Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Intel’s next-gen Arrow Lake may introduce some major changes to desktop chips

By
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger presents Intel's roadmap that includes Arrow Lake, Lunar Lake, and Panther Lake.
Intel
Computex 2024 logo.
This story is part of our coverage of Computex, the world's biggest computing conference.

It’s been a busy Computex for Intel, but one of its most exciting announcements — at least for consumers — slipped a little under the radar. The company will soon expand its portfolio of desktop processors with the next-gen Arrow Lake, and we now have a rough idea of when CPUs will hit the market and how much of an improvement we can expect. Interesting bonus: Some of the new Z890 motherboards will support CAMM2 memory.

According to Wccftech, Intel is planning to officially unveil Arrow Lake in September during the Intel Innovation event, and the processors will launch shortly after, sometime in October this year. Desktop users are the lucky ones here, as they’re the ones who will get access to Arrow Lake first — laptop chips will follow at an undisclosed date. However, laptop users already get plenty to sink their teeth into with this year’s Lunar Lake.

Recommended Videos

We’re not sure about the extent of the initial lineup, but what we do know is that Intel’s changing its naming scheme in desktops too, so learning the new branding cannot be avoided at this point. Therefore, Arrow Lake CPUs will be referred to as the Intel Core Ultra 200 series, and some of the chips that we expect to see include the Core Ultra 9 285K, Core Ultra 7 265K, and Core Ultra 5 245K. Non-overclockable (non-K) versions will be launched later.

The Core Ultra 200 series will still feature a mix of efficient and performance cores, with Lion Cove P-cores and Skymont E-cores. Wccftech teases that the new P-cores will offer a 14% boost in instructions per cycle (IPC) compared to the previous generation, while the E-cores should provide an even more impressive upgrade of up to 38% in IPC. The clock speeds are still a mystery, but 5.5GHz and above seems like a safe bet. Lastly, we might see a lower TDP, reaching about 80% of the one found in Raptor Lake chips. This could result in a lower maximum clock speed or a lower ceiling for overclocking.

Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger on stage.
Intel

If you’re already running an Intel processor and you’re hoping to upgrade, bad news — Arrow Lake will use a new socket. Intel is switching to the LGA1851 socket, meaning that current-gen LGA 1700 motherboards won’t be compatible. However, Intel’s partners are already showcasing the new Z890 boards on the Computex show floor. One of the more interesting updates is that some of these motherboards support the new CAMM2 memory standard, which marks a big departure from the SO-DIMM interface we all know and use today.

Many manufacturers have high hopes for CAMM2 as a replacement for SO-DIMM. CAMM2 is thinner than SO-DIMM, it can activate dual-channel memory with just one module, and it’s capable of reaching higher speeds and tighter timings. It could also end up being a great alternative to soldered memory in laptops.

With Zen 5 processors coming out in July, Intel will be launching its next-gen CPUs a lot later. However, with a new socket and support for CAMM2 memory modules, Intel might still become an interesting alternative for those who want to build a new PC.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Monica J. White
Monica J. White
Computing Writer
Monica is a UK-based freelance writer and self-proclaimed geek. A firm believer in the "PC building is just like expensive…
Nice try, Intel, but AMD 3D V-Cache chips still win
A hand holding AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor.

Intel's freshly released Core i9-14900KS processor is advertised as the fastest CPU in the world, but does that mean AMD can never hope to compete, even with its flagship Ryzen 9 7950X3D? Not at all. Each CPU has its merits, and both are insanely powerful in their own right. At this price point and at this performance level, making the right choice is tricky.

Let's zoom in and find out how the Core i9-14900KS and the Ryzen 9 7950X3D stack up against each other, what they excel at, and which one is the better option to buy.
Pricing and availability

Read more
Reviewers agree: Intel’s latest chip is truly ridiculous
Intel's 14900K CPU socketed in a motherboard.

Intel's "Special Edition" KS chips are meant to be over the top. But the latest Core i9-14900KS has just dropped, and it takes things to new heights of insanity.

It's a super-clocked version of the already ludicrous 14900K that sports the same great quantity of cores, but a boost clock that moves even beyond the extremes of the standard 14900K. It can hit an unprecedented 6.2GHz on a couple of cores right out of the box, making it the fastest CPU by clock speed ever unleashed upon the public.

Read more
A major era in Intel chip technology may be coming to an end
An Intel processor over a dark blue background.

Intel's next-generation Arrow Lake chips are said to be coming out later this year, but we don't know much about them just yet. However, a new leak shows us that two crucial features may be missing from the next-gen CPU lineup: hyperthreading and support for the AVX-512 extension. If Intel is ditching hyperthreading, it's not entirely unexpected, but it might make it trickier for even its best processors to beat AMD.

Hyperthreading allows physical cores in Intel processors to perform two tasks simultaneously, improving efficiency and performance in multi-threaded applications. Intel first introduced it in 2002, but it hasn't used the technology in every generation of its CPUs between then and now. The tech was all but gone from client processors for many years following its launch, although it was still present in certain models. Since then, Intel has selectively implemented HT across its product stack. In the last few years, it became a staple, especially in midrange and high-end chips.

Read more