Windows 11 Meet ‘Alder Lake’ — Intel’s Coming 12th Gen CPU

Future PCs that run the newly-revealed Windows 11 software will also get a new Intel processor architecture. Here are the facts.

The Intel Alder Lake hybrid architecture is very similar to Apple’s M1 processor. However, it has a mix of high-performance cores and efficient cores.

Intel will combine high-performance cores from “Golden Cove” with more energy-efficient cores from “Gracemont”.

‘Alder Lake’…the next generation processor…represents a breakthrough in x86 architecture and Intel’s most powerful system-on-chip. Alder Lake, which will be available in the second half of 2021 and combine high-performance cores with high-efficiency cores, is expected to launch in the second half. __S.6__

“Alder Lake” will be Intel’s first processor to use a modified version of 10nm SuperFin. It will be the foundation for mobile and leadership desktop processors that deliver faster, smarter and more efficient real-world computing.

According to reports, Alder Lake will have 16 cores (8+8) as well as 24 threads. The high-performance cores receive Hyper Thread (16 threads total), while the energy-efficient cores have single-thread (8).

This means that laptops will experience a significant increase in performance and longer battery life.

What to Expect (via PC Gamer).

  • Architecture: Gracemont cores + Golden Cove
  • Max Cores: 8+8 (24 Threads)
  • GPU: Intel Xe (12.2)
  • Socket: LGA1700
  • Process: 10nm enhanced SuperFin
  • RAM Support: DDR5 & DDR4

These are the same lines as the Geekbench leaks that showed an “unspecified Alder Lake Chip” (via Hot Hardware). It was a 14-core processor with twenty threads.

Hot Hardware reported that the benchmark produced a decent OpenCL test. In addition, it was comparable to a GeForce GTX 1050, Radeon RX 5560X or Radeon RX 1050.

According to Hot Hardware, Windows 11 may run faster with Intel hybrid processors. (see: Windows 11 Seems to Give Intel Hybrid CPU Architectures a Notable Performance Boost.

You can get used to the new processor specifications for Windows 11 PCs

Windows 11 will be released at the same time as Intel’s 12th Gen processors.

For example, if you order a new Dell XPS 13 laptop or an HP Spectre x360 for the holiday season, expect some strange silicon specs.

You will likely see hugely multicore processors instead of the 6- or 8-core 11th Gen processors. This is similar to the leaked Alder Lake chip (though it appears to be a desktop processor).

This means that performance and battery life will likely be closer to what you see in the M1 MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.

The 2021 holiday season laptops and desktops could be quite compelling. This is because they combine an overhaul of the processor with the operating system.

You can send me suggestions or comments via direct tweet at twitter.com/mbrookec.

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Adam Collins
Adam writes about technology, business and economics. With master's degree in Economics, he's presented six papers in international conferences. As a solivagant in the constant state of fernweh, curiosity is the main weapon in his arsenal.

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