Intel is rumored to be adding an improved NPU to its Arrow Lake Refresh CPUs for desktop and laptop platforms, potentially including the high-end Arrow Lake CPUs like the “S” desktop and “HX” laptop line. Currently, NPUs are limited to Intel Lake Arrow-H/U and Lunar Lake Potato Chips with Core Ultra 200V chips. AMD currently offers desktop chips with a dedicated NPU in the form of Ryzen 8000G “Hawk Point” Chips for the AM5 platform. Intel is reportedly planning to incorporate a dedicated NPU within its high-end desktop and laptop chips under the Arrow Lake-S and Arrow Lake-HX platforms.
Reports suggest that Intel may be preparing a refresh of its Arrow Lake CPUs to include an NPU inside the SOC module, which could result in a larger die size of 2.8 mm compared to the current generation. The package size will remain the same, allowing for compatibility without requiring major socket changes. Motherboard vendors will need to enable Fast Voltage Mode on the VccSA rails to support the NPU. Overall, Intel’s NPU-powered desktop and laptop chips are expected to bring advancements in AI capabilities, but it is too early to speculate about an Arrow Lake Refresh as the first generation Arrow Lake CPUs have not yet launched. Intel may introduce a refresh with Panther Lake if they are serious about updating their Core Ultra desktop CPUs in 2025.
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https://wccftech.com/intel-arrow-lake-refresh-cpu-might-feature-upgraded-npu-leading-to-larger-die-size/amp/
