Intel unveils new 14th gen CPU family at CES 2024

Even though Intel is putting a significant focus on AI-powered PCs with its Core Ultra notebook chips, it’s not forgetting about gamers and speed enthusiasts who prioritize sheer power. During CES 2024 in Las Vegas, Intel showcased its entire 14th-generation CPU family, featuring robust “HX” series chips like the 24-core i9-14900HX, alongside new mainstream desktop CPUs.

Catering to the opposite side of the power spectrum, Intel also introduced the Core U Processor Series 1, designed to strike a balance between performance and efficiency in slim and lightweight notebooks. Yeah, it might seem a bit tangled with Intel handling two distinct laptop chip platforms — the Core Ultra chips and the 14th-gen hardware — but they each have their own role. For the majority of notebook shoppers, the Core Ultra chips are the way to go:

Intel’s mightiest new laptop chip, the Core i9-14900HX, packs eight P-cores, 16 E-cores, and a turbo frequency of 5.8GHz. According to Intel, it outperforms AMD’s Ryzen 7945X3D by 17 percent in gaming and is a whopping 51 percent faster than the Ryzen 7945HX for multitasking in virtual production scenarios (utilizing Unreal Engine 5’s MetaHuman generator and RealityCapture software).

On the flip side, the Core i7-14700HX boasts a total of 20 cores, including an additional 4 E-cores compared to the previous model. Additionally, the 14th-gen HX chips will come with support for Thunderbolt 5 and 4 connections, along with Wi-Fi 6E and dedicated hardware for the emerging Wi-Fi 7 standard.

Intel is rolling out 18 new 14th-gen desktop chips today, adding to the initial unlocked batch from October. These chips, led by the $549 i9-14900, max out at 24 cores and can reach speeds up to 5.8GHz. According to Intel’s tests, the Core i9-14900 doesn’t show a significant speed boost compared to its 13th-gen predecessor (only six percent faster in League of Legends). However, Intel asserts that it outshines AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900: the new chip is 15 percent faster in the CrossMark benchmark and a substantial 32 percent faster in Premiere Pro’s PugetBench.

When it comes to Intel’s Core U-Series platform, you’ll likely encounter them in the sleek laptops that used to house its earlier U-series chips. The lineup is led by the Intel Core 7 150U, a 10-core chip (2 P-cores and 8 E-cores) that can reach speeds up to 5.4GHz. The mid-range Core 5 120U shares the same core count but with slightly slower clock speeds, whereas the Core 3 100U is a 6-core chip reaching 4.7GHz.