Intel clarifies desktop Meteor Lake plans – Don’t expect socketed CPUs

No, Intel are not planning to release socketed Meteor Lake CPUs for desktops

In a recent interview with PC World, an Intel representative clearly stated that the company planned to release Meteor Lake desktop CPUs in 2024. While this statement is accurate, it was taken the wrong way by many members of the press. Many assumed that Intel’s Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Intel’s Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Client Computing Group, meant that socketed Meteor Lake desktop CPUs are coming. This is not the case.

Holthaus’ statement referred to mini-PCs, All-in-one PCs, and similar desktop systems, not socketed desktop systems. In a new statement to Computerdase.de, Intel has clarified what their plans for Meteor Lake are. Intel makes no mention of socketed desktop CPUs. With this in mind, PC builders should not expect to see socketed Meteor Lake-S CPUs next year.

Meteor Lake is a power efficient architecture that will power innovative mobile and desktop designs, including desktop form factors such as All-in-One (AIO). We will have more product details to share in the future.

Intel’s plans for next-gen desktop

At their Intel Innovation event, the company was clear that they planned to release newer “Arrow Lake” desktop CPUs in 2024. These CPUs will reportedly use Intel’s next-generation LGA-1851 CPU socket. Intel’s launch of 14th generation “Raptor Lake Refresh” desktop processors is weeks away. All signs point to Intel skipping Meteor Lake on socketed desktop systems. As it stands, Meteor Lake is coming to laptops and BGA (non-socketed) desktop systems.

Next year, Intel ae also preparing to release Lunar Lake CPUs for the mobile CPU market. These CPUs will replace Meteor Lake in the ultra mobile, low TDP, market.

Intel’s Meteor Lake processors feature many design innovations. For now, these innovations are limited primarily to the mobile CPU market. Desktop users should expect to see Intel’s newest technologies arrive on desktop with Arrow Lake in the second half of 2024. These CPUs should feature newer core architectures, and deliver  larger boost to overall CPU performance than Meteor Lake.

You can join the discussion on Intel’s Meteor Lake desktop plans on the OC3D Forums.