Intel seems to have decided to confuse the public with its plans for the desktop processor segment. It turns out that there will still be no full-fledged desktop models of Meteor Lake-S.

Yes, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the client computing group Michelle Johnston Holthaus said just the day before yesterday that such CPUs would be released in 2024, which raised questions about three lines at once in one year. However, it now turns out that Holthaus did not actually mean the desktop segment in the form in which it is usually understood. Meteor Lake processors will indeed appear in desktop PCs, but this does not mean that such CPUs can be purchased separately and assembled into a computer based on them. In fact, Meteor Lake-S in the desktop segment will only be available in all-in-one PCs.

Meteor Lake is a power-efficient architecture that will power innovative mobile and desktop designs, including desktop form factors such as All-in-One (AIO). We will share more details about the product in the future

Intel

Intel already has experience releasing core KB desktop processors, which were only available in mini-PCs. Apparently, it will be the same story with Meteor Lake-S. Moreover, it is likely that technically these processors will completely copy mobile versions, except that the TDP may be higher.

That is, in 2024 we will have only two desktop lines: Raptor Lake Refresh, which will be released in October of this year, and then Arrow Lake-S sometime next year.

Back in July, we learned that Nvidia was working on a replacement for the fire-hazardous 12VHPWR connector. And now the first tests of the 12V-2×6 connector have appeared on the Internet, which should replace the 12VHPWR.

The authors of the HardwareBusters channel visited the laboratory of Linewell, which produces power cables, including for video card manufacturers.

Linewell tested the cable with the new connector, and tested it in a format that simulated the most common cause of 12VHPWR melting. At first, Linewell specialists tested it in normal mode for almost an hour, and the connector only heated up to 46.5 degrees. Then the cable was not connected completely, which usually leads to melting, and a power of more than 640 W was applied to it, that is, exceeding the established limit of 600 W. The connector passed the test, heating up to only 41 degrees.

Intel seems to have decided to exceed the plan not only in terms of technical processes, but also in terms of CPU lines. It turns out that Meteor Lake-S desktop processors will still be released.

Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel executive vice president and general manager of the client computing group, spoke about this. The PC World journalist, apparently not expecting an affirmative answer to his question regarding the fate of Meteor Lake-S, even asked again, and again received an affirmative answer.

So, tabletop Meteor Lake will still be released, and will be released next year. But now it’s not very clear how Intel is going to launch three lines at once within one year. Let us remind you that Raptor Lake Refresh will be released in October, and Arrow Lake is also expected next year. And if previously it was believed that the latter would simply replace the former, now another line is being added to them.

Perhaps Meteor Lake and Arrow Lake will coexist in the same way as in the mobile segment: Intel said that the former will occupy the mid-price segment, and the latter will be available in the upper price segment. And if these lines are released on desktop at the end of 2024, then they will together replace Raptor Lake Refresh. However, such a division will still be unusual, and Intel itself promised to release ARROW Lake much earlier than at the end of next year.