Intel has announced the arrival of its next-generation Core series, set to launch in 2024, featuring innovations derived from the Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake architecture.
Intel is gearing up to introduce Lunar Lake, a forthcoming System-on-Chip (SoC) solution, as part of its latest processor lineup. This new series boasts a streamlined form factor and built-in memory, key factors in reducing the size of future portable computing devices. Lunar Lake, which is presently being tested by Intel’s partners, will be joined by Arrow Lake to update Intel’s full range of products by the end of 2024. While the timeline is set, Intel has yet to announce an exact release date.
During CES 2024, Intel unveiled its first Lunar Lake processor which incorporates Memory on Package (MoP) technology. This processor utilizes an 8-core (4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores) structure and is integrated with LPDDR5X-8533 memory, providing improved speed over its predecessor, Meteor Lake. According to sources, Micron is the provider for the memory used. Previous leaks have indicated that Intel’s Lunar Lake could come with various memory options from 8GB up to 32GB. Selecting the right memory configuration is vital as these integrated systems do not allow for memory upgrades.
Diverging from Arrow Lake, which is aligned with the Xe-LPG graphics design shared with Meteor Lake, Intel’s Lunar Lake series marks the debut of a new graphics architecture based on the Battlemage (Xe2) line. Unfortunately, the CES 2024 showcase, largely dedicated to consumer electronics, did not offer a glimpse into the future roadmap for Intel’s discrete graphics, leaving Lunar Lake SoC as the event’s standout Xe2 product.
The year 2024 sees heightened focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities in computing, and Intel’s offerings are integrating AI advancements. Starting with the Meteor Lake processors that include a specialized Neural Processing Unit (NPU), and progressing through Arrow Lake that shares this AI-driven architecture, Lunar Lake is expected to advance further with its upcoming generation NPU, potentially tripling performance gains.
Intel is positioning Lunar Lake to be a highly efficient, ultra-low-power processor series, operating within a power envelope of 17 to 30 watts for actively cooled units and as low as 8 watts for systems that rely on passive cooling. This strategic move is aimed at competing in the same arena as the forthcoming Qualcomm X Elite series, which is also set to release in the same timeframe.
Source: ComputerBase, Tom’s Hardware