Santa Clara, California – Intel Corporation, a leading manufacturer of computer processors, is gearing up to release its next-generation CPU architecture, codenamed Lunar Lake. In the face of intensified competition from AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple in recent years, Intel has faced challenges in maintaining its dominance in the CPU market. However, with nearly four-fifths of all computer CPUs sold being Intel’s, the company still holds a significant share in the industry.
Lunar Lake is set to be Intel’s first processor to feature a neural processing unit (NPU) that meets Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC requirements. This new architecture will also introduce upgraded P-cores and E-cores, a next-generation GPU architecture, and packaging changes that build upon the innovations of the previous Meteor Lake architecture. Intel is scheduled to provide more detailed information about Lunar Lake at the Computex event this month, with a planned release date in Q3 of 2024.
Unlike its predecessor, Meteor Lake, which featured multiple tiles for different components, Lunar Lake is designed with a simpler layout, integrating components into just two functional tiles. The compute tile houses the processor’s CPU cores, GPU, NPU, display outputs, and media encoding and decoding engine, while the platform controller tile manages wired and wireless connectivity. This design shift reflects Intel’s return to a more conventional layout for its processors.
In addition to the architectural changes, Lunar Lake will also incorporate on-package RAM, a departure from conventional setups where RAM is installed separately on the motherboard. This integration of memory into the CPU package aims to reduce power consumption by shortening data travel distances and freeing up motherboard space for other components or improving system efficiency. Intel states that Lunar Lake chips can support up to 32GB of LPDDR5x memory, although this design choice limits the use of separate Compression-Attached Memory Modules.
Overall, Intel’s Lunar Lake architecture represents the company’s continued efforts to innovate and adapt to evolving market demands. With the promise of enhanced performance and efficiency, Lunar Lake aims to further solidify Intel’s position as a key player in the CPU industry.