A new leak showcases upcoming Intel Arrow Lake-S desktop processors and their 800 series chipset layout. Among many details, the platform adds another CPU-linked M.2 slot alongside native Thunderbolt 4 support.
With the launch of Intel’s LGA-1851 platform approaching, leaks have started appearing, and the latest includes PCIe, memory, and storage configurations. According to the document shared by a Chiphell user, Intel’s Arrow Lake-S desktop CPUs will boast 16 dedicated Gen 5 PCIe lanes for the best graphics cards.
However, the star of the show is its two CPU-connected M.2 slots. Unlike Raptor Lake Refresh predecessor’s four lanes making for a single Gen 5 M.2 attached to the processor, this time users get enough lanes to stick an extra Gen 4 via the chip. This means that, unlike the 700 series, 800 series motherboards won’t need to sacrifice the graphics card’s PCIe bandwidth to offer more CPU-attached storage slots. That said, both platforms offer more M.2 and SATA ports via their chipsets. The only issue is that these have shared bandwidth with other components, such as networking and USB.
On the subject of USBs, this upcoming generation will continue offering a mixture of 20Gb, 10Gb, and 5Gb alongside HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 video outputs. However, the most notable change will be the integrated Thunderbolt 4 controller, bringing up to 40Gb/s transfer speeds, device daisy chaining, video output using the integrated Arc GPU, and the possibility of connecting external GPUs.
As you can expect by now, DDR5 will be the only memory supported, so don’t expect DDR4 versions like Z690/Z790 boards. Fortunately, DDR5 prices have fallen substantially, now costing below £100 for 32GB kits. Regarding networking, 800 series boards should include the latest standards, such as Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, accompanied by 1GbE or 2.5GbE LAN ports.
While Intel didn’t indicate pricing or release dates for its Core Ultra 200K chips, they are expected to launch this year. Also, keep in mind that you will need a new 800 series motherboard to go with your CPU upgrade since Intel has moved to a new LGA-1851 socket.