Monday, October 26th 2026
Intel "Raptor Lake Next" 16-Core and 20-Core CPUs Surface
Intel is actively planning the "Raptor Lake Next" chips as an update to its Socket LGA-1700 desktop processors. These chips are essential for PC buyers who are limited to the decade-old DDR4 memory standard due to the high prices of DDR5 memory, especially since the current Core Ultra "Arrow Lake" processors do not support DDR4. Today, two "Raptor Lake Next" chips have appeared in shipping manifests, which usually indicate that the CPUs are being shipped as samples to customers or as part of a production run returning to Intel, suggesting a nearby launch. Four SKUs have been identified, labeled 99DLMV, 99DLMT, 99DLMW, and 99DLMX.
However, we have details on only two models, 99DLMV and 99DLMT. The 99DLMV is a 16-core design with 8 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores, a clock speed of 3.5 GHz, 30 MB of CPU cache, and a TDP of up to 125 W. The 99DLMT is a 20-core SKU with 8 P-Cores and 12 E-Cores, running at 2.1 GHz, with a CPU cache capacity of 33 MB, and a TDP of 65 W. These leaked models align with previous rumors, such as the one suggesting that Intel plans to replace the Core i5-14600K with a new "Raptor Lake Next" chip featuring 8 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores. Therefore, the 99DLMV SKU might be the one previously speculated about.
Additionally, GIGABYTE has released BIOS updates to prepare its entire Intel B760 and H610 motherboard lineup for upcoming LGA1700 processors, which the company expects to launch in early 2027. We can anticipate these "Raptor Lake Next" CPUs to launch either before the "Nova Lake" and new LGA1954 platform, or at the same time, as an alternative to the new CPU generation. Laptop "Raptor Lake Next" chips are expected to carry Core 2000HX series branding, but desktop variants now remain mysterious.
Sources:
Club386, via VideoCardz
However, we have details on only two models, 99DLMV and 99DLMT. The 99DLMV is a 16-core design with 8 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores, a clock speed of 3.5 GHz, 30 MB of CPU cache, and a TDP of up to 125 W. The 99DLMT is a 20-core SKU with 8 P-Cores and 12 E-Cores, running at 2.1 GHz, with a CPU cache capacity of 33 MB, and a TDP of 65 W. These leaked models align with previous rumors, such as the one suggesting that Intel plans to replace the Core i5-14600K with a new "Raptor Lake Next" chip featuring 8 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores. Therefore, the 99DLMV SKU might be the one previously speculated about.
130 Comments on Intel "Raptor Lake Next" 16-Core and 20-Core CPUs Surface
But this is on engine. It's 16-years old game. It simply cannot utilize a modern CPU. But this does not mean it's CPU-limited.Look, I'm not arguing that games cannot be CPU-limited. My point was about this limitation being far less frequent than GPU-limited scenario.
If the game's engine or optimizations are not crappy, then you should become CPU-limited when playing on low details and low resolution only, as that leads to highest amount of rendered fps.
CPU has to calculate a shitton of things when you play at 300 fps ... many times more than when you play 60 at fps. Of course, we're talking native here, not (M)FG.
When resolution becomes higher, things change, because with ultra details and 1440p or 2160p resolution the bottleneck shifts to GPU side, as CPU has to wait for GPU, not the other way around.
Pairing RTX 5090 with Ryzen 2600 CPU is absolutely bonkers. Besides utterly undersized CPU, it's also limited by PCIe interface.
We're yet to see desktop CPU that will fully unlock RTX 5090's power. Even 9850X3D can't do it, well, if we don't consider UE5 engine-based games (but that's another story - optimizations).
Low 0.1% & 1%, stuttering and similar things can also be problem of memory or OS. There were multiple bugs/problems when Windows introduced stuttering, especially the Win11.
williamsmale.com/blog/tech/windows-11-lying-to-games/
The optimisation argument can work both ways, if games are optimised properly then they would all run at 200fps on a RTX 3060.
There is 1000s and 1000s of games released for the PC, only a tiny snapshot goes through reviews, and typically benchmark media platforms, tend to overlap the same games they test on. They seem to deliberately avoid poor performing ports. If poor code makes a game run poor, but then more powerful hardware overcomes that, then yes in my view it counts as a hardware bottleneck still, if we didnt count that as a bottleneck, then the same logic applies to every game, as the vast majority of new games benchmarked are not optimised hence them needing DLSS or xx90 GPUs to get good performance.
There is an argument to be made newer games dont have th same CPU challenges which is fine, but thats better than a misleading statement which claims nearly every game is only GPU bottle necked unless played at 1080p.
Its also wrong to say that just because someone doesnt play famous titles, that their experience isnt relevant.
On topic: With the current RAM prices, I'm interested in Raptor Lake Next -if the price is right (especially, since I'm a bit worried with used RLs)
Also, while I’m not sure this is the case for Alder Lake and newer, TPU found that Gear 2 disproportionately benefits lower end SKUs
www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-i5-11400f/24.html