In a surprising move, Intel appears to be ditching its long-standing processor naming convention, including the popular Core i9, i7, i5 and i3 series. Recent leaks from the Ashes of the Singularity benchmark database revealed an 18-thread processor codenamed Intel Meteor Lake. In addition to technological innovations, this new generation of processors will also bring changes in marketing and symbolism. Let's dive into the details of this transition and what it means for future offerings from Intel.
Transition from the Core series to the Core Ultra series
Since 2008, Intel has been using the Core i series designation for its processors, starting with the "Nehalem" architecture. However, it seems that Intel plans to abandon this familiar way of labeling in favor of something new. Evidence of this change has emerged thanks to the leaked benchmark results of a PC or laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 5 1003H processor. This processor, which under the old designation would fall into the Core i5-1003H series, suggests that the designations i7, i5 and the like will be replaced by the "Ultra" series, such as the Ultra 5, Ultra 7 and Ultra 9.
The exact extent of this transition in labeling is not yet clear. It is still uncertain whether the Core Ultra 5 will completely replace the existing Core i5 range or whether it will represent a premium variant within the range. Since Core i5 processors usually belong to the lower segment in the Intel processor hierarchy, we would expect such special treatment more for the Core i7 and i9 models. However, it's possible that Intel will rebrand all of its processors and drop the "i" prefix entirely (cheaper processors that wouldn't be labeled Ultra could simply be called Core 5). Along with this, it is also possible that the generation numbering will be canceled, as indicated by the leaked processor with the designation 1003H. The next generation could then be labeled 2003H and so on, but that's just speculation for now.
Confirmation from Intel and reasons for changes
As information about the unusually named processor spread across the Internet, Bernard Fernandes, director of global communications at Intel, commented on them on his Twitter account. He confirmed that Intel is indeed planning changes in processor labeling and that Core Ultra 5 is the real future, not a bug or mistake.
According to Fernandes, the reason for the labeling change is the fact that Intel is approaching a "technological tipping point" that will bring a new generation of processors called Meteor Lake. These processors use chiplet technology and Foveros packaging. This is a significant change in the approach to Intel Core processors for PCs, so it makes sense to update the existing labeling method. Meteor Lake could thus be labeled as the 14th or 15th generation of processors.
This change in the designation of processors is not the first that Intel has made. In the past, it has already stopped using the Celeron and Pentium brands, paving the way for the new Core iX designation.
What to expect from future Intel Core Ultra processors
The details of the new Meteor Lake processors are not yet clear. The leaked database suggests that the processor has 18 threads, but it is not entirely clear how many cores of which type are included in this chip. Maybe six large P-Cores with 12 threads and six small E-Cores. Another theory talks about four P-Cores with eight threads and ten E-Cores, eight of which are located in the main chiplet of the processor and the remaining two special E-Core cores are used for low power consumption and saving during idle time.
Meteor Lake processors should also be equipped with improved graphics units. Leaks suggest that the processor could contain 128 compute units, which equates to 1024 shaders. This is a third more than the integrated graphics of AMD Ryzen 7040 “Phoenix” processors. However, Meteor Lake processors with more powerful graphics units could contain up to 192 compute units, which corresponds to 1536 shaders. However, this information is still speculative and it is not clear if this version was actually implemented.
It is important to note that changing the labeling of processors does not affect their actual performance capabilities and functions. It is more of a marketing and communication aspect to make it easier to reach and understand customers.
Intel plans to release more information about these changes in the coming weeks. More details on the Core Ultra and Meteor Lake processors are expected to be revealed at Computex 2023, which takes place in late May and early June.
In conclusion, it should be emphasized that Intel Core Ultra processors represent the end of the fifteen-year tradition of labeling processors with the i9, i7, i5 and i3 series. This step marks the transition to a new labeling system and brings with it the expected technological innovations and marketing news. Further developments and introductions of new Intel processors need to be followed to get a complete picture of their features and capabilities.
