Intel Arrow Lake stands as the codename for the anticipated 15th generation of Intel CPUs, heralding the next leap in their architectural innovation. This promising processor series is set to succeed not only the existing 13th-generation Raptor Lake but also the 14th-generation Meteor Lake. Boasting a new and advanced process node, Intel Arrow Lake might bid farewell to one of its iconic features: hyperthreading.
As we delve into this forward-thinking product design, let's explore what Intel has in store for us. Here's a comprehensive overview of everything we know about Intel Arrow Lake so far.
Arrow Lake Specs
While specific raw specifications for Arrow Lake processors are yet to be revealed, tantalizing rumors have surfaced, giving us something to consider.
Similar to recent Intel processor generations, Arrow Lake will employ a tile-based design, housing performance and efficiency cores alongside an onboard GPU, alongside additional accelerators for AI and video transcoding.
Although the number of performance cores is not anticipated to increase this generation, top-tier chips are expected to retain eight P cores. However, efficiency core counts could witness a dramatic jump, with some rumors hinting at up to 32 E cores being featured in certain models released midway through the generation. This might indicate that 8+16 core configurations would be the pinnacle for mobile devices, and up to 8+32 cores for desktop systems.
Further rumors suggest that Arrow Lake will introduce a new LGA 1851 socket design, with more pins than the 12th- and 13th-generation LGA 1700 socket designs. If true, this would imply that users would require a new motherboard to accommodate Arrow Lake processors, and upgrading from 13th (and probably 14th) generation PCs would not be possible.
Another notable claim is that Arrow Lake may forego support for Intel's simultaneous multi-threading technology, Hyperthreading. Traditionally used to maximize multi-threaded performance when cores are underutilized, Hyperthreading might become unnecessary on the new architecture due to the improved multi-threaded performance resulting from higher core counts in Arrow Lake processors.
Regarding its fabrication process, Arrow Lake is said to be built using the Intel 20A process node, which, according to conventional naming standards, would be equivalent to 2nm. Nevertheless, there have been unconfirmed rumors suggesting that it might be built on TSMC's 3nm node instead.
Arrow Lake Availability
The exact release date for Arrow Lake remains uncertain at this time, considering Intel has yet to provide a firm release date for its 14th generation designs. However, there's a tentative plan to launch the first Arrow Lake chips in late 2024, with the rest of the lineup becoming available in early 2025.
This schedule aligns with the rumored launch of Intel's 14th generation Meteor Lake mobile processors in the final months of 2023, followed by desktop chips in early 2024. Nonetheless, conflicting rumors suggest that Intel might have decided to launch Meteor Lake for mobile in late 2023, with Arrow Lake for desktops arriving shortly after in early 2024. As more concrete details emerge, we will update you accordingly.
Arrow Lake Performance
While the exact speed of Arrow Lake is yet to be disclosed, the rumors surrounding core count improvements indicate that the processors will be exceptionally fast. With an entire architectural revamp after Meteor Lake's rumored Raptor Lake-refresh design, Arrow Lake is poised to achieve significant leaps in single-threaded performance, making it particularly suitable for gaming, especially if clock speeds continue to climb.
The absence of hyperthreading on Arrow Lake chips suggests they might indeed be remarkably fast, as hyperthreading has been critical for Intel processors to remain competitive with AMD's top CPUs. Additionally, Arrow Lake is expected to support faster memory, with speeds up to DDR5-6400, further boosting its overall performance.
Impressive, Yet Still Speculative
Intel Arrow Lake promises to be an exciting leap in the realm of Intel architecture and processor generations. However, it is essential to remember that most of the information currently available is speculative. If you plan on acquiring a new Intel processor in 2023, be sure to consult our guide to the best Intel CPUs to optimize your budget effectively.