Intel could launch Rocket Lake-S processors based on MCM architecture

Robert Sole 12 June, 2020

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AMD's bid to develop modular processors has been a major success. The MCM architecture design of AMD Ryzen processors has come a long way and looks better than the first versions. Even Intel has recently highlighted that using this type of design will save up to 50% of development costs. Well, the first modular processors from Intel would be the Rocket Lake-S.

Some days ago Intel introduced Lakefield processors, which are based on a hybrid design between big.LITTLE and MCM. These new processors based on Foveros 3D that integrates 4 low-power cores and a power core, as well as two DRAM stacks in a single package.

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Intel seems to be heading towards MCM architecture

Through Chiakokhua's Twitter account, the multi-chip design will be used for the Rocket Lake-S processors. Chiakokhua is a retired engineer who already gave good information about AMD Ryzen. It appears that AMD would use 14nm for a chiplet and 10nm for the logic block chiplet. The latter is the interconnection with the devices, the RAM, integrated GPU and other elements.

This first hybrid solution would have 24 PCI-Express 4.0 lanes, DDR4 Dual Channel configuration of up to 128GB, would be compatible with Intel 400 Series chips and would integrate 12th generation Xe architecture graphics. It would offer support for HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs.

The whole process would be based on Foveros 3D and the interconnection of the elements would be based on EMIB. I am the first processors to integrate this MCM architecture in the Rocket Lake-S, which would debut in 2021. This is the first step for a complete change in the design of the processors, partly required. The monolithic architecture gives many problems, as a result of this because we do not have desktop processors based on 10nm.

AMD has proven that the Zen architecture works and is capable of competing with and outperforming Intel processors. It is time to make processors evolve towards new, more efficient and less expensive solutions.