Intel Previews Rocket Lake Processors

Intel today announced a coming generation of PC processors aimed directly at the gaming market. They’re set for release in early 2021.

“We’re constantly looking ahead at what’s next and how we can make our desktop CPUs even better,” Intel VP John Bonini announced. “With that said, I’m also happy to confirm that the next generation 11th Gen Intel Core desktop processors (codenamed ‘Rocket Lake’) is coming in the first quarter of 2021 and will provide support for PCIe 4.0. It’ll be another fantastic processor for gaming, and we’re excited to disclose more details in the near future.”

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

As part of the announcement, Intel also reaffirmed its commitment to PC gaming, noting that it works with game publishers on new games early in the process to ensure that they run as well as possible on its hardware. And it specifically highlighted Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, Microsoft Gears Tactics, and SEGA Creative Assembly A Total War Saga: Troy as recent examples of this collaboration.

“To enhance processor performance, we’ve developed innovative solutions like Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 and Thermal Velocity Boost which automatically boost performance,” Bonini noted. “Whether overclockers prefer manually tuning their system in the BIOS or using exclusive software from Intel (i.e. Intel Performance Maximizer (IPM) or Xtreme Tuning Utility), we continue to serve the overclocking community by giving them frequency options and maximum flexibility to make their rig scream.” He cites a particular example in which an Intel CPU was overclocked to an incredible 7 GHz.

Tagged with

Share post

Please check our Community Guidelines before commenting

Conversation 13 comments

  • madthinus

    Premium Member
    07 October, 2020 - 3:04 pm

    <p>Oh wait, AMD has a Zen 3 announcement tomorrow! This is Intel having nothing to ship this Quarter, or next and they are about to be beaten per clock, per core, per MHz by AMD. </p><p><br></p><p>Rocket Lake is a backport of the Willow Cove Core to 14nm, because 10nm is still a dumpster fire. They are only shipping this on Desktop. It will be fast, but at 14nm still, it will not be efficient. </p>

    • IanYates82

      Premium Member
      08 October, 2020 - 5:18 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#584753">In reply to madthinus:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agree. This does smack of them getting something out there for people to hang on for 3, 6, maybe 9 months for this promised thing – light on detail and nothing on price – instead of going with the new AMD</p>

  • youwerewarned

    07 October, 2020 - 4:15 pm

    <p>Sounds great. And since the press has ceded the future to low-power ARM, Intel might as well go the other direction with motherboard-scorching RAM trucks to battle the Priuses. A little higher electric bill is easily offset by the gasoline we're not buying.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      08 October, 2020 - 4:24 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#584781">In reply to YouWereWarned:</a></em></blockquote><p>Speak for yourself, I've done about as many kilometres as I did last year. Still had to drive to work every day – and I wasn't ill this year (I had a 2 weeks sick leave last year) – quickly touches wood.</p><p>Working in IT, I've had to be on-site every day to ensure the infrastructure for our factory is working and to ensure that those who can work in home office can reliably connect.</p>

  • truerock2

    07 October, 2020 - 4:37 pm

    <p>My 12 year old PC is ready for replacement. I have been waiting for:</p><p> PCIE 4.0</p><p> DDR4</p><p> USB4</p><p> 4x power over my current Intel 3770K CPU</p><p> 4k 10-bit at 120Hz video</p><p> I thought I was waiting for SATA IV – but, obviously that is now irrelevant</p><p><br></p><p> So, it looks like I will be building a new PC in 2021</p><p><br></p><p> I don't want any legacy (i.e. non-USB4) ports on my new PC or monitor.</p>

    • curtisspendlove

      07 October, 2020 - 6:13 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#584790">In reply to truerock2:</a></em></blockquote><p>Yup. I was going to rebuild mine this holiday season and hand my current rig down to my son. But…he’s going to have to wait a bit longer now. </p>

  • waethorn

    07 October, 2020 - 8:45 pm

    <p>He's still using the term "BIOS". How quaint.</p>

  • ghostrider

    08 October, 2020 - 3:04 am

    <p>By the time Intel release these, AMD will be well into the Zen 3 release cycle. For anyone planning a new build, Intel are no longer a must have choice. You can bet Rocket Lake will be another new socket, so new mobo, RAM etc. It's how they work. My recommendation, go AMD. You won't regret it one bit.</p>

    • madthinus

      Premium Member
      08 October, 2020 - 3:52 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#584839">In reply to ghostrider:</a></em></blockquote><p>Rocket Lake is compatible with current sockets. </p>

      • Greg Green

        09 October, 2020 - 9:32 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#584871">In reply to madthinus:</a></em></blockquote><p>Wow, that’s a surprise.</p>

  • 2ilent8cho

    08 October, 2020 - 7:39 am

    <p>I'm more interested in what Apple Silicon desktop processors will do than what Intel is doing, but we wont see that for another year unless Apple surprise us with an iMac, Mini or Pro this year with it in. The early benchmarks of the A14 in the Air 4 show that the mobile Apple Silicon chips for the new Mac's are going to leave the i7 Intel laptop class processors for dust.</p><p><br></p><p>Even if you hate Apple, you should like like the fact Mac is dumping Intel as that coupled with AMD should be the kick Intel needs to actually start making decent improvements in processors again which will benefit the Windows/Linux users. </p>

  • codymesh

    08 October, 2020 - 8:18 am

    <p>This feels like Intel is trying to pre-empt AMD's announcement tomorrow.</p><p><br></p><p>And, to be frank, AMD is quite likely to crush it.</p>

  • nbplopes

    11 October, 2020 - 8:25 am

    <p>What enclosure is that? Looks nice.</p>

Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox

Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Thurrott © 2024 Thurrott LLC