Skip to main content

Intel announces Tiger Lake processors, with double the graphics performance

Intel Tiger Lake processor on a laptop motherboard
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Intel unveiled its new Tiger Lake processor designed for thin-and-light ultrabooks at CES 2020, promising double-digit performance improvements thanks to the company’s new Xe graphics architecture.

The chipset also doubles the graphics performance of the the prior generation, providing HD gaming performance for hundreds of millions of people that depend on integrated graphics. Thanks to the jump in graphics performance, consumers can now play casual games on the integrated graphics of a thin-and-light ultrabook without having to buy a second gaming desktop or laptop with discrete graphics.

In particular, Tiger Lake is meant to be the replacement of Ice Lake, which was Intel’s first attempt at a 10nm processor. These chips were launched last fall, and have become the primary processor used in high-end laptops in early 2020.

There are AI improvements with Tiger Lake as well, alongside advancements in media and display improvements. Software vendors can utilize the hardware’s AI acceleration to help users do instant photo enhancements, turning everyday consumers into creatives. With little effort, you can digitally zoom into blurry photos and get an enhanced resolution, crisper image with minimal effort, Intel showed during its demo with photo editing software from Topaz Labs.

“It is our most disruptive and advanced architecture yet,” said Intel’s graphics software engineering director Lisa Pearce during the company’s CES keynote. “And so we’re super excited and bring gains and efficiency also doubles the performance versus the previous generation.” Other features include Thunderbolt 4 support and Wi-Fi 6 on Intel’s smallest U-series motherboard to date.

Intel's foldable Horseshoe Bend concept
Image used with permission by copyright holder

In a show of what it can accomplish, Intel also demonstrated how its Tiger Lake processor can be used to drive new and exciting form factors to drive more immersive computing experiences. The company showcased its new Horseshoe Bend concept, a foldable laptop with a massive 17-inch display that uses Tiger Lake. According to Intel, the “hybrid” Tiger Lake processor is what allows for these types of experimental form factors.

Intel didn’t provide details on the exact specifications of these new processors. There’s a lot we still don’t know. But Intel did show off the tiny motherboard it designed just for Tiger Lake.

Intel stated that laptops with Tiger Lake should be available later this year.

Follow our live blog for more CES news and announcements.

Editors' Recommendations

Chuong Nguyen
Silicon Valley-based technology reporter and Giants baseball fan who splits his time between Northern California and Southern…
Intel Meteor Lake is coming to desktop, but there’s a big catch
Intel announcing the Meteor Lake release date on Intel Innovation.

It's been a real roller coaster ride with Intel Meteor Lake. First, it was coming to desktops, then it wasn't, then it was, and now ... it isn't, but it is. If you're as confused as we are, don't worry -- Intel has set things straight and we now know that Meteor Lake chips will be available in desktops, but they won't become some of the best processors for desktop PCs, all because they're not socketed.

Intel spoke about the future of its 14th-Gen Meteor Lake chips in a statement made to ComputerBase, revealing that, yes, Intel Meteor Lake will come to desktop PCs, but only all-in-one (AIO) computers like the Intel NUC or small form-factor PCs. It won't be available in socketed form, which means that you won't be able to install it in a future LGA1851 motherboard. In short, Meteor Lake chips are laptop CPUs, through and through.

Read more
Intel 14th-gen Meteor Lake: news, rumors, release date speculation
On-package memory on Intel Meteor Lake processors.

Intel's 14th-gen Meteor Lake processors are just around the corner. Although we don't have a firm release date yet, Intel has confirmed the processors are still set to arrive in 2023. The company has also been releasing a steady stream of details about the processors, giving us an idea of what to expect when they finally release.

Currently, all eyes are on Intel Innovation on September 19, where we expect to get a full breakdown of 14th-gen Meteor Lake processors. Ahead of the event, here's everything we know about Meteor Lake, including its architecture, release date, and potential performance.
Pricing and release date

Read more
The leaks were wrong — Intel Meteor Lake is coming to desktop
Intel CEO talking about Meteor Lake

For months, industry leaks have seemed to confirm that Intel’s Meteor Lake processors won’t be coming to desktop computers. Now, though, Intel has turned that narrative on its head, with the latest info confirming they’ll be launched on PCs after all.

The new information comes from a PCWorld interview with Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel’s executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group. PCWorld spoke to Johnston Holthaus at the Intel Innovation 2023 event and managed to wring some previously unknown tidbits out of the VP.

Read more