a common software framework to bring new capabilities and better performance to PCs.” The key to its operation is that it allows applications to scale certain workloads through integrated and discrete graphics. For example, ‘Additive AI’ means that one GPU can be used for inferences and another for rendering. Another advertised use case is that of ‘Hyper Encoding’, where multiple media streams can be encoded at the same time.
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“AI creation up to 7 times faster” |
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Check out the slides below for some Additive AI and Hyper Encoding performance benchmarks and examples.
Another important technology in mobile platforms that Intel is launching its discrete and integrated Deep Linked GPUs is Dynamic Power Sharing. Intel has enabled this by shifting all power and thermal resources to dedicate to the CPU when discrete graphics are idle, resulting in up to 20% better CPU performance.
Deep Link is currently compatible with tools like Handbrake, OBS, XSpilt, and Huya. Blender, CyberLink and Magix tools will also be aware of Deep Link in the coming weeks / months.
Gaming is not the focus of attention for Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, mobile gamers must wait until the Xe-HPG parts hit mobile platforms. However, Intel still makes a worthy debut in thin and light 1080p PC games compared to the likes of the Nvidia GeForce MX 350, based on its own tests.
The first laptop designs with Iris Xe MAX graphics will be available this month.
