During an MSI Insider livestream, MSI demonstrated that Intel’s Alder Lake processors are not always the same size in terms of chip area. In any case, an as yet unannounced new processor appears to contain a considerably smaller chip.
MSI compared a twelfth generation Intel processor with 8 GoldenCove cores (Performance) and 8 Gracemont cores (Efficiency ) with a newer model, consisting of only 6 GoldenCove cores — according to MSI, all efficiency cores are disabled. It is unclear which exact models are involved, but one thing is certain: the chips differ considerably under the heat spreader.The 8P+8E processor equates to a chip area of ​​215 square millimeters; the 6P+0E variant measures approximately 163 square millimeters. It is unclear how many active transistors would ultimately be in it, given Intel prefers to keep that information to itself.
A difference in chip size is not the end of the world, but MSI Insider also noticed how the differences can potentially cause problems for cooler manufacturers — and that’s not the first
warning sign for coolers
. Not only does the Alder Lake generation use a new fit (LGA1700), the hot spot can also move from model to model.The thermal photo below shows how the heat generation of the two processor chips is developing. If you place both CPUs next to each other, it soon becomes clear that the hottest spot on the processor shifts significantly. Please note: the processors were labeled the wrong way round.
Intel has never made any statements about differences between Alder Lake desktop processors. However, the chip giant plans to further expand Alder Lake with non-overclockable variants in early 2022, as well as ‘Mobile’ and ‘Ultra Mobile’ variants for laptops and other portable systems.
The Alder Lake generation kicks off November 4th, starting with
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