Intel drops hyperthreading for upcoming Lunar Lake CPUs

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Intel’s upcoming Lunar Lake processors will not feature hyperthreading, a technology that has been a staple in their fastest processors for over 20 years. This decision is driven by a desire to prioritize power efficiency in laptops, as enabling hyperthreading would come at too high a power cost. The Lunar Lake CPUs will focus on maximizing the performance of a single thread, catering to users who typically perform one task at a time on their laptops.

The new Lunar Lake series will see a 14 percent improvement in performance cores compared to the previous generation Meteor Lake CPUs, even with hyperthreading disabled. By eliminating the physical components needed for hyperthreading, Intel aims to enhance overall performance per watt while keeping laptops thin, light, and durable.

In addition to the removal of hyperthreading, Lunar Lake laptops will also not have replaceable memory, marking another significant change in Intel’s strategy towards energy efficiency. While this approach may mean Lunar Lake CPUs may not perform as well as AMD-powered laptops in multi-threaded tasks, it aligns with Intel’s focus on power efficiency for portable devices.

Despite the absence of hyperthreading in Lunar Lake processors, the technology could still be relevant for future desktop CPUs, particularly for applications in servers, data centers, and gaming laptops that prioritize raw power over efficiency and size savings. However, for Lunar Lake laptops, the decision to forego hyperthreading reflects Intel’s commitment to maximizing power efficiency for portable devices.

In conclusion, Intel’s decision to disable hyperthreading in their upcoming Lunar Lake processors highlights their dedication to enhancing power efficiency in laptops. By focusing on maximizing the performance of a single thread, Intel aims to improve overall performance per watt while keeping laptops lightweight and energy-efficient. While this approach may impact multi-threaded performance compared to AMD-powered laptops, it aligns with Intel’s strategy to cater to users who typically focus on one task at a time on their portable devices.

Article Source
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2355112/intel-abandons-hyperthreading-lunar-lake-cpus.html