This leaked new Intel gaming CPU looks perfect for a budget Steam Deck rival

A previously unannounced Intel gaming CPU has appeared in online benchmark results, and it looks ideal for handhelds. The eight-core Intel Core Ultra 7 254V processor, fitted with an integrated Intel Arc Battlemage GPU, could prove to be an entry-level option for Steam Deck rivals and budget gaming laptops, based on the results we've seen so far.

Unlike some other Intel CPUs in the last few months, Intel Lunar Lake has shown genuine promise on laptops and handhelds. These power-efficient CPUs aren't heavy on raw power, but they do offer performance that can compete with similar AMD chips, especially on handhelds. Just a few days ago, an MSI handheld benchmark leak showed the potential of the Intel Core Ultra 7 285V on the MSI Claw 8 AI+, and it wouldn't be surprising to see models in our best handheld guide running Lunar Lake chips in the near future.

This new Intel Core Ultra 7 254V chip was spotted by x86deadandback on X (formerly Twitter), showing PassMark test results for the 254V compared to the 256V and 258V, although the results for the 254V have since been removed.

Those two chips are already out in the wild, however, featuring eight cores (four P-Cores and four E-Cores) and fairly similar specs. The clock speeds differ, however, with the 256V shipping with a 2.2GHz base clock, while the 258V is clocked at a much higher 3.7GHz, with both boosting to 4.8GHz. Both CPUs also feature the same 12MB L3 cache size.

There isn't any information on the clock speeds for the Intel Core Ultra 7 254V, but the PassMark data does show it features the same eight cores and eight threads as the other Lunar Lake chips. Of the sample tested, the 254V scored 4,089 in PassMark's single-core test, while scoring 17,327 in the multi-core test. The 254V's single-core test result is almost identical to the 254V and 256V's average scores, but the 17,327 multi-core result is about 10% less than the 19,158 average score for the 258V.

The integrated GPU isn't confirmed, but given the close relationship to the 256V and 258V, we'd expect the 254V to also include the integrated Intel Arc 140V GPU used in the other two chips. With Intel's previous naming strategy, it's only been the 230-series Lunar Lake chips that have stepped down to the Arc 130V GPU.

The specs are interesting, but the real value is where we can see this chip ending up, and how much RAM it will have at its disposal. Lunar Lake features the RAM integrated on the chip itself, and has so far packaged the amount of RAM according to its suffix: 32GB with the 258V (2x8V), and 16GB with 256V (2x6V). The 254V (2x4V) name suggests a smaller memory configuration of 8GB.

That would be a pretty low bar for modern gaming laptops, especially as the RAM can't be upgraded. However, on a power-efficient handheld and budget Steam Deck alternative, it could have potential, offering enough headroom for some titles, while keeping power consumption and heat output low.

Intel has yet to confirm the existence of the Intel Core Ultra 7 254V, along with any products that might ship with it. We'll be curious to see where it ends up, however, and how powerful it might be, and we'll be ready to test it for ourselves once it launches.

If you're looking for a new Intel-powered gaming laptop, then make sure to check out our best gaming laptop guide, where you'll find our top recommendations for a range of budgets.

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