Intel Raptor Lake to have better CPU cache for gaming

VideoCardz received an Intel roadmap that provides some clues about the future Raptor Lake generation. The roadmap doesn't appear to be new, it still claims Rocket Lake-S would launch in 2020 and that part is now slated for a March 30, 2021 release. Still, it's further confirmation about the existence of a generation between the 10nm Alder Lake-S and the 7nm Meteor Lake-S.

Raptor Lake has CPU core changes for better performance and better CPU cache for gaming

Towards the end of this year, Intel is expected to introduce Alder Lake. This 10nm architecture will be used for both the laptop and the desktop PC markets. The biggest change in Alder Lake is the adoption of a hybrid core architecture, with big high-performance cores and small energy-efficient cores. Alder Lake has Xe-based integrated graphics and new security features. The slide mentions DDR5 support up to 4800MHz as well as PCI Express 5.0 support and up to 48 PCIe lanes.

Just like Alder Lake, the future Raptor Lake will serve two markets. Raptor Lake seems like a refresh of Alder Lake -- it's still expected to use 10nm Enhanced SuperFin process technology.

The laptop versions of Raptor Lake will get new DLVR power delivery features as well as support for LPDDR5X memory. Raptor Lake-S for the desktop market will feature improved CPU cache to optimize gaming performance as well as new Intel vPro features. Both variants will also have undefined CPU core changes for improved performance. Just like Alder Lake-S, the Raptor Lake-S desktop processors are expected to use the LGA1700 socket and feature PCI Express 5.0 and DDR5 support.

Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake are next

Raptor Lake may be marketed as 13th Gen Core, which would make Meteor Lake the 14th Gen Core. Based on earlier rumors, Meteor Lake-S will be a 7nm desktop processor with new Redwood Cove cores and possibly the same Gracemont energy-efficient cores. More advanced Gen 12.7 Xe-based graphics are also expected to be part of the feature set.

If Meteor Lake-S launches in 2023, then we can expect Lunar Lake-S in the 2024 timeframe. Not a lot is known about Lunar Lake-S as this part is still far into the future. This part is expected to feature Gen 13 Xe-based integrated graphics.

As VideoCardz points out, it's kinda crazy that we now have information about five upcoming CPU architectures from Intel.