Intel provided a small update regarding its next-gen Arc GPUs and the packaging designs of its next-gen Panther Lake & Nova Lake CPUs.
Intel details its plans for future CPU & GPU lineups including, the next-gen Arc, Panther Lake & Nova Lake series
Intel's CEO Pat Gelsinger announced plans for the company after disclosing Intel's Q3 2024 earnings. From mobile chips to discrete GPUs, Pat shared the company's roadmap that aims at improving the portfolio and the company's revenue, which currently isn't in a good state following the recent CPU launches.
The chip giant is moving on to a different package design for the mobile platform for future lineups. If you are aware of the Lunar Lake package, you must already have known that the Lunar Lake chips bring memory onboard. This is why the SKUs were present with either a 16 GB or 32 GB memory configuration for the laptops.
Lunar Lake processors feature a complex integration of LPDDR5X memory and, as per Intel, this isn't usually the right way to do it. According to the CEO, this is "not a good way to run the business" but fortunately, for the company, Lunar Lake was a niche and a one-off product that Intel still managed to sell like hotcakes but isn't ready to continue for the following generations. Pat said,
That's at a volume product and a volume industry like the PC industry, you don't want to have volume memory going through that channel. It's not a good way to run the business. So it really is, for us, a one-off with Lunar Lake. That will not be the case with Panther Lake, Nova Lake and its successors as well. We'll build it in a more traditional way with memory off package in the CPU, GPU, NPU and I/O capabilities in the package. But volume memory will be off package in the roadmap going forward.
Pat Gelsinger - Intel CEO (Q3 2024 Earnings Call)
The company is set to bring the traditional design for the Panther Lake (set to launch in the second half of 2025) and the Nova Lake series, which will focus more on the CPU, GPU, NPU, and I/O dies. The on-package memory will be completely ditched on these lineups as well as the lineups succeeding Nova Lake. Lunar Lake was a niche, designed for high performance and great battery life, but with the AI PC, it demanded a high-volume product.
Furthermore, Intel will aim to build its products by reducing outsourcing, and about 70% of the Panther Lake CPU die is going to use wafers from Intel's own foundries. However, the rest of the wafers will be outsourced to maintain a better foundry business.
The puts and takes of 2025, we’re all in on AI PC, Lunar Lake - memory on package, weighs down GMs on products in 2025. Panther is the next one, better margins on product, but also more mix of wafers internally - helps foundry business.
Pat Gelsinger - Intel CEO (Q3 2024 Earnings Call)
That said, Intel also acknowledged that it had too many SKUs in the Lunar Lake chips with incredibly close specs. This was unnecessary and to simplify the roadmap, Intel will focus on delivering fewer SKUs. Lastly, Intel also shed some light on its future graphics products, and as per the interview, it will focus more on integrated graphics than on discrete GPUs.
So, we've taken steps to simplify the product line, have fewer SKUs to cover the marketplace, and we're focused on the efficiencies associated with that. Similarly, in the client product area, simplifying the road map, fewer SKUs to cover it, how are we handling graphics and how that is increasingly becoming large integrated graphics capabilities. So, less need for discrete graphics in the market going forward.
Pat Gelsinger - Intel CEO (Q3 2024 Earnings Call)
Intel is still committed to Arc. Nothing changes today.
Intel still has a strong mobile processor platform. They confirmed in-package memory is a one-off with Lunar - Panther and Nova will be more traditional, we could see more real estate to things like cores/graphics/NPU.
— 𝐷𝑟. 𝐼𝑎𝑛 𝐶𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 (@IanCutress) October 31, 2024
This doesn't mean that Intel will completely ditch the discrete GPU manufacturing, as Ian Cutress reports that Intel is still committed to Arc. It does seem like Intel is not going to be aggressive in the discrete GPU department, but it will keep producing discrete GPUs for desktops.
As per previous rumors, Intel's Battlemage "Xe2" discrete graphics cards are expected to launch later this year, but those plans could move to early 2025. The Xe2 architecture has already made its debut on the Lunar Lake SoCs as their integrated solution.
News Sources: Seeking Alpha, @IanCutress
About the author: Sarfraz Khan is a hardware reporter with a focus on PC components and the builder community. With years of experience writing about PC hardware and laptops, his work has been featured on several reputable technology publications. Sarfraz's hands-on experience is demonstrated through his first-person accounts of using and comparing different hardware configurations, providing practical and relatable insights for everyday users. His technical analysis is respected by peers in the enthusiast community and has been cited by specialized hardware sites such as Germany's Igor's Lab.
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