Skip to main content

Intel is cramming custom AMD Radeon graphics into an eighth-generation chip

New Intel Core Processor Combines High-Performance CPU with Discrete Graphics
Look up in the sky, as you soon may start to see pigs flying overhead. Intel said on Monday, November 6 that it teamed up with processor rival AMD to create an all-in-one package for OEMs to use in thin-and-light PCs. This package contains eighth-generation Intel Core H processor cores, custom AMD discrete Radeon graphics cores, dedicated HBM2 graphics memory, and a special “highway” connecting the three components together called an
Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!
embedded multi-die interconnect bridge, or EMIB.

There are several benefits in using this all-in-one chip. First, the resulting thin-and-light device will have equal if not better performance than bulky laptops because of the fast, dedicated connection between Intel’s CPU cores and AMD’s graphics cores. The use on HBM2 graphics memory also means more space for OEMs to use because HBM2 stacks vertically instead of horizontally like GDDR5. Intel says this new all-in-one solution provides a unique power-sharing feature, too, to maximize performance without gobbling up the battery like candy.

“We’ve added unique software drivers and interfaces to this semi-custom discrete GPU that coordinate information among all three elements of the platform,” the company said. “Not only does it help manage temperature, [and] power delivery and performance state in real time, it also enables system designers to adjust the ratio of power sharing between the processor and graphics based on workloads and usages, like performance gaming. Balancing power between our high-performing processor and the graphics subsystem is critical to achieve great performance across both processors as systems get thinner.”

all-in-one
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Typically, Intel is no competition in the mainstream discrete graphics space — that’s solely fought between Nvidia (GeForce) and AMD (Radeon). But in the mainstream processor space, Intel and AMD fight hard for your hard-earned dollars. Intel just launched its eighth-generation Core processor family, and AMD recently announced its new Ryzen processors for desktops and laptops. The collaboration is indeed a surprise.

To get high graphics performance in a laptop, you typically need a stand-alone, discrete graphics chip despite the integrated component in Intel’s CPUs. But throwing a discrete graphics chip into the mix typically means a bulkier form factor, a higher power requirement, additional cooling requirements, and a larger price tag.

Understanding this, Intel apparently approached AMD with the idea of providing high-performance graphics in super-thin laptops using a single optimized package. But the duo isn’t stopping at thin-and-light notebooks. OEM’s can use this device to create standard notebooks, 2-in-1s, and miniature desktops as well.

At the very heart of Intel’s new all-in-one chip is the EMIB technology. First revealed in 2014, Intel said in April of this year during its Technology and Manufacturing conference that this platform enables Intel to throw in components from any manufacturer, not just AMD. It’s a “mix and match” heterogeneous design, and AMD appears to be the first participant in Intel’s EMIB roadmap. The resulting chip won’t include Intel’s own integrated graphics cores typically found in its mobile and desktop processors.

This new all-in-one chip from Intel and AMD will be made available to OEMs in the first quarter of 2018.

Editors' Recommendations

Kevin Parrish
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
Nvidia vs. AMD vs. Intel: Who’s the winner of CES 2024?
Michelle Johnston Holthaus holding an Intel Core Ultra CPU.

Nvidia, AMD, and Intel all unveiled some of the best PC hardware of CES 2024. With plenty of processors for both mobile and desktop, as well as some new graphics cards, the three PC giants came in with plenty to offer -- but which one did it best?

We have an interesting lineup from Intel, which expanded its list of top CPUs with chips ranging from the entry-level Core i3 to the high-end Core i9-HX. AMD served up some revolutionary APUs and a new graphics card. Meanwhile, Nvidia did something unprecedented -- it actually offered better value in its new GPUs. Let's compare the three and determine who won this year's CES 2024.
Nvidia: Super cards and lots of AI

Read more
AMD’s new CPUs let you play Cyberpunk without a graphics card
AMD announcing AMD Ryzen 8000G.

AMD just revealed its new lineup of desktop APUs with built-in graphics at CES 2024: the Ryzen 8000G series. According to AMD, the Ryzen 8000G lineup can run AAA titles without requiring a discrete GPU. Will these CPUs really rival some of the best processors when it comes to graphics performance? Here's everything we know.

Equipped with AMD's Radeon 700M graphics, these chips combine a CPU and a GPU, and AMD claims that the integrated graphics can compete against some of the most popular discrete graphics cards.

Read more
AMD’s new integrated graphics might beat popular Nvidia GPU
AMD Ryzen processor render.

For five years straight, Nvidia’s GTX 1060 was the most popular graphics card for gamers. But now, AMD might be able to match it with only integrated graphics.

Fresh information around AMD’s upcoming desktop APUs, specifically the Ryzen 5 8600G, has emerged to give us a fair idea of how the upcoming processor and integrated graphics could shape up. Recently leaked Geekbench benchmark scores not only offer a performance metric, but the listing also reveals crucial specifications about the upcoming chip.

Read more