Intel Launches AI Chip Lunar Lake with 120 TOPS
On June 4th, during the COMPUTEX 2024 keynote, Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger delivered a keynote speech highlighting the advancements in Intel's technology. He unveiled the progress of Intel Xeon 6 processors and Gaudi 3 accelerators, along with the official announcement of the next-generation Lunar Lake mobile processor tailored for AI-powered PCs.
The Intel Xeon 6 processor represents a significant leap, being the first server chip based on Intel 3 architecture. It comprises two series: Xeon 6 with Performance Cores (P-cores), formerly known as Granite Rapids, and Xeon 6 with Efficiency Cores (E-cores), formerly known as Sierra Forest. The initial release will feature Xeon 6 E-cores processors, available in configurations with 144 and 288 cores. Compared to the previous generation of Intel Xeon processors, media transcoding performance has improved by 4.2 times, energy efficiency per watt increased by 2.6 times, and rack density enhanced by 2.7 times, potentially saving 8,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity.
As for the Gaudi 3 accelerator, it adopts TSMC's 5nm process and boasts impressive specifications including 8 matrix math engines, 64 tensor cores, 96MB SRAM, and 128 GB HBM2e memory, among others. Performance-wise, Gaudi 3 outperforms its predecessor, Gaudi 2, particularly excelling in BF16 workload by four times and FP8 performance by two times. Its networking capabilities are also doubled compared to Gaudi 2. Intel's official data indicates that Gaudi 3 achieves superior training and inference speeds compared to Nvidia's H100, making it a competitive choice for distributors.
Gaudi 3 is already available in the market and Intel has partnered with various companies, including Dell, HP Inc., Lenovo, and Supermicro, to expand its product reach. Moreover, collaborations with Asus, Foxconn, Gigabyte, Pegatron, Quanta, and Wistron aim to further diversify the product line.
Intel emphasizes that the integration of Xeon processors and Gaudi accelerators not only delivers high performance but also reduces overall costs by one-third compared to other platforms. These solutions can be seamlessly integrated into a single system, providing a competitive edge over alternatives.
At COMPUTEX 2024, Intel unveiled its next-generation AI PC chip, Lunar Lake, boasting significant enhancements in CPU, GPU, and NPU performance while reducing energy consumption. The chip comprises seven key components, utilizing Intel Foveros interconnect technology to combine computing and platform controller chips. Lunar Lake employs cutting-edge manufacturing processes from TSMC, with the main computing chips manufactured using N3B process and platform controller chips using N6 process.
Lunar Lake's CPU architecture features Hybrid cores with 4 Lion Cove P-cores and 4 Skymont E-cores, offering a balance between performance and efficiency. The GPU is based on Xe2 architecture, providing substantial graphics processing enhancements compared to its predecessor, Meteor Lake. Additionally, the NPU has been upgraded to the fourth generation, delivering significant improvements in neural processing capabilities.
Intel revealed plans for future mobile processors targeting AI PCs, including Arrow Lake for desktops in the fourth quarter of this year, Panther Lake featuring Intel 18A architecture next year, and subsequent products beyond 2026. With over 80 designs from 20 OEMs, Lunar Lake is expected to start shipping in the third quarter.
