Embedded RAM is one of the factors that have made Apple M processors efficient. Intel attempted this with Lunar Lake but will no longer pursue it due to its high costs.
As is known, Intel's Core Ultra 200V (Lunar Lake) processors feature RAM on the substrate. According to Intel, this design enabled the creation of an impressive product, but it had a significant negative impact on profitability. The chipmaker has stated it will not incorporate embedded memory in its upcoming processors.
“[Embedded memory] is unique to Lunar Lake. It will not be present in Panther Lake, Nova Lake, and their successors. We will be developing them in a more traditional manner… embedded memory will not be included in our future roadmap,” said Pat Gelsinger, Intel's CEO, during a conference for analysts and investors.
The Intel Core Ultra 200V processors come with embedded LPDDR5X-8533 memory options of 16 GB or 32 GB connected via a 128-bit interface. This design helps save significant space inside laptops, as memory modules or soldered chips take up more room. Data transmission delays are reduced, allowing additional space to be used for a larger battery or other purposes.
Such LPDDR5X embedded memory is more expensive than standard options, and the installation also incurs higher costs, impacting the overall pricing of Lunar Lake. Moreover, processors with integrated memory reduce the flexibility of laptop and PC configurations.
“Initially, Lunar Lake was designed as a niche product aimed at achieving high performance and extended battery life, and then AI PCs emerged. With artificial intelligence computers, it evolved from a niche offering into a fairly mainstream product. We are not talking about just 50 million or 100 million units, but rather a significant portion of our overall lineup, rather than a relatively small fraction. This change occurred and had a greater consequence for Lunar Lake's margins and the company as a whole,” Gelsinger explained.
Intel envisioned Lunar Lake as a niche product for compact laptops with long battery life. However, due to the demand for chips with NPU, Intel had to boost the output of these processors. Thus, while the processors turned out to be successful, Intel no longer wants to deal with embedded DRAM in the future.
Source: Tom's Hardware
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