Intel’s Decision to Ditch Hyperthreading for Lunar Lake CPUs
Intel has decided to abandon hyperthreading, a long-standing technique that allows multiple threads to run on a single CPU core, for its upcoming Lunar Lake CPUs. This move marks a significant departure from the company’s previous processor lineup, which has included hyperthreading for over two decades. In the case of Lunar Lake, hyperthreading will be disabled on all CPU cores, including both performance and efficiency cores.
The rationale behind this decision is rooted in Intel’s goal to prioritize power efficiency in portable laptops. By disabling hyperthreading on Lunar Lake CPUs, the company aims to maximize single-thread performance and enhance overall performance per watt. This shift is particularly geared towards users who typically focus on one task at a time, such as those using laptops for everyday computing needs.
While the decision to forgo hyperthreading may impact the multi-threaded performance of Lunar Lake CPUs compared to AMD-powered counterparts, Intel emphasizes the importance of power efficiency and thin, light, long-lasting laptops in this generation. Additionally, Lunar Lake laptops will not feature replaceable memory, signaling another significant change in Intel’s approach to design and performance optimization.
Looking ahead, hyperthreading may still find a place in future desktop CPUs, particularly for applications requiring high processing power, such as servers and gaming laptops. For a more in-depth analysis of the technical aspects of Lunar Lake, readers can refer to Mark Hachman’s detailed exploration of the topic.
Editor’s Note: This article was initially published on June 3 and was subsequently updated on June 6 to incorporate additional information about Lunar Lake’s design features.
Biography:
Michael is a former graphic designer with a passion for building and customizing desktop computers. His diverse interests include folk music, football, science fiction, and salsa verde.