In a rare double header, both Intel and Nvidia today introduced new components for gaming laptops. For Intel, that’s 10th Generation H-Series processors, while Nvidia announced Max-Q versions of its RTX Super line.
We’ll start with the latter announcement of the brand new Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q and 2070 Super Max-Q for gaming laptops. Going from the RTX 2080 Max-Q to its new Super variant, Nvidia has bumped up the CUDA core count from 2,944 to 3,072 while also increasing the boost clock speed from 1,230MHz to 1,560MHz.
It’s almost the same story for the RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, which has seen the addition of 220 more CUDA cores, but interestingly a reduction in maximum frequency by 75MHz.
Aside differences in CUDA core counts and boost clock speeds, there’s not much different on the surface specs of these two new laptop GPUs. However, there have been plenty of under the hood improvements including low-voltage DDR6 memory and a next-generation regulator to reduce power usage.
To the Max
These two new parts also bring a boat load of new Max-Q features. Most importantly these second generation mobile Max-Q graphics chips have been granted Advanced Optimus Technology, which finally allows gaming laptops to switch between integrated and discrete graphics while also supporting G-Sync at the same time. Previously, any gaming laptop outfitted with G-Sync support could not switch back to integrated graphics in order to improve battery life, as its display was essentially hard wired to Nvida’s GPU.
Aside from being able to save on battery life thanks to the graphics switching software, G-Sync itself has also seen an upgrade to support 4K 120Hz displays—though there has yet to be a single gaming laptop that features both of these screen specs.
The other important Max-Q technology here is Dynamic Boost, which basically shifts power between the CPU and GPU. This isn’t a simple boost to both processing power and graphical horsepower, rather the software will reduce power going to the CPU to GPU to squeeze a little more FPS while playing graphically demanding games like Doom Eternal.
Nvidia says that all these new features, including the low-voltage DDR6 memory and next-generation regulator, will come to all new Max-Q GPUs across the company’s entire range of RTX and GTX chips. However, the company doesn’t have any plans to clearly mark which laptops will feature all these new Max-Q chips, so we’re hoping the individual manufacturers will place a box sticker or other clear indication on its products.
At the very least we can expect the price of Nvidia-powered gaming laptops to decrease soon. The company confirmed that this April we’ll start seeing GTX 1650-equipped machines starting at $699 while gaming laptops with an RTX 2060 will start at $999.
Octa-core power
On the Intel side of things, the Santa Clara-based company has introduced 10th Generation H-series processors. Before you get too excited about the notion of gaming-grade Ice Lake processors, we’re sad to inform you that this is yet another lineup of 14nm chips.
The good news is this new line of CPUs finally brings eight-core, 16-thread processors to gaming laptops at long last. What’s more, all of these new Intel Core i7 and i9 processors are able to hit a maximum (single-core) clock speed of 5.0GHz or higher. Core i5 processors aren’t far behind either with the lowest Turbo frequency sitting around 4.5GHz.
Intel has also added the Intel Speed Optimizer as a feature inside the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility for simple one-click overclocking. This new automated feature will scan your system for its available power and thermal overhead and set an appropriate multi-core overclock on your gaming laptop.
Otherwise, these new processors bring integrated Intel Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+) and boost DDR4 memory speeds up to 2,933MHz—though we’ve seen a few Asus machines up the ante to 3,200MHz.
This is one of the biggest component refreshes we’ve seen in gaming laptops for some time and as such manufacturers are already pulling all the stops with new models. Below in our slideshow we’ve featured just a few of the latest models including the insane dual-screen laptop we teased earlier so click on.
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Kevin Lee is IGN’s Hardware and Roundups Editor. Follow him on Twitter @baggingspam
Source: IGN.com Gaming Laptops Finally Get 8-Core CPUs and Nvidia RTX Super Graphics