[Ashraf] 10nm "Lakefield" SoC with Intel big + little cores

[DrMrLordX]

You could port the *Chipset* to TSMC, not the Modem, not at this stage of the development cycle. Porting a Modem to a different Fab or Node is about as much work as porting an CPU, if not harder for 5G.

I doubt Intel would have made the early announcement of 8160 if they were unsure of its 10nm by mid 2020.

So, do we know if Intel is fabbing those modems on their 10nm process? Is the TSMC news just a rumour? I'm getting a little confused here.

And unless Apple have been working on their own 5G Baseband in the past few years, I doubt they will have anything to show in 2021 or 2022.

There's rumours that they are, but that all stems from a job posting of theirs from late 2018.

 

[moinmoin]

There's rumours that they are, but that all stems from a job posting of theirs from late 2018.

I'd say it's a given Apple is working on something of their own, their track record of replacing external tech with internal ones is pretty steady. The question is rather how far they are and whether it's at a point of replacing the external tech any time soon, if ever.

So Intel may well have assessed ages ago that moving their 5G modem to TSCM is less of a risk than missing the internal process node roadmap and risking losing their business with Apple. Note that unlike with their processor business where competition was tame before Ryzen arrived the modem business faced tough competition all the time.

 

[jpiniero]

So, do we know if Intel is fabbing those modems on their 10nm process? Is the TSMC news just a rumour? I'm getting a little confused here.

Just a rumor at this point. Intel would have to deliver like 40-50 million chips by the middle of next year. That's obviously not even close to being realistic on 10 nm.

Apple's modem likely wouldn't be ready in time. Apple could kiss & make up with Qualcomm or use Mediatek's 5G modem. Not sure if they would really want to do either.

 

[NTMBK]

Ooh, "foldable PC" concept from Lenovo using unannounced Intel part: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...thinkpad-x1-prototype-hands-on-folding-screen I wonder if this might be the target device for Lakefield? They did say it would enable new form factors.

 

[Dayman1225]

Ooh, "foldable PC" concept from Lenovo using unannounced Intel part: https://www.theverge.com/circuitbre...thinkpad-x1-prototype-hands-on-folding-screen I wonder if this might be the target device for Lakefield? They did say it would enable new form factors.

That looks like a perfect candidate! They are also promising "all day" battery life which makes sense with Lakefields 5/7w TDPs.

 

[Dayman1225]

Since nobody posted here Intel announced a few more details on Lakefield at their Investor Day:

• 2.6 mW Standby - 10x Standby improvement vs Amber Lake
• 1.5 - 2x improvement in Active SoC power vs Amber Lake on 1080p Video Playback
• 5/7w TDP
• Upto 27w Burst
• 2x iGPU Performance - 5/7w Lakefield vs 5w i7 8500Y

 

[DrMrLordX]

2.6 mW? Wow, nice.

I hope those foldable PCs don't, you know, break. Like those Samsung devices.

 

[trivik12]

Aren’t laptops anyway foldable? Do we really need a tablet or laptop like Galaxy Fold? I would rather see high end laptops with great keyboard, battery life, performance and screen(HDR or OLED or both).

 

[jpiniero]

I would rather see high end laptops with great keyboard, battery life, performance and screen(HDR or OLED or both).

Well, you can already get that if you want. This is something new.

And yes, does sound like Lakefield.

 

[sxr7171]

Aren’t laptops anyway foldable? Do we really need a tablet or laptop like Galaxy Fold? I would rather see high end laptops with great keyboard, battery life, performance and screen(HDR or OLED or both).

Me too. But that folding x1 carbon looks interesting. 13.3” screen in a 7” tablet form factor but obviously thicker. It will fit in purses and man bags.