Janice R. Andrews
Leaks pertaining to Intel’s future Arrow Lake processors suggest a major divergence from the company’s long-standing chip technology, which might be a game-changer. Although little is known about the next-generation CPUs, which are anticipated to launch later this year, recent leaks indicate that two essential features—hyperthreading and support for the AVX-512 extension—may be missing.
Hyperthreading’s Evolution
Since its launch in 2002, Intel processors have been distinguished by hyperthreading, a feature that allows physical cores to perform two tasks at once. It hasn’t, however, been a constant trait among all generations. Intel has gradually added hyperthreading to its product line throughout the years, focusing mostly on midrange and high-end CPUs in recent years.
Recent disclosures suggest that hyperthreading may be about to become obsolete, despite its long history. An Intel PowerPoint that was leaked was first uploaded on Twitter by YuuKi_AnS and then acquired by VideoCardz. It showed a desktop CPU called Arrow Lake-S that was in pre-alpha stage and had eight cores and eight threads, indicating that hyperthreading was not there. An other leak revealed an Arrow Lake CPU with a mere 24 threads, hence strengthening the rumor that hyperthreading may not be included in Intel’s next range.
The Modification to the Core Architecture
Intel’s departure from hyperthreading is consistent with recent modifications to the core architecture. Intel started to phase down hyperthreading with the release of Alder Lake and the adoption of a hybrid core architecture. This choice was made since hyperthreading is not supported by efficient (E) cores, which are essential to the hybrid architecture. Moreover, the decrease in support for hyperthreading was also influenced by the introduction of low-power cores (LP) with Meteor Lake.
Although there should be some suspicion regarding these disclosures, Intel’s dedication to hyperthreading is called into doubt due to the consistency of information from several sources. If these rumors are accurate, it may indicate a break from a technology that has been a mainstay of Intel CPUs for more than 20 years.
Possible Consequences for AMD and Intel
The removal of hyperthreading from Arrow Lake processors may have consequences for Intel, especially when compared to rival AMD. In the past, Intel has performed exceptionally well on multi-threaded activities, and hyperthreading has been essential to this success. In the event that Intel does truly give up on hyperthreading, AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series might step in and take the lead, perhaps offering AMD a competitive advantage in some situations.
With Arrow Lake expected to launch in the second half of 2024, the industry is waiting impatiently for further information and formal statements from Intel. It’s unclear if the decision to leave out hyperthreading was made strategically or in reaction to new developments in technology. Undoubtedly, the future course of Intel’s chip technology and its consequences for the larger CPU industry will become clearer in the upcoming months.
