Intel Core Ultra 5 234V laptop CPU leaks online — Lunar Lake processor with Xe2-LPG iGPU destined for next-gen systems

Intel Lunar Lake
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

Following recent leaks, like Lunar Lake MX from a few weeks ago, Twitter user @miktdt has uncovered the existence of Lunar Lake-based "200-Series" Intel Core Ultra 5 on the Open.Intel platform. There is even a reference to "XE_LUNARLAKE," which seemingly corresponds to the Intel Iris Xe2 Low Power Graphics (LPG) on this Core Ultra 5 chip. 

The specific CPU identified in this leak is the Intel Core Ultra 5 234V, although we have no idea what that "V" stands for in this particular application. Lunar Lake architecture is targeted at laptops and other mobile devices, so it could pertain to those platforms. It's also worth noting that despite this new CPU being on a cutting-edge new architecture, SMT/Hyperthreading isn't enabled for any of the cores — so you get eight cores and eight threads across the board.

This Intel Core Ultra 5 234V leak could possibly be the same unidentified Lunar Lake CPU we identified in February. That CPU also had 8 cores and 8 threads split between P-Cores and E-Cores (it also had seemingly mismatched L2 and L3 cache sizes). Unfortunately, we don't have any additional specs readings for this leak, so we can't confirm they're the same CPU; we can only speculate.

In any case, the repetition of 8-cores, 8-threads without the presence of Hyperthreading may point toward a future of Intel CPUs without Hyperthreading, at least in the mobile space. Arrow Lake samples also don't feature Hyperthreading. Considering the performance benefits of HT for multi-tasking and non-gaming workloads, it's something of a surprise to see Intel shed it for mobile CPUs this time around, but maybe the P-Core/E-Core split and NPU addition will offset that loss.

Finally, we don't know what to expect regarding performance from Iris Xe2 graphics, particularly the Xe2-LPG (Low Power Graphics) version of the iGPU. However, the generational improvement of Meteor Lake's Arc graphics compared to previous Intel iGPUs was impressive, so hopefully, Xe2-LPG will remain competitive when we see it launched with these Lunar Lake CPUs.

Christopher Harper
Contributing Writer

Christopher Harper has been a successful freelance tech writer specializing in PC hardware and gaming since 2015, and ghostwrote for various B2B clients in High School before that. Outside of work, Christopher is best known to friends and rivals as an active competitive player in various eSports (particularly fighting games and arena shooters) and a purveyor of music ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Killer Mike to the Sonic Adventure 2 soundtrack.

  • Finally, we don't know what to expect regarding performance from Iris Xe2 graphics, particularly the Xe2-LPG (Low Power Graphics) version of the iGPU.

    There is even a reference to "XE_LUNARLAKE," which seemingly corresponds to the Intel Iris Xe2 Low Power Graphics (LPG) on this Core Ultra 5 chip.

    First of all, please stop adding the codename IRIS to the integrated graphics, to avoid any confusion. Just saying.

    As I mentioned in the previous article, Iris Xe integrated graphics were found within Intel's 12th Gen Core series, Xe-LP architecture. It was integrated in the popular 11th, 12th, and 13th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 processors.

    Intel has since dropped the codename starting with Meteor Lake architecture which it now labels as Xe-LPG. There is no "Iris" here. But in any case, we can expect a decent performance uplift from Battlemage Xe2 iGPU.

    Although, this new firmware driver update doesn't list the exact configuration of the chip, but we can find some references such as "64" and "GT1" being made in the log file. So this could mean the chip sports 64 EUs, or 8 XE cores.

    Because, based on previous leaks/rumors, we know that some of the Battlemage Xe2-LPG iGPUs are expected to feature up to 8 Xe-cores/64 EUs, and this entry further proves it.

    So the performance uplift is surely there on Xe2 graphics compared to Xe1 igpu lineup, not just from higher core counts, improved clock speeds, but architectural improvements, and efficiency as well.

