Dell explains how to check if your Windows 11 computer is an 'AI PC'

With the recent explosive development of artificial intelligence, computer manufacturers around the world have also begun to enter a new competitive segment called 'AI PC', where computers compete against each other. New generation computers are equipped with NPU (Neural Processing Unit) chips and possess excellent support for tasks related to artificial intelligence.

Unlike regular computers, AI PCs are PCs specifically designed with appropriate hardware and software to handle AI and machine learning tasks, which require the ability to calculate and process data. complex data handling. We can review some tasks that require a lot of computing power in the field of AI and machine learning such as:

1. Generative AI
2. Chatbots
3. Data analysis
4. Training AI models
5. Run the AI ​​simulator

If you recently purchased a new Windows PC, and are now wondering whether your computer qualifies as an "AI PC" or "AI-enabled," Dell has the answers you need. The US computer manufacturer has just published a new support page, which explains in detail the conditions that a Windows computer must meet to be considered a true 'AI PC', which is also a way to address people. Users can check to see if their computer is capable of supporting pure AI.

According to Dell, specialized hardware and software to handle AI-based tasks more efficiently will make your computer "AI-enabled." While traditional computers can also work with AI, specialized hardware accelerators that are only available on AI PCs optimize the process and reduce power consumption significantly. That "specialized hardware" is called an NPU or Neural Processing Unit.

Although in theory, the GPU can also handle AI tasks, this process will consume a lot of energy. Therefore, having an additional NPU will help laptop models extend their usage time as well as increase system efficiency. At the same time, with NPU, there will no longer be the need to 'cram' in more components like before, causing not only the cost but also the product size to 'bulge' unnecessarily.

The NPU is optimized to handle complex calculations required by deep learning algorithms. This optimization helps the NPU handle AI tasks extremely efficiently, such as natural language processing, image analysis, etc. The NPU is integrated into the CPU, and a measure of NPU performance is Tera Operations per Second (TOP).

Windows 11 requires a dedicated NPU to handle Windows Studio Effects, including background blur, eye contact correction, auto-framing, and voice-activated focus. However, thanks to recent Windows 11 improvements, voice focus will soon be available on all systems. You'll also need an NPU for new AI features rumored to be coming to Windows 11 soon, such as AI Explorer.

Talk more about energy saving capabilities. Dell says computers equipped with Intel's latest Core Ultra processors will save up to 38% more battery during Zoom calls by offloading auto-framing, background blurring and eye-tracking from CPU to NPU.

Specialized neural processors can be found in computer systems equipped with certain Intel 14th generation processors, AMD's Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series, and the Snapdragon 8cx Gen2 or Snapdragon Qualcomm's X Elite.

To check if your computer has it or not, launch Task Manager and click on the Performance tab. Supported PCs will have "NPU 0" labeled next to CPU, memory, storage, network, and GPU.

Alternatively, navigate to Device Manager and look for Intel AI Boost (on Intel systems) or AMD IPU Device (on AMD systems). If you don't see it, you may need to download a driver from the manufacturer's website. PCs with Qualcomm chips come with NPU drivers pre-installed and are available through Windows Update.

You can find more information about "AI-powered" PCs on Dell's official website. Interestingly, Intel recently released a similar note, confirming that a computer qualifies as an "AI PC" if it has an NPU and Copilot with dedicated physical keys.

Jessica Tanner

Update 24 April 2024