Intel Devs Working On Meteor Lake-S Linux Code

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Apparently, there is a chance Meteor Lake desktop CPUs could co-exist with Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs

Intel Core
(Image credit: Intel)

Phoronix reports that Meteor Lake-S driver code is still being developed and implemented into the Linux kernel, with a new driver update going live this morning. This comes as part of what appears to be a dual-pronged desktop CPU lineup, as Raptor Lake Refresh has been confirmed as part of Intel's next generation of desktop CPUs. The code suggests that desktop-designed Meteor Lake processors could still be coming soon, with the possibility of it co-existing with the new Raptor Lake refresh.

The driver code Phornix mentions specifically upgrades the Intel pin control driver (pinctrl) with Meteor-Lake S support. These changes were made this morning and will be shipped with Linux 6.5 once it is ready. According to Phoronix, this new driver update compliments other Meteor Lake-S code already in the kernel, confirming that Intel developers are actively working on Meteor Lake S support.

Intel has not said anything about desktop Meteor Lake-S processors since Raptor Lake Refresh was confirmed by themselves in China. But these Linux updates seem to nullify any rumors pointing to a Meteor Lake S cancellation. If Meteor Lake S ends up launching soon (as the evidence shows), desktop Meteor Lake processors could co-exist with Raptor Lake CPUs in the same market, filling gaps in Intel's 14th Gen lineup that are better suited to Intel's more advanced Meteor Lake architecture.

Intel 4, Meteor Lake

Intel Roadmap pre-Raptor Lake Refresh (Image credit: Intel)

Raptor Lake refresh and Meteor Lake couldn't be any more different from each other; the former is based on Intel's current 13th Gen Raptor Lake CPU architecture, while Meteor Lake is an all-new CPU architecture featuring several new technologies, including new cores, tiles, AI-acceleration and more. Raptor Lake Refresh, on the other hand, is a second-generation refresh of Intel's Alder Lake architecture that will probably feature higher clock speeds, different core configurations, and an upgraded memory controller compared to Raptor Lake if rumors are true.

Of course, it's impossible to say when these chips will come to market, but Intel's roadmap demands that a Meteor Lake-S lineup will have to launch during the Raptor Lake Refresh life-cycle and before Arrow Lake arrives next year.

Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Freelance News Writer

Aaron Klotz is a freelance writer for Tom’s Hardware US, covering news topics related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

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8 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Metal Messiah.
    There is nothing "nullified" with this leak/entry, because nothing was OFFICIALLY confirmed or denied by Intel to begin with, so this leak also remains another rumor for now.
    Reply
  • JamesJones44
    It's getting a bit interesting that things keep popping up about a Raptor Lake refresh while at the same time Meteor Lake S keeps showing up in kernel updates.

    I'm putting my money on high ends being Raptor Lake refresh (i9, i7), low end being Meteor Lake based on the rumors, but I don't think there has been this much confusion over a CPU launch this close to launch in a while (could be wrong).
    Reply
  • bit_user
    I wouldn't be surprised if they only make engineering samples, and for the sole reason of helping smooth the transition to Arrow Lake S.
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    bit_user said:
    I wouldn't be surprised if they only make engineering samples, and for the sole reason of helping smooth the transition to Arrow Lake S.
    I would be very surprised if they only make engineering samples.
    With AMD being between a rock and a hard place, with PC sales going down and TSMC prices going up, there will be very little pressure on intel to release a "system crusher" they can lay back and relax a while and play the ++++ game.

    If the raptor refresh will cover the whole line up, including the low end that is still alder lake, then next year they might do the same thing again and do mid/high end meteor lake with the low end staying the same or maybe getting a raptor refresh of their own.
    Reply
  • Metal Messiah.
    I agree making engineering samples/ES doesn't make much sense. Why would they waste silicon on ES ? Also, there is little threat or competition from AMD as well.

    But ok, assuming. Intel does indeed have plans to release RPL-refresh family for desktop, then most likely they are gonna release only Core i5 and i7 Core i3 models just as a stop-gap or an interim solution before Meteor Lake hits the market.

    There was also a chatter on Chinese AIB forums, than we might get to see i5 and i7 mainstream SKUs in the RPL-refresh family. But again, these are only rumors floating around the Asian tech community.

    EDIT:

    Correction. Only Core i3 and Core i5 Models. Not i7.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    Metal Messiah. said:
    I agree making engineering samples/ES doesn't make much sense. Why would they waste silicon on ES ?
    Most/all of the silicon might be the same as that found in certain laptop variants. With Meteor Lake being such a complex, new CPU, having a ES of a desktop variant might be a quicker path towards all the necessary debug & driver development.
    Reply
  • JamesJones44
    Metal Messiah. said:
    But ok, assuming. Intel does indeed have plans to release RPL-refresh family for desktop, then most likely they are gonna release only Core i5 and i7 Core i3 models just as a stop-gap or an interim solution before Meteor Lake hits the market.

    That's an interesting thought as well. My feeling has been they are getting low yields out of Intel 4 at this stage, so salvage more content and use it in the low end (i5 and lower), but I suppose if the wafer yield is low, but the content is higher quality, they could use it to service the high end only (i7 and i9).

    All just pure speculation at this point. We should know for sure in about a month or two.
    Reply
  • Metal Messiah.
    JamesJones44 said:
    That's an interesting thought as well. My feeling has been they are getting low yields out of Intel 4 at this stage, so salvage more content and use it in the low end (i5 and lower), but I suppose if the wafer yield is low, but the content is higher quality, they could use it to service the high end only (i7 and i9).

    All just pure speculation at this point. We should know for sure in about a month or two.

    Indeed those are speculation, and theories. But you have a point. Few of my own sources have confirmed this as well. Meteor Lake-S has likely been on a roller coaster because of 4nm (Intel 4 ?) yield issues, prompting the chipmaker to focus on the lucrative notebook market first.

    And when it comes to the second prediction, some of the existing Meteor Lake-S dies might be used by Intel and its partners to validate the Arrow Lake-S CPUs. We know both these chips are going to support the same mobo socket, most likely LGA1851.

    So, it is possible that some variants of Meteor Lake architecture might end up being offered alongside future Arrow Lake CPUs for the LGA-1851 socket, or maybe these are just preliminary Arrow Lake chips in disguise.

    OR, Intel might just be testing these chips by releasing lower-end SKUs for the RPL-refresh family first, before releasing them on a full scale on the Arrow Lake lineup ?

    https://designintools.intel.com/lga1851-mtl-s-interposer-for-the-gen5-vr-test-tool.html
    But anyway, not sure about all that speculation, but, recently a test tool for Intel's Meteor Lake-S CPUs appeared on the blue team's designintools portal which may indicate a desktop launch.

    The new LGA1851-MTL-S CPU interposer was discovered by momomo_us, which appeared to be an internal testing tool provided to customers and partners who are receiving the first samples for testing.

    It was ALSO recently stated that Intel was sampling its first Meteor Lake-S Desktop CPUs to OEMs. But this was debunked later on.

    https://designintools.intel.com/media/catalog/product/cache/4c010246465e35ab87663c12d83da505/l/g/lga1851-mtl-s_rev_a1.jpg
    Reply