Raptor Lake
Hybrid-architecture processor family spanning 13th and 14th generations.
Raptor Lake is the internal codename Intel uses for its 13th and 14th generation Core processors, along with select Core Series 1 and 2 models. The design relies on a hybrid setup that mixes Raptor Cove performance cores with Gracemont efficiency cores. However, certain budget-tier chips sold under the Raptor Lake name actually use the older Alder Lake architecture, featuring Golden Cove P-cores and cache and memory configurations matching that generation. Like its predecessor, Raptor Lake is built on Intel’s Intel 7 manufacturing process. The top-end configuration offers up to 24 cores—eight performance cores and 16 efficiency cores—for a total of 32 threads, and it fits into the same sockets as Alder Lake systems (LGA 1700, BGA 1744, and BGA 1964). These processors also require matching chipsets.
A known issue with Raptor Lake CPUs involves a clock tree circuit that can suffer accelerated aging and permanent damage when exposed to elevated voltages. Improperly high voltages supplied by the BIOS and microcode caused instability as the circuit degraded over time. Intel says the latest BIOS and microcode patches fix the aging problem, which users can apply by updating their motherboard’s BIOS. But once a CPU is already damaged by overvoltage, no patch can repair it—the chip must be replaced. Intel has extended the warranty for affected Raptor Lake CPUs from three years to five years.
Several lower-end models use dies manufactured with the previous-generation Alder Lake architecture. Despite this, Intel officially labels these processors as "Raptor Lake" or "Raptor Lake Refresh." This codename also introduced the "Intel Processor" branding for low-end chips, replacing the Celeron and Pentium names.
Raptor Lake launched on October 20, 2022. At CES 2023 on January 3, Intel announced additional desktop and mobile CPUs. The 14th generation arrived on October 17, 2023. The microarchitecture was developed at Intel’s R&D center in Haifa, Israel. In September 2022, an Intel spokesperson explained that Raptor Lake was designed to take advantage of process improvements before Meteor Lake arrived, since that next microarchitecture was expected to be delayed. Raptor Lake competes with AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series, which launched about a month earlier on September 27, 2022.
Quick Facts
- Produced-Start
- October 20, 2022
- Soldby
- Intel
- Cpuid
- B0671
- Code
- 80715
- Clock
- Up to 6.2 GHz (P-cores) · Up to 4.5 GHz (E-cores)
- Dmi-Slowest
- 8x 16
- Dmi-Slow-Unit
- GT/s
- Microarch
- Raptor Cove (P-cores) · Golden Cove (P-cores) · Gracemont (E-cores)
- Arch
- x86
- Instructions
- x86-64
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Raptor Lake launched on October 20, 2022. On January 3, 2023, at CES 2023, Intel announced additional desktop CPUs and mobile CPUs. The 14th generation was launched on October 17, 2023. Raptor Lake's microarchitecture was developed by Intel's R&D center (IDC) in Haifa, Israel. In September 2022, an Intel spokesman revealed that Raptor Lake was created to benefit from process improvements before Meteor Lake arrives since the next microarchitecture was likely to be delayed. Raptor Lake competes with AMD's Ryzen 7000 series that was launched about one month earlier on September 27, 2022.
The 14th-generation Raptor Lake Refresh is the last processor family to use the old 'Core i' branding scheme in use since 2008. The Raptor Lake-U Refresh series is the first processor family to use the new 'Core 3/5/7' branding scheme introduced in mid 2023. On December 14, 2023, Intel announced the Raptor Cove-based Xeon E-2400 series for entry-level servers. Raptor Lake CPUs contain a clock tree circuit vulnerable to accelerated aging and permanent damage at elevated voltages. The BIOS code and microcode used with these CPUs supplied improperly high voltages, resulting in instability as the circuit degrades over time. Intel claims that aging issues have been since fixed in the latest BIOS and microcode patches, which can be installed by updating the motherboard's BIOS. Once damaged by overvoltage, these CPUs cannot be fixed by a patch and must be replaced. Intel has extended the warranty of Raptor Lake CPUs affected by the high voltage BIOS from 3 years to 5 years.
Reader's Guide
Raptor Lake represents a significant iterative step in Intel's desktop and mobile processor lineup, bridging the gap between Alder Lake and the delayed Meteor Lake architecture. Its hybrid design, combining Raptor Cove performance cores with Gracemont efficient cores, allowed Intel to scale up to 24 cores and 32 threads, offering competitive multi-threaded performance against AMD's Ryzen 7000 series. The architecture's socket compatibility with Alder Lake systems (LGA 1700, BGA 1744, BGA 1964) eased upgrades for existing users. However, Raptor Lake's legacy is notably marked by a widespread instability and degradation issue: a clock tree circuit vulnerable to accelerated aging at elevated voltages, caused by improperly high voltages supplied by BIOS and microcode. While Intel released patches to prevent further damage, already-affected CPUs required replacement, and Intel extended the warranty to five years. The 14th-generation Raptor Lake Refresh also marked the end of the long-running 'Core i' branding, with the Raptor Lake-U Refresh introducing the new 'Core 3/5/7' scheme. Some lower-end models, despite being branded as Raptor Lake, used Alder Lake dies, and the codename introduced the 'Intel Processor' branding for low-end processors, replacing Celeron and Pentium.
Did You Know?
- Raptor Lake features up to 24 cores (8 performance cores plus 16 efficiency cores) and 32 threads.
- The 13900KS can hit up to 6.0 GHz at stock configuration.
- Some lower-end Raptor Lake SKUs are based on Alder Lake architecture with Golden Cove P-cores.
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