We are all patiently waiting for Intel to finally move out of its 14-nanometer node on the desktop, and that day may come when its 12th generation “Alder Lake” Core CPUs arrive. It may seem like we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves by talking about Alder Lake (we still have Rocket Lake in the wings), but apparently the developers do have access to some technical documentation on the upcoming CPUs.
Apparently, one of the documents confirms that the Alder Lake-S processors will use a new socket, and specifically the LGA 1700, according to a screenshot from the Intel technical library. Have a look…
Source: @momomo_usTwitter user and frequent leaks momomo_us posted the screenshot, which shows a PDF file labeled “LGA1700-ADL-S VR Test Tool Interleaver Datasheet”.
This is not a surprise, considering that previous leaks have indicated a socket change is coming. Also, Intel hasn’t been a bit shy about introducing new sockets and chipsets, frustrating as it can be at times.
In this case, Intel recently introduced a new LGA 1200 socket and the Z490 chipset that accompanies its tenth-generation Core “Comet Lake” CPUs. Intel’s 11th generation Core “Rocket Lake” CPUs are possible, and even likely, will work on LGA 1200 / Z490 motherboards, but it looks like Alder Lake definitely won’t, as long as it arrives.
Alder Lake-S is rumored to bring some interesting changes to the landscape. There’s the anticipated change to 10nm and a new socket, but also DDR5 memory (which SK Hynix mass produces) and finally PCI Express 4.0 support.
The same filter that posted the screenshot above also previously got a supposedly leaked slide claiming that Alder Lake will arrive with up to 16 cores arranged in a large and small bar format that is similar (although not identical) to ARM’s big.LITTLE approach. .
According to that leak, at least two Alder Lake-S processors will feature 8 large cores and 8 small cores, in addition to integrated graphics (labeled an 8 + 8 + 1 configuration). One of those chips is said to have a 125W TDP and the other has an 80W TDP. The slide also pointed to a 6 + 0 + 1 configuration, which would be a typical 6-core layout with integrated graphics.
Alder Lake rumors are all over the map: It has been suggested that we could see Alder Lake this year, although it could also debut in 2021 or even 2022.