    The specific CPU identified in this leak is the Intel Core Ultra 5 234V, although we have no idea what that "V" stands for in this particular application.

    "V" here refers to validation, since this is an early engineering sample/chip, sporting four P-Cores (Lion Cove) and four E-Cores (Skymont). "family: 0x6, model: 0xbd, stepping: 0x1". Hence the V suffix, used as a validation platform.

    Also, we can note that the clock speeds are rated at 2.10 GHz base & 3.10 GHz boost which are quite low, due to the ES nature of this chip.
    Reply
  • ThomasKinsley
    "Intel Core Ultra 5 234V"
    I understand that Ultra 5 is the tier of the chip and the 2xx is the generation. I also understand the 4 is the performance level within that generation (i.e. i5 13400), but what is the 3 for? I assume that's another performance level indicator, but I'm confused since we already know it's a second generation Ultra i5.
    Reply
  • Notton
    ThomasKinsley said:
    "Intel Core Ultra 5 234V"
    I understand that Ultra 5 is the tier of the chip and the 2xx is the generation. I also understand the 4 is the performance level within that generation (i.e. i5 13400), but what is the 3 for? I assume that's another performance level indicator, but I'm confused since we already know it's a second generation Ultra i5.
    The 2nd and 3rd digit are both performance levels.

    https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/processors/core-ultra/products.html
    There is a Core Ultra 5 134U, and Core Ultra 7 164U.
    They seem to differ from 135U and 165U by being lower power versions. I guess they finally ditched the Y-series.
    Reply
  • 35below0
    Notton said:
    They seem to differ from 135U and 165U by being lower power versions
    I looked at one xx4 and xx5 CPU side by side

    Compared to Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 processor 135U 12M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz
    the Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 processor 134U 12M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz

    is lower power, has lower base clocks, no embedded options, lower max. RAM, LPDDR5 support only, lower graphics render clock, different PCIe lane configuration and fewer lanes supported, and goes into a different socket.

    Interestingly, both list a max operating temperature of 110C


    So the 2nd and 3rd digit aren't both performance levels, or at least they don't refer to the same thing. The 2nd digits indicates performance level. The 3rd digit indicates a low power or cut down version at the same level.
    Reply
  • dalek1234
    "234V" is probably the Voltage requirement for the battery.

    Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. 😂
    Reply
  • TechyIT223
    The new CPU naming scheme by both Intel and AMD always has been confusing to me. Those model numbers can sometimes create things a bit difficulty for novice gamers to understand.

    I usually don't pay much attention to model numbers though. I just buy the processor which I want after reading some reviews. But of course, some knowledge of the naming scheme is still required.
    Reply
  • TechyIT223
    dalek1234 said:
    "234V" is probably the Voltage requirement for the battery.

    Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. 😂
    hehe. 🤣
    Reply
  • A new higher-end Core Ultra 5 238V entry was also spotted, and the difference between these two chips is mainly the on-package memory layout.

    This one is also an engineering sample listed as LNL-M LP5 & fall under the family: 0x6, model: 0xbd, stepping: 0x1. The Intel Core Ultra 5 238V packs 32 GB of on-package memory, while the Core Ultra 5 234V CPU packs 16 GB of on-package memory. ,,

    https://intel-gfx-ci.01.org/tree/intel-xe/xe-1297-d00a117e3737b1ff7d8d524d0daa43de901ae0a8/shard-lnl-2/boot5.txt
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GNr_yCVXoAA20Ya?format=png&name=large
    https://i.imgur.com/vqMbvJ2.png
    Reply
  • Testing.
    Are these forums loading too slow today ? Some of the comments never went through, but it seems they were already posted/edited, lol.




    <post on hold...>
    Reply
  • TechyIT223
    Good to know another lunar Lake CPU is in the works. Nice finding

    Btw yes forums running at snails pace since yesterday haha 😆
    Reply