Intel’s highly anticipated Arrow Lake CPUs, boasting a groundbreaking architecture and a new socket, are poised to make a significant impact in the processor landscape. However, a recent twist in the tale suggests that some upcoming Core 200-series CPUs (the non-Ultra versions) might not be utilizing the new Arrow Lake/Lunar Lake architecture at all. Instead, they could be rebranded CPUs sporting older technologies.
This revelation stems from results surfaced in the Crossmark benchmark, first highlighted by Everest on X (formerly Twitter). The benchmark data showcases the Core i5 210H, revealing eight cores and 12 threads. This is where the intrigue lies. Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake CPUs lack Hyper-Threading, meaning each core has only one thread. This isn’t a completely new tactic for Intel. They previously rebranded Raptor Lake (13th-gen) processors under the Meteor Lake branding for their Core-U (Series 1) lineup. The pattern seems to be repeating with the Core 200 series.
Further reinforcing this assumption, the performance of the Core i5 210H in the benchmark is actually lower than the Core i5-12450H, strongly suggesting Intel’s potential utilization of branded Alder Lake and Raptor Lake chips for the non-Ultra Core 200 range. It’s crucial to note that this rebranding strategy, at least for now, appears to be limited to laptops.
While both desktop Arrow Lake and mobile Lunar Lake chips share the same architecture, Intel differentiates them through naming conventions. For desktops, a Core Ultra 200S processor is an Arrow Lake chip, while a Core Ultra 200V designates a Lunar Lake processor for mobile devices. Intel has also confirmed plans to release high-end Arrow Lake chips for laptops, utilizing the H or HX suffix. However, it’s the non-Ultra chips, like the Core i5 210H, that seem to be getting the rebranded treatment. Based on the benchmark data, these CPUs might be employing an older architecture under a new moniker.
Intel is expected to launch these rebranded CPUs without much fanfare, targeting them towards budget laptops in the coming months. Meanwhile, the official release of Arrow Lake CPUs is set for October 24th for desktops, with the mobile range likely to follow soon after. These mobile processors are anticipated to find their niche in high-end gaming laptops, where Lunar Lake technology might not be as suitable.
Once these new processors hit the market, identifying the exact technology powering your laptop CPU might become a bit of a puzzle, particularly with Intel potentially using both repurposed Alder Lake and Raptor Lake designs for the non-Ultra Core 200 series. To ensure you’re getting the performance you expect, thorough research into the specific CPU model will be essential.