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Intel is reportedly working on a brand new gaming CPU with a very powerful GPU built into it, potentially meaning you wouldn’t need a separate graphics card to run games at decent settings – you could just use the CPU instead. According to the latest word on the tech rumor grapevine, the new Intel Nova Lake AX lineup of processors is designed to counter the latest AMD Ryzen AI Max CPUs, codenamed Strix Halo, some of which have enormously powerful integrated GPUs.
AMD has had a big advantage over Intel when it comes to integrated graphics since it bought ATi back in 2006, and we were impressed by the performance of its new Strix Halo platform when we tested it for our Asus ROG Flow Z13 review – its integrated GPU isn’t far off the pace of a budget separate graphics card. If Intel can make a chip with a similarly powerful GPU, our guide to buying the best handheld could look quite different in the future, if that were an area where Intel decided to focus its efforts.
There’s not much in the way of meat on the bones of this rumor, however, which comes from regular Intel tech leaker Jaykihn. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jaykihn simply says “Preliminary Nova Lake -AX.” Another regular tech leaker, HXL, then retweeted the post with the comment “intel Halo,” suggesting that Nova Lake AX will be Intel’s equivalent of AMD’s Ryzen AI Max chips.
Meanwhile, tech site Videocardz claims to have contacted Jaykihn directly, who reportedly confirmed that “this is indeed a Halo competitor.” While this is all very much at the early rumor stage, Jaykihn does have a good track record for Intel leaks in the past, including accurately leaking several of the key Intel Arrow Lake specs several months before the CPUs were released.
Intel hasn’t produced a lineup of Core CPUs with the AX suffix before, with the normal lettering at the moment including a K to denote an unlocked multiplier for overclocking, an F for CPUs that don’t have an integrated GPU, and HX for high-end laptop CPUs. As such, if this rumor is correct, it looks as though Intel could be producing a new range of CPUs that targets a different market from usual.
This is all just speculation and rumor at the moment, though. There have been a few other leaks about Intel’s next CPU lineups as well, including talk of a 52-core Intel CPU, as well as an Intel 3D V-cache equivalent to take on AMD’s X3D chips.
While we wait for more information, in the meantime, you can check out our extensive guide to buying the best gaming CPU, where we run you through all the best options available right now, as well as our best gaming motherboard buying guide.
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