Intel Launches Lakefield Hybrid CPUs with Foveros 3D Stacking

Intel Lakefield
(Image credit: Walden Kirsch/Intel)

Intel today is formally launching its first 3D Foveros packaged processors, codenamed Lakefield, officially called “Intel Core processors with Intel Hybrid Technology.”

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Processor NumberGraphicsCores/ThreadsGraphics (EUs)CacheTDPBase Frequency (GHz)Max Single Core Turbo (GHz)Max All-Core Turbo (GHz)Graphics Max Frequency (GHz)MemoryHeader Cell - Column 11
Intel Core i5-L16G7Intel UHD Graphics5/5644MB7W1.43.01.80.5LPDDR4X-4267
Intel Core i3-L13G4Intel UHD Graphics5/5484MB7W0.82.81.30.5LPDDR4X-4267

Both CPUs, a Core i5 and Core i3, have a 10nm single Sunny Cove core for heavier workloads and four low-power Tremont cores for background tasks that are less intensive. While ARM laptops, like those running Qualcomm’s chips, have used a special version of Windows 10 for ARM that emulated 32-bit apps and doesn’t support 64-bit, the Lakefield chips will natively support both.

It’s going to be in the Samsung Galaxy Book S, a clamshell laptop that previously only came with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx and is launching only in select markets, as well as Lenovo’s upcoming ThinkPad X1 Fold, which was unveiled at CES and is scheduled to release this summer.

Intel says that the CPU package is 12 x 12 x 1 mm and gets there by stacking the two logic dies and two layers of DRAM. This also gets rid of the need for external memory.

There are also serious performance promises, including hardware-guided OS scheduling. This should ensure that the OS runs apps on the most appropriate core. Back at CES, when Lenovo showed off the ThinkPad X1 Fold, it said that Windows 10X would include the scheduling that would allow for applications to target the right core and increase battery life. In a call later, on, Intel said that the Lakefield processors are optimized only for Windows 10, and not the upcoming Windows 10X.

Here, Intel is claiming up to 24% better performance over an Intel Core i7-8500Y per SOC power (measured by web browsing power efficiency in WebXPRT3 score per watt) as well as up to 12% faster single-threaded performance in integer compute applications. 

Additionally, Intel says Gen11 graphics will allow up to 1.7x performance (as measured in 3DMark) over the i7-8500Y  and can convert videos up to 54% faster. There is also more than two times the throughput for AI workloads.

These processors are also poised to deliver long battery life. It’s Intel’s first Core processor to use as low as 2.5 mW of SoC power during standby. It also is the first Intel chip with dual internal display pipes, which Intel says makes the parts “ideally suited for foldable and dual-screen PCs."

Intel is making an interesting branding decision: Intel Core processors with Intel Hybrid technology don't have a generation attached. They will have badges similar to those of 10th Gen processors, but without that branding. It will only list which model is being used.

As always, we’re looking forward to getting systems with Lakefield parts inside to give them a spin in our labs.

Updated June 10, 12:02 p.m. ET with more details.

Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and Mastodon @FreedmanAE.mastodon.social.

  • DZIrl
    Good, let's now wait few years till software catches up.
    Reply
  • TCA_ChinChin
    I wanna see how well these actually do in terms of battery life and performance. In theory, the segmenting of performance cores and more efficient cores is good (many mobile SOC designs) but we've yet to see a big x86 product release with this type of layout. Can't wait to see how this actually performs in some reputable benchmark suites and in the hands of reviewers.
    Reply
  • gg83
    I imagine that it will be incredibly efficient with everything under one roof.
    Reply
  • mamasan2000
    Incredibly efficient but also incredibly limiting.
    Reply
  • NightHawkRMX
    AFAIK ARM already does something similar, so it will be interesting to see how efficient this makes an x86 CPU.
    Reply
  • Pat Flynn
    mamasan2000 said:
    Incredibly efficient but also incredibly limiting.

    How so? This is a scenario of choosing the right hardware for the task. These will be best used in place of 'Ultrabooks', or high portability/low power devices. Great for day-to-day 'client' computing, but not for heavy processing tasks. These should run web based apps, office apps, and other general ERP client apps without an issue, and do so with likely a 20+ hour battery life - depending on the platform.
    Reply
  • targetdrone
    RAM and CPU on a single module, can you say ISOLinier chip?
    Reply
  • AaronS678
    Pat Flynn said:
    How so? This is a scenario of choosing the right hardware for the task. These will be best used in place of 'Ultrabooks', or high portability/low power devices. Great for day-to-day 'client' computing, but not for heavy processing tasks. These should run web based apps, office apps, and other general ERP client apps without an issue, and do so with likely a 20+ hour battery life - depending on the platform.
    You literally just said what he meant, they aren't powerful processors, but are extremely efficient
    Reply
  • Chung Leong
    I wonder how they deal with code that checks CPU feature flags.
    Reply
  • jpe1701
    How do they cool it?
    Reply