Intel’s upcoming Arrow Lake CPUs are creating quite a buzz in the tech world. These processors will feature a brand-new architecture and a new socket, positioning them to compete with some of the best processors on the market. However, recent revelations suggest that not all upcoming Core 200-series CPUs will be utilizing the Arrow Lake/Lunar Lake architecture. Instead, some of these CPUs may be rebranded versions of older CPU technology.
The speculation arises from benchmark results that were recently shared on Bapco and brought to light by Everest on X. In particular, the benchmark results for the Core 5 210H reveal some interesting details. The CPU is listed as having eight cores and 12 threads, which is noteworthy because Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake CPUs do not support Hyper-Threading, meaning each core should only have a single thread.
This practice of rebranding is not new for Intel. In the past, the company repackaged Raptor Lake processors as part of its Meteor Lake lineup with the Core-U (Series 1) chips. It seems that a similar strategy may be employed with the non-Ultra Core 200 range, possibly using branded Alder Lake and Raptor Lake chips.
It’s important to note that these developments are currently specific to laptops. While desktop Arrow Lake and mobile Lunar Lake chips share the same architecture, they are categorized differently by Intel. For desktops, the Core Ultra 200S processor falls under Arrow Lake, while the Core Ultra 200V is considered Lunar Lake for mobile devices. Additionally, Intel has plans to introduce higher-end Arrow Lake chips for laptops, denoted by the H or HX suffix.
Consumers should pay attention to non-Ultra chips like the Core 5 210H, as they may be based on older architecture despite having a new name. These CPUs are likely to be targeted towards budget laptops in the coming months, with Intel possibly launching them without much fanfare.
While Arrow Lake CPUs are set to be released on October 24 for desktops, the mobile range is expected to follow shortly after, particularly aimed at high-end gaming laptops where Lunar Lake may not be the best fit. As these new processors hit the market, consumers may find it challenging to discern which CPU they are actually getting, especially in laptops. If Intel is indeed repurposing Alder Lake and Raptor Lake designs for the non-Ultra Core 200 series, individuals will need to delve deeper into the specifics of each CPU model to understand what they are investing in.