➡️ The Shortcut Skinny: Intel 14th gen

• 😍 Intel next-gen chips are ready for manufacturing

• 🤔 Intel’s current processors only came out in October 2022

• 🏆 AMD needs to catch up

Intel already has the best CPU for gaming, but it looks like the new Intel 14th Generation CPUs could be on their way within the next few months.

Intel has released a new roadmap confirming that the Intel 4 manufacturing process behind its upcoming Meteor Lake processors is “Manufacturing Ready”, according to a report from PCWorld. The updated roadmap also suggests that the Intel 15th gen Arrow Lake CPUs won’t be released until early 2024.

So, it’s still not crystal clear when new Intel 14th gen processors will be available to purchase, but given that the Intel Core i9-13900K landed in the best gaming PCs just a couple of months ago, it’s surprising that Intel is already moving to release its next-generation processors.

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Contrary to some news reports, the new Intel 4 chip wasn’t at CES 2023, but it’s likely we’ll hear something about the new 14th gen chip, including an actual release date and perhaps a clue of what to expect from Intel Core i9-14900K. However, new rumors have emerged on the desktop processors that may point to a separate release for laptops and desktops.

Is the Intel 14th-gen release date so soon?

Intel manufactures our top two CPU recommendations right now, outpacing AMD, according to our reviews and in-depth testing. Our Intel Core i9-13900KS review demonstrates how Intel has reset the CPU playing field and is taking the lead over AMD and running with it.

But it’s not like AMD is sitting on its hands. From what we’ve heard about the company’s next-generation Zen 5 architecture, we’re expecting AMD to change its outlook on a hybrid chip architecture, according to known components leaker RedGamingTech.

You see, what pushed Intel’s 12th-generation Alder Lake processors, and subsequently its 13th-generation Raptor Lake processors, was Intel’s move to a hybrid chip architecture. What this shift means is that instead of every CPU core being the same, these processors use slower “efficient” cores to handle background tasks while simultaneously using more powerful “performance cores” to push through more demanding tasks like content creation and gaming.

If you ask me, the reason AMD fell behind Intel with its Ryzen 7000 processors was how AMD hand-waved away hybrid chips and stuck to its guns with traditional CPU design. With rumors that AMD will backpedal on this approach, Intel may want to get ahead of the action with its 14th-generation processors.

We’ll just have to wait and see what both companies do in the coming year. Either way, the CPU battleground is going to continue heating up from the look of things.

Intel 14th gen specs: two architectures?

Even though we haven’t seen concrete news reports about Intel 14th gen specs, there are hints that it may not end up being all-new architecture at all like some expect. Yes, it was assumed that these new Intel CPUs would be based off of the Meteor Lake architecture, but it may actually just be for laptops, according to a report from Hardware Times.

This is supposedly because Intel is planning to shave down the performance cores in Meteor Lake to further boost battery life and efficiency, and would likely require an all-new socket to slot it into one of the best gaming PCs.

Instead, we’re hearing rumors that Intel 14th-generation processors are going to be a refresh of Raptor Lake, the architecture behind the current 13th-generation desktop processors. This wouldn’t be the first time this has happened either – most notably the well-received Intel Core i9-9900K was based on a refresh of Coffee Lake, Intel’s 8th-gen Core architecture. This all comes from leaks reported by HotHardware, though, so as always take it with a grain of salt until we hear official word from Intel.

Either way, Intel’s 13th-generation Raptor Lake processors are extremely fast, so it wouldn’t really be a huge deal if the Intel 4 manufacturing process takes another year to make it into an actual CPU on store shelves.

Intel 14th-generation CPUs: what we want to see

No matter which architecture Intel decides to go with for the 14th-generation desktop processors, I want to see the company really push performance forward. And I know that Alder Lake and now Raptor Lake have done that – especially after my Core i9-13900KS review, but Intel needs to keep running with its lead.

Intel has grown complacent with its processors before, clinging desperately to its “best CPU for gaming” crown while Ryzen was constantly blowing Intel Core chips out of the water in literally every other workload – and eventually gaming.

Those days seem to be over for Intel, with the Intel Core i9-13900K not only being the best CPU for gaming, but it’s kind of the best CPU on the market period. Intel has proven that its hybrid chip design is the future, and I’m sure AMD will be catching on eventually.

Whatever the Intel Core i9-14900K looks like later this year, I hope it’s incredible.