You and I is likely to be hotly anticipating what Intel’s next-generation Arrow Lake processors will do later this yr, however that doesn’t imply we are able to’t get enthusiastic about what comes after and even alongside it, proper? Intel’s Lunar Lake is its subsequent, next-generation design, tentatively outlined for a launch perhaps earlier than the top of the yr. Perhaps alongside Arrow Lake on desktop, with Lunar Lake targeted on cellular as an alternative.
Curious to see what Intel’s been cooking up within the labs? We’re, too, and as we get nearer to Lunar Lake’s debut, we’re beginning to study some intriguing particulars.
Lunar Lake specs
We don’t have laborious specs for Lunar Lake simply but, however we do have just a few particulars from Intel and a few purported leaks, which paint an attention-grabbing image of what Lunar Lake will likely be able to.
It’s a mobile-first architectural design with a wattage goal of round 15W, suggesting Lunar Lake will likely be used for Intel’s conventional U-series processors. With a deal with efficiency per watt, it appears doubtless that we’ll see decrease clock speeds with this era and a deal with Intel’s effectivity cores. Certainly, one eight-core configuration leaked earlier this yr (through GameRant), reportedly included 4 Skymont effectivity cores (the identical E-core structure deliberate for Arrow Lake), and 4 Lion Cove efficiency cores.
Lunar Lake will allegedly make the most of a next-generation graphics structure, too, generally known as Battlemage Xe2-LPG. That’s the next-generation design past the alleged Battlemage Xe+ design that Arrow Lake is slated to make use of for its onboard graphics.
Different rumors recommend that Intel is dropping hyperthreading (its model of simultaneous multi-threading) from Lunar Lake, as it’s reportedly planning with Arrow Lake. This function has been a cornerstone of Intel CPU multi-threaded efficiency for generations, so Intel will need to have an excellent motive for dropping it to the wayside.
Intel may additionally launch a low 8W energy model of its Lunar Lake processors, concentrating on fanless laptop computer designs to compete with Apple’s MacBook Air extra readily.
As for options, Lunar Lake will supposedly help PCI-Specific 5, Thunderbolt 4 and USB4, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and Gigabit Ethernet
Lunar Lake availability
Lunar Lake is reportedly deliberate for an end-of-2024 launch alongside Arrow Lake on desktop. That looks as if a reasonably fast turnaround, contemplating we haven’t heard a lot about it but, however Intel has claimed to point out working silicon at current tradeshows, so it’s not not possible. Purportedly, the plan is for Lunar Lake to be the principle focus of Intel’s entry-level and energy-efficient laptop computer designs, particularly informal gaming efforts.
Arrow Lake will then be used for higher-end cellular designs and desktops. If Lunar Lake does debut alongside Arrow Lake, although, count on availability to be restricted to start out with, resulting in mass manufacturing in early 2025.
Lunar Lake efficiency
Regardless of its goal of lower-power laptops, Intel’s Lunar Lake is allegedly a significantly highly effective design. The primary ground-up architectural overhaul in just a few generations, Lunar Lake will proceed to leverage Intel’s Foveros expertise to have bigger efficiency and smaller effectivity cores. Dropping hyperthreading reportedly gained’t gradual it down, although, as early studies recommend that Lunar Lake may supply efficiency near 1.5 occasions that of Meteor Lake processors at a really comparable energy draw.
This cited efficiency metric is barely in Cinebench multi-threaded, which isn’t an ideal snapshot of a processor’s efficiency, nevertheless it’s an intriguing indication of what it’s able to, nonetheless.
Rumors recommend Lunar Lake will handle a 50% efficiency increase over current Meteor Lake processors. This might be an unbelievable inter-generational leap and a declare that we are going to solely view via our skeptic’s glasses for now. There are additionally some rumors of Lunar Lake’s built-in GPU efficiency doubling that of Meteor Lake at a better TDP. Lunar Lake could possibly be superb for low-cost, low-power gaming laptops if that proves true.
Intel will be capable of make the most of a brand new course of node to eke out some further efficiency, or effectivity, relying on what it’s concentrating on. It gained’t use its inner course of nodes, although, and can as an alternative be based mostly on TSMCs 3nm 3NB course of.
Intel has additionally stated Lunar Lake’s neural processing unit (NPU) will likely be as much as 3 times quicker than Meteor Lake’s, which may assist it speed up future AI duties.
It’s all up within the air
For a CPU design that many declare will launch earlier than the top of 2024, the main points for Lunar Lake are very skinny on the bottom. That may usually recommend a launch is additional away, and maybe we gained’t see large availability till 2025. Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to listen to that Intel is working laborious to handle the disparity in power effectivity between AMD and Intel CPUs. The newest desktop variations, specifically, spotlight an unlimited disparity, the place comparably performing Intel CPUs typically use greater than twice the facility of their AMD counterparts.
For now, Lunar Lake is an intriguing what-if that’s coming sooner or later sooner or later. It’s obtained potential, however we’ll want to listen to extra earlier than we get really enthusiastic about what it’s bringing to the desk.
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