Intel showcases Meteor Lake ultrabook processors with on-package LPDDR5x-7500 RAM chips from Samsung

With the Meteor Lake lineup launch drawing ever closer, new spec tidbits surface almost every day, either as rumors or on official channels. Yesterday was a busy day for both the rumor mill and Intel’s PR side. First, we found out about the different naming scheme for the ultraportable processors along with some leaked specs and Geekbench results, then Intel released a few articles and videos focusing on the CPU packaging technology used in upcoming product families, including Meteor Lake, Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest. The most interesting reveal is by far the on-package memory solutions prepared for the Meteor Lake processors.

From its first official reveals released in previous years, Intel made it clear that the Meteor Lake lineup would be among the first solutions to feature segregated CPU, GPU and SoC dies offering increased flexibility particularly for thin and light notebook systems. This would also allow for a faster iGPU and additional compute power for AI tasks, but, with the latest Foveros package advancements, Intel now plans to add RAM chips to the CPU package itself.

One of the images accompanying Intel’s article focusing on packaging technologies is even showing two LPDDR5x-7500 RAM chips from Samsung for a total of 16 GB with 120 GB/s bandwidth. This solution is designed to reduce the laptop motherboard size, leading to even more thin and light models. However, it might not be all roses. Tom’s Hardware points out that on-package RAM solutions could prove problematic for prospective buyers who could consider a future RAM capacity upgrade. Similarly, notebook OEMs may find it more difficult to get steep discounts for RAM chips directly from memory makers like Samsung.

Nevertheless, it looks like there will still be off-package RAM solutions as well, according to WCCFTech, but these may be limited to the higher-TDP SKUs.

Buy the Razer Blade Stealth 13 ultrabook on Amazon