Intel’s Panther Lake Triumphs at Digital Foundry’s CES 2026
At CES 2026, Intel showcased impressive advancements with its Panther Lake platform, particularly in mobile graphics performance. This unveiling has shifted the spotlight in the mobile computing sector.
Intel’s Panther Lake: A Game Changer
Intel’s focus at CES 2026 was evident as they introduced the Panther Lake platform, emphasizing already high-end mobile and portable computing. The company allowed extensive hands-on testing with their processors, revealing substantial gains in integrated graphics capabilities.
Key Features of Panther Lake Processors
- Core Configuration: Most of the Panther Lake processors boast 16 cores, consisting of four performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and four low-power efficiency cores. A few models feature eight cores.
- Graphics Performance: The Ultra X9 and Ultra X7 models integrate 12 Xe graphics cores, claiming equivalence to the mobile Nvidia RTX 4050.
- Power Efficiency: Each processor utilizes a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with around 50 TOPs.
- Manufacturing Process: The Panther Lake compute tile is fabricated using Intel’s new 2nm-class 18A process, marking a significant technological milestone.
Benchmark Results
During the event, a reference Lenovo laptop equipped with a maxed-out integrated GPU and 32GB of DDR5 RAM was tested with popular games. The results showcase Intel’s potential in the mobile gaming space.
Testing Methods and Games
- Games Tested: The benchmarks included Cyberpunk 2077, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
- Graphical Settings: Tests were conducted at 1080p with ultra settings and ray tracing (RT) enabled.
Performance Insights
- In Cyberpunk 2077, Panther Lake achieved a notable 30fps without upscaling, hitting nearly 60fps with decent upscaling.
- Doom: The Dark Ages recorded an average of 33.33fps, showing a doubling in performance when compared to AMD’s Strix Point.
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider results indicated a significant performance gap, with Panther Lake outperforming Strix Point but falling short of the Strix Halo by over 30%.
Comparative Analysis
The performance was also evaluated against entry-level desktop GPUs, such as the AMD RX 6600 and Nvidia RTX 3050. While Panther Lake did not surpass these GPUs, it showed competitive results.
Comparison Metrics
| Graphics Unit | Performance Compared to Panther Lake |
|---|---|
| AMD RX 6600 | Up to 14% faster |
| Nvidia RTX 3050 | 27% faster when upscaling is enabled |
Looking Ahead
Intel’s Panther Lake processors demonstrate a strong potential for the handheld gaming market. The technology offers improved image quality with Xenon Super Sampling (XeSS), further enhancing its appeal. However, details regarding pricing remain scarce, leaving questions about market positioning unanswered.
Despite the exciting results, the performance of Panther Lake under different power limits, especially in handheld devices, is still being evaluated. Future insights will help clarify its viability in a competitive landscape dominated by advanced gaming options.
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