Introduction
Intel, the giant of the chip industry, is set to make significant changes in its consumer CPU portfolio. After retiring the long-standing Pentium and Celeron brands, Intel is now on the cusp of phasing out its iconic Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 products, replacing them with the new ‘Core Ultra’ branding.
Table of Contents
From ‘Core i’ to ‘Core Ultra’
The unexpected announcement came after a leaked Ashes of the Singularity benchmark accidentally revealed an unreleased ‘Core Ultra 5 1003H’ processor. This revelation sparked speculation across the Internet, leading to Intel’s director of global communications, Bernard Fernandes, confirming that brand changes are in the works. This move marks a significant shift in Intel’s consumer-facing product lineup as they gear up to introduce the 14th-gen CPUs, codenamed Meteor Lake.
Upcoming 14th Gen CPUs: Meteor Lake
The first wave of 14th Gen CPUs is anticipated to launch in late 2023. Initial models are likely to be designed for laptops and mobile devices, with desktop CPUs rumored to follow in early 2024. The ‘Core i’ branding, which debuted in 2008 as a replacement for Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Quad, is now set to move aside after 15 years in favor of singular words. Similar to recent Apple CPUs, we might see variations like Core Pro 3 and Core Max 7 alongside the Core Ultra series.
Core Ultra 5 1003H: A Peek into the Future
The leaked Core Ultra 5 1003H processor offers a glimpse into Intel’s future lineup. This CPU reportedly uses a new flexible tiled architecture and is a unique 18-thread processor with robust onboard graphics featuring 128 execution units (EUs). If this information holds true, the Arc graphics tile, equipped with 1,024 unified shaders, will deliver a major improvement in integrated GPU performance, assisted by a dedicated L4 cache, codenamed Adamantine.
Intel’s Rebranding Strategy
This rebranding move by Intel seems to align with broader industry trends, as tech companies increasingly shift focus from specifications to user experiences. While the exact implications of the ‘Ultra’ designation are still unclear, it’s evident that Intel views this as an inflection point in their client roadmap.
Looking Forward
While the tech community awaits more details on the Core Ultra processors, the leaked benchmark results and official confirmations suggest that we’re on the brink of a major change in Intel’s product lineup. Despite the deletion of the specific benchmark from the Ashes of the Singularity database, the leaked data has sparked a wave of anticipation for the 14th-gen Meteor Lake processors.
After thirteen generations of CPUs under the ‘Core i’ branding, this rebranding marks a significant shift in Intel’s strategy. It remains to be seen how this change will resonate with consumers and industry professionals, and whether the new ‘Core Ultra’ CPUs will deliver the performance leap that their name suggests. As the story unfolds, we’ll bring you all the latest updates on Intel’s rebranding and the future of its consumer CPU portfolio.
Source: Twitter
Link : Intel
