New Intel CPU may indicate Core 100 Series debut on desktop is imminent

After jumping ahead to Core Ultra 2 Series, Intel may bring its mobile-exclusive Core 1 Series to desktop PCs with CPUs like Core 5 120F.

Intel may soon release a new desktop processor, stripping away E-cores for a P-core only design. However, rather than slot into the company’s existing Core (Ultra) 2 Series, the processor curiously flies under a different banner.

X user momomo_us shared a leaked reference guide for Core 5 120F, which includes some of the processor’s specifications. The CPU will apparently feature six cores, with a base frequency of 2.5GHz and turbo of 4.5GHz. It’ll have 18MB of L3 cache at its disposal and a 65W power budget.

This technical makeup is practically identical to Core i5-12400F, save for the slightly higher maximum clock speed. As such, I don’t expect Core 5 120F will cost much. That’s if the processor makes its way to consumers at all, as the CPU could remain exclusively in the hands of system integrators.

Intel Core 5 120F CPU specs.
Source: @momomo_us on X.

However, there’s no mention of this processor’s underlying architecture. There are no prior desktop CPUs within the Core 1 Series to compare against, with Intel only releasing HL and and UL SKUs based on Raptor Lake designs for mobile and all-in-one systems like MSI Cubi NUC 1M.

It is possible that Intel has built Core 5 120F using the Bartlett Lake-S architecture, which would see the processor fit into older Socket LGA1700 motherboards rather than more-modern LGA1851 models. However, the chip will apparently carry no support for DRR4 modules, as the advertisement explicitly lists ‘DDR5-4800’ as its maximum memory speed.

Providing further support to the LGA1700 platform feels self-defeating, especially as Raptor Lake already continues to outsell Arrow Lake. LGA1851 would greatly benefit from affordable alternatives to the likes of Core Ultra 9 285K. Intel seems at least partially aware of this, as the brand reduced the price of Core Ultra 7 265K just a few months ago. Perhaps Arrow Lake Refresh will provide this lifeline.

Intel should provide an official word on Core 5 120F in the near future. For the moment, take the above with a grain of salt.

Fahd Temsamani
Fahd Temsamani
Senior Writer at Club386, his love for computers began with an IBM running MS-DOS, and he’s been pushing the limits of technology ever since. Known for his overclocking prowess, Fahd once unlocked an extra 1.1GHz from a humble Pentium E5300 - a feat that cemented his reputation as a master tinkerer. Fluent in English, Arabic, and French, his motto when building a new rig is ‘il ne faut rien laisser au hasard.’

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