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The tech world is moving at a rapid pace these days. One such instance to show that is the development of Intel CPUs. A few months ago, in October 2023, Intel unveiled its latest 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs. They launched the first Intel Core Ultra processors with the codename Meteor Lake two months later.
Some details of the upcoming 15th Gen Intel CPUs (Arrow Lake) are also being circulated, which we will discuss in this article.
About Intel’s 15th Generation Chips (Rumored)
1. Cores
First, Intel’s 15th Gen CPUs will inherit Intel’s new hybrid core architecture, which divides the physical cores into performance (P) and efficiency (E) cores). Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs were the first to feature this architecture. That means their 15th Gen CPU will be the 5th generation to feature it, including the Core Ultra processors.
As for the number of cores in Intel’s 15th Gen chips, we will see a maximum of 8 performance cores in the high-end models. Rumors suggest that the number of efficiency cores will be 16 at launch. A mid-generational refresh update may bring that number up to 32.
2. Fabrication
The process node Intel will use for its 15th Gen chip is the Intel 20A. Some say it will be based on TSMC’s 2nm process, while others say it will use the 3nm one (more on later). Either way, this is a significant leap from the current 7nm process Intel’s latest processors possess.
This will put them in a head-to-head competition with Apple’s M3 line of chips and probably M4 and AMD’s processors. The former is using 3nm fabrication as of now, and the latter is using 5nm. Smaller node sizes will mean more transistors in the chip, which will eventually enhance the performance.
3. Integrated Graphics
Then there is the integrated GPU. The 15th Gen processors will come with Intel Arc graphics. Intel Arc is a significant improvement from previously integrated GPUs from Intel if the performance of Intel Core Ultra processors is anything to go by. For your information, Intel Core Ultra chips are the first to feature Intel Arc graphics.
4. Miscellaneous
Finally, there is some other miscellaneous stuff we know from different rumors. For instance, the 15th Gen Intel chips will support DDR5 memory up to 6400 MHz. It will also have support for Thunderbolt 5 ports and PCIe Gen5 SSDs. There will also be a lot of focus on hardware-based artificial intelligence, as the current trends in the tech world suggest. Also, you need to have LGA 1851 sockets to run these CPUs.
One thing that consumers will have to bid farewell to is Hyper-Threading. Reports say that Intel may discontinue it this generation. The exact details are not known, however. For context, Hyper-Threading technology allows cores on Intel processors to run more than one thread at once. And more threads result in the potential for the computer to do more work in parallel.
Performance and Improvement
These specifications mean little if they do not translate to real-world performance. Thankfully, it very possibly will in this case. The 15th Gen Intel chips are expected to improve single-core performance by about 5%. The number may go up to around 15% for the multi-core performance. The new and smaller process node is going to come in handy. As mentioned previously, there will also be a lot of enhancements in features based on artificial intelligence.
In addition, there is a speculated increase in efficiency cores in a mid-gen refresh. This, by the way, would bring the total number of cores to a whopping 40 on the higher-end models. This will all be interesting to see once the lineup comes out. Which leads us to the question — when?
Intel 15th Gen CPUs Launch Speculation
Regarding speculations, we can expect to see the launch of Intel’s 15th Gen Arrow Lake CPUs around the end of this year.
If we look at the trend of the past three years, Intel launched their 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen processors each year in the latter half of October. And if that is anything to go by, we can expect the same for the Arrow Lake lineup. The launch could occur in the fourth quarter of 2024, likely in October.
But here is where things become interesting. CPUs featuring TSMC’s 2nm process node are not expected to arrive before 2025. If that is true, there are two possibilities. One is that Intel will shift its already released timeline forward. The other is that the Arrow Lake CPUs, particularly the Intel 20A process node, will be based on TSMC’s 3nm fabrication. We cannot be very sure since there is still much time left for these products to enter the markets. So, it is best to wait.
Note: Lastly, it is essential to note that much of the information provided here is based on leaks and rumors. Intel has not confirmed any of this yet. Taking it with a pinch of salt would be a good idea. While a bit unlikely, actual products are subject to change at launch and during the development phase.
