Summary
Intel has confirmed that its Meteor Lake-S desktop CPUs will arrive in 2024, debunking rumors of their cancelation. The company hosted its Innovations 2023 event last week when it shared information on the Meteor Lake Intel Core Ultra mobile CPUs. However, there was no update on the desktop SKUs, which added to the rumors of their cancelation from earlier this year. Now, an Intel executive has confirmed that the desktop SKUs will arrive next year.
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The rumor mill has been churning and leaks have been popping up around Intel’s next generation of mobile and desktop CPUs for months. The company was originally expected to launch its 14th Gen CPUs for desktop under the Meteor Lake moniker but decided to refresh its current Raptor Lake lineup instead. The Meteor Lake lineup was then said to include only mobile CPUs with a different naming convention. Intel is now calling them Core Ultra 5/7/9 instead of Core i5/i7/i9, and these will launch on December 14.
Intel’s Current Generation Desktop CPU Lineup
Intel Core i9-13900K CPU
The Intel Core i9-13900K is a high-performance processor that combines 24 cores, comprising 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores, with 32 threads. The processor comes with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770. It utilizes a hybrid architecture that integrates two core microarchitectures, effectively distributing workloads to optimize performance.This processor can reach speeds of up to 5.8 GHz and features a 36 MB cache. It is compatible with Intel 600 series and 700 series chipset-based motherboards. The unit supports Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, as well as PCIe 5.0 & 4.0 interfaces for rapid data transfer.
Intel Core i7-13700K
The Intel Core i7-13700K absolutely dominates the top-tier sector for value. In fact, with the right cooling and overclocking, this top-tier CPU can beat most of the non-X3D AMD competition. Plus, those who have a 600 series motherboard from their previous CPU, this will work with a bios update.The processor has 16 cores divided into 8 P-cores, 8 E-cores, and 24 processing threads. The processor comes with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770, maximum clock speed is 5.2 GHz.
Intel Core i5-13600K
The Intel Core i5-13600K has 14 cores, 20 threads, and a lot of headroom for overclocking. Gamers looking for the best gaming CPU possible, in terms of value, performance, and features will want to start here. Intel managed to not only beat out AMD in the same category but even created a product that’s available to punch up at AMD’s higher-end CPUs.
In aninterview with PCWorld, Michelle Johnston Holthaus – who is the Executive Vice President and General Manager of Client Computing Group at Intel – shared that the desktop Meteor Lake CPUs are still in the works and scheduled for next year. Not only does this confirm their existence, debunking rumors of cancelation, but it also gives somewhat of a rough timeline. Holthaus also added that she wants “one processor family top to bottom for both segments” when asked if there will be separate processor families for mobile and desktop CPUs.
These desktop CPUs, dubbed Meteor Lake-S, do not have an exact release date yet, but the Raptor Lake Refresh 14th Gen desktop SKUs areexpected to arrive on October 17. However, it is unclear if they will be available for purchase then or later in the year. Additionally, Intel announced at its Innovations 2023 event that Meteor Lake mobile CPUs will arrive on December 14, so it is possible that the company will release the desktop counterparts in the first quarter of next year.
As for Raptor Lake Refresh, the lineup is said to include six SKUs: Core i9-14900K, Core i7-14700K, and Core i5-14600K, along with their iGPU-less KF counterparts. The 14900K packs 24 cores, the 14700K has 20, and the 14600K comes with 14 cores. All these models are said to come with 125W unlocked TDP. The non-K SKUs are expected to be unveiled next year as well, likely at CES. Early benchmarks and leaks for the Raptor Lake Refresh lineupsuggest only minor performance improvements.
The upcoming Meteor Lake mobile CPUs will come withon-package LPDDR5X memory,like what Apple does with its M1 and M2 chips. The chip demonstrated by Intel showed integrated 16GB Samsung LPDDR5X-7500 memory.
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