Intel is about to start a new chapter with its upcoming Meteor Lake processors. These will be the company’s first generation of tile-based CPUs, meaning they have a completely redesigned architecture. Although Intel will still sell 14th generation Raptor Lake refresh chips, Meteor Lake will kick off a new numbering scheme, starting with “1st Gen.”
Details on the new Meteor Lake models have been scarce, but a recent leak sheds some light on what Intel has planned. As always with leaks, take this information with a grain of salt, but this source (wccftech) has been accurate about Intel launches in the past.
The flagship Core Ultra 9 processor will feature a 6+8+2 configuration – that’s six performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and two new ultra-low power cores. The goal with these new ultra-low power cores is to handle simple background tasks while the main CPU stays idle, leading to significant battery life improvements. The top single-core boost speed for the Core Ultra 9 is expected to reach 5.1GHz with Intel’s Thermal Velocity Boost enabled, with a base boost clock of 4.5GHz.
Lower down the stack, the Core Ultra 7 165H can boost up to 5GHz, while the 155H model will top out slightly lower at 4.8GHz. Core counts are still unconfirmed, but a leaked Core Ultra 7 125H model had a 4+8+2 layout, so that could be similar across the 7-series with only clock speeds varying.
These new Meteor Lake chips are targeting a 30W thermal design power, with a 45W peak, showing Intel’s focus on efficiency with this generation. The company hasn’t announced an official launch date yet, but rumors point to an unveiling later this month at the upcoming Intel Innovation event starting September 19.