Intel Raptor Lake-S
The specifications and complete lineup of the next generation Intel Raptor Lake-S CPU (13th generation coming in 2022), based on the hybrid architecture Raptor Cove and Gracemont, have just been released by AdoredTV.The thirteenth generation Intel processor generation will replace the Alder Lake-S processor family arriving by the end of 2021, introducing two new core architectures: those based on Raptor Cove architecture (Willow Cove's successor) will be the most performing, while the Gracemont ( Atom's successors) will be those focused on energy efficiency.
Photo credit: AdoredTV
Lineup
The lineup will be divided into three families: the 125W “Enthusiast K” SKU series, the 65W “Mainstream” series and 35W “Low Power” series. Starting from the most performing units, we find the Core i9 of the K series with a total of 24 cores (8 with Raptor Cove architecture flanked by 16 with Gracemont architecture), 32 threads and 36MB of cache, followed by the series of i7 and i5 always K version which will have respectively 16 cores and 24 threads (8 Raptor Cove and 8 Gracemont with 30MB of cache) and 14 cores and 20 threads (6 Raptor Cove and 8 Gracemont with 24 MB of cache).The i5 will follow. the S-series with 10 cores and 16 threads (6 Raptor Cove and 4 Gracemont with 21 MB of cache) and the S-series i3 with 4 cores and 8 threads (4 Raptor Cove with 12MB of cache). The Pentium S series with 4 cores and 4 threads (2 Raptor Cove and 6MB cache) will also be proposed for the cheapest range of processors. The Integrated GPU will be an improved version of the Xe series and will have 32 EUs (256 cores) for high-end processors, while for some i5 and Pentium version cores they will have integrated GPUs with 24 or 16 EUs.
Platform specifications
A new L2 cache called "Game Cache" should be introduced which will aim to improve game performance, also Raptor Lake-S processors should reach peak frequencies around 200MHz higher in Turbo Boost. Considering that the Alder Lake series will hit 5.3 GHz, the new processors should therefore hit 5.5 GHz. As for the memories, DDR5 up to 5600 Mbps and LPDDR5 (X) up to 6500 Mbps will be supported. Finally, the dies should have three different formats: "Large" for those composed of 8 Raptor Cove cores and 16 Gracemont cores, "Mid" for those with 8 Raptor Cove and 8 Gracemont, "Small" for those with only 6 Gracemont cores.Energy consumption
As already told in an indiscretion a few days ago , the Raptor Lake-S processors will have different power consumption compared to the Alder Lake predecessors. The PL2 value will be slightly higher, going from 188W and 241W in performance for the 125W version of Alder Lake, to 188W and 253W in performance for the Raptor Lake-S solutions. The reference values of the PL4 are instead lower (almost -20% for the 125W series, -9% for the 65W and -11% for the 35W); for example, for the most performing processors of Alder Lake we have 283W and 359W in performance, while Raptor Lake-S stops at 238W and 314W in performance mode. The same behavior is found in the 65W and 35W CPUs.Intel’s leaked Raptor Lake-S lineup looks to threaten AMD and Apple
We’ve known certain details about Intel’s Raptor Lake processors for a while, but now it seems that the full Raptor Lake-S lineup has leaked. This current leak corroborates some of the earlier reporting about power, memory, and core configurations.
YouTuber AdoredTV confirms that Raptor Lake is the 13th generation and replaces Alder Lake. Raptor Lake will also feature new core architectures that combine next-gen Raptor Cove cores with Alder Lake’s Gracemont cores.
Like Alder Lake, Raptor Lake uses the same hybrid configuration that utilizes more powerful Raptor Cove cores for demanding loads while reserving less power-hungry applications for the more efficient Gracemont cores.
The leak also confirms the power requirements and core counts for various SKUs. The unlocked, enthusiast-oriented “K” series tops out at 125W, mainstream SKUs are at 65W, and “T-series” SKUs sip power at 35W.
The top-end Core i9 configuration will feature eight Raptor Cove cores and 16 Gracemont cores that equal 24 cores and 32 threads. This would represent a dramatic doubling of “efficiency” cores, considering the current rumors surrounding an eight-core/eight-core configuration in Alder Lake. If the leak turns out to be correct, that would mean Intel wouldn’t succeed Gracemont cores with something, but instead would just increase the amount.
The Core i7 reduces the Gracemont core count to eight for a total of 16 cores and 24 threads. The mid-range Core i5 comes in “K” and “S” flavors. The K version gets six Raptor and eight Gracemont (14 cores/20 threads) while the S version drops the number of Gracemont by four (14 cores, 16 threads). The Core i3 eliminates the Gracemont cores altogether in favor of just four Raptor cores (4 cores/ 8 threads). Finally, the ultra-low-power Pentium series gets just two Raptor cores (4 cores/ 4 threads).
All of the Core processors will ship with an integrated GPU (iGPU) based on Intel’s enhanced Xe graphics. While all Core processors will use 32 execution units (EU), certain lower-end CPUs will use either 24 or 16 EU iGPUs.
Performance-wise, the boost clock features a 200MHz increase, now up to 5.5GHz. Intel will allegedly claim that is a “world record turbo frequency,” which is a direct shot across AMD’s bow. There will also be a larger L2 cache which Intel will brand “Game Cache,” similar to AMD’s marketing of its combination of Zen 2’s L2 and L3 cache. Raptor Lake-S will support RAM speeds of up to 5.6 GHz with its low power variant (LPDDR5X) supporting up to 6.5 GHz.
The leak also confirmed that the mobile version of Raptor Lake will support DLVR power delivery. This should attempt to make equipped laptops more competitive in terms of battery life. This is important as Apple’s shift to its own ARM-based M1 platform has made huge strides in battery life while still delivering necessary performance. Intel’s hybrid approach to the CPU combined with DLVR could match Apple’s efficiency.
On paper, these details seem to launch Intel right back into the fight as it moves towards Meteor Lake and a 7nm manufacturing process, now known as Intel 5. This is important as both Alder Lake and Raptor Lake are built on Intel 7 (previously 10nm process). AMD made tremendous gains (and market share) once it moved over to 7nm. If Intel can make these kinds of gains on 10nm, the future definitely looks bright for its upcoming nodes.
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