A SiSoft Sandra online database entry revealed that the new Ultrabook / 2-in-1 chip from Intel features Gen 11 graphics.

The same place revealed that the new Ice Lake U graphics has 48 Compute Units, double the number from the Kaby Lake R, or the Core 8000 series. Intel did have an adventure with 48 compute units with Core i5-7287U launched in Q1 2017. We are not aware of a single design using this CPU, but we might be wrong about that. It appears that the notebook manufacturers didn’t really like the 28W TDP from that part, although it was configurable down to 23W.

The new Gen 11 graphics will end up with 384 shaders, again 24 Compute Units and 192 shaders with the 8th Generation Core Kaby Lake R based notebooks. Kaby Lake R started shipping in Q3 2017 and adding four cores while staying at 15W TPD is quite a great achievement.

It remains to be seen if this is another three die chip that will have this massive graphics part and if the notebook manufacturers will be interested in such a solution. Kaby Lake R with Intel UHD Graphics 620 currently dominates the market and the Core 8000 series is selling well.

There might be an Ice Lake 10nm two-chip solution with 24 Compute Units too, that will be more attractive for OEMs and integrators.

Ice Lake 10nm can be expected in the second part of 2018 at the earliest, most likely ready for the holiday season. At least this might be an optimistic plan as we are not sure if Intel can pull any more optimized 14nm parts. Enough is enough, but we are impressed by the performance leap of the Core 8000 Kaby Lake R. There was enough horsepower there after all.

One thing is certain, even at 10nm, it might be hard to have 48 EUs / CUs / Compute Units at 15W TDP for Ultrabooks, 2-in-1s and other thin and light machines.