Wednesday, May 15th 2024

Intel Readies N250 Series "Twin Lake" Low-power Processors, Succeeds "Alder Lake-N"

by
btarunr
 Discuss (28 Comments)
Intel is readying the new N250 "Twin Lake" line of low-power processors that succeed the N200 series "Alder Lake-N" series. These are chips built on the latest process node Intel is using for its Core and Xeon processors, but only features E-cores (efficiency codes) from the latest microarchitecture. Chips from the N200 series are popular with low-cost notebooks, thin-clients, embedded systems, kiosks and point-of-sale terminals, NAS, and consumer electronics. "Twin Lake" is codename for the new processor series, these are likely monolithic processor dies that use a client ringbus layout, and one E-core cluster that makes up the compute muscle.

While "Alder Lake-N" is powered by "Gracemont" E-cores, the new "Twin Lake" chips are expected to feature "Skymont" E-core clusters. Intel is expected to debut "Skymont" E-cores with its upcoming Core Ultra 200V series "Lunar Lake-MX" mobile processors. "Skymont" is technically two generations ahead of "Gracemont," as Intel introduced the "Crestmont" cores with its current Core Ultra 100 "Meteor Lake" processor family. Not a lot is known about "Skymont" at this point, except that it's expected to feature IPC increases, and perform close to Intel's P-cores from 3-4 generations ago, such as the "Willow Cove" cores powering the 11th Gen Core "Tiger Lake" processors, looking at past trends of the "Gracemont" core performing similar to a "Skylake" core with HTT disabled.
Sources: InstLatX64 (Twitter), Videocardz

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28 Comments on Intel Readies N250 Series "Twin Lake" Low-power Processors, Succeeds "Alder Lake-N"

#1
Lore
The N250 getting the Skymount or even the Crestmount architecture seems way too good to be true. My guess is N250 just being an Alder lake refresh.
Posted on Reply
#2
Daven
This is basically just the modern day version of Atom. Good for some edge cases but not general computing needs.
Posted on Reply
#3
Denver
LoreThe N250 getting the Skymount or even the Crestmount architecture seems way too good to be true. My guess is N250 just being an Alder lake refresh.
Furthermore, Twin Lake is said not to be using a newer CPU core (Skymont) but relying on the same architecture as Alder Lake, which is Gracemont .

That's what it says on the videocardz. The article here has incorrect info, apparently.
Posted on Reply
#4
TheinsanegamerN
DavenThis is basically just the modern day version of Atom. Good for some edge cases but not general computing needs.
Tell me you've never used a n200 without tellimg me you havent used a n200.

They're perfectly fine for general compute needs. Just like haswell and skylake. They run web browsers, video playback, office work, ece without issue.
Posted on Reply
#5
Heiro78
TheinsanegamerNTell me you've never used a n200 without tellimg me you havent used a n200.

They're perfectly fine for general compute needs. Just like haswell and skylake. They run web browsers, video playback, office work, ece without issue.
I recommended an Acer Aspire netbook some 9 years ago since they were only using a browser to store their photos and wanted something bigger than their phone to look at and make calendar, albums and such. It was so slow at loading the photo pages that she hated it. Intel Atom laptops on the low end (<300USD) were pretty bad for this general use case.
Posted on Reply
#6
JohH
Unnecessary refresh if it's Gracemont or Crestmont.

Skymont, on the other hand, would be nice.
Posted on Reply
#7
hsew
DavenThis is basically just the modern day version of Atom. Good for some edge cases but not general computing needs.
Hardly. Atom was a real POS, struggling against P4.

E-Cores since their inception have been on par with skylake, but to see that they are getting bumped to be level of tiger lake is pretty impressive. They’re already good enough to do office tasks with ease…

www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-i9-12900k-e-cores-only-performance/8.html
Posted on Reply
#8
kondamin
I'm happy I held off on getting an n200 lab computer now.

I hope they offer a this in dual channel
Posted on Reply
#9
Antique4106
I hate to hate on low-end solutions, but if your chip only has e-waste cores, does that make it e-waste?
Posted on Reply
#10
sLowEnd
DavenThis is basically just the modern day version of Atom. Good for some edge cases but not general computing needs.
Atoms sucked, but today's low power Alder Lake-N parts are legitimately substantially better and well suited for basic use.
Posted on Reply
#11
kondamin
Antique4106I hate to hate on low-end solutions, but if your chip only has e-waste cores, does that make it e-waste?
read it as low power use ok performance.
you get native x86 and performance that would have cost you 95w a couple of years ago for 15w or so now in a mini system for ~$200
Posted on Reply
#12
Antique4106
kondaminread it as low power use ok performance.
you get native x86 and performance that would have cost you 95w a couple of years ago for 15w or so now in a mini system for ~$200
Fair, and it certainly isn't the worst cut-down core solution that's been out there..
Posted on Reply
#13
FoulOnWhite
Antique4106I hate to hate on low-end solutions, but if your chip only has e-waste cores, does that make it e-waste?
Your comment makes you look like a ignorant fanboy. If you can't contribute something useful to the thread, don't bother commenting.
Posted on Reply
#14
Lew Zealand
As a point of reference, these cores are equivalent to an i5-7400 or i3-9100, so not e-waste or any other useless labels devoid of meaning or information.

But they also do not give Skylake-level performance for more than bursty loads unless configured with a TDP of 25-30W. Otherwise they will clock down and deliver significantly lower performance when limited to 6 or 10 or 15W.
Posted on Reply
#15
pressing on
DenverFurthermore, Twin Lake is said not to be using a newer CPU core (Skymont) but relying on the same architecture as Alder Lake, which is Gracemont .

That's what it says on the videocardz. The article here has incorrect info, apparently.
As there is already a N200 and a N300 it seems obvious where a N250 will fit it. And that like the other two CPUs it will be Alder Lake N based.
Posted on Reply
#16
Daven
TheinsanegamerNTell me you've never used a n200 without tellimg me you havent used a n200.

They're perfectly fine for general compute needs. Just like haswell and skylake. They run web browsers, video playback, office work, ece without issue.
I’ve used even faster MS Surface Go 3 tablets with those Y processors. Slow as hell. Avoid these N processors at all costs.
sLowEndAtoms sucked, but today's low power Alder Lake-N parts are legitimately substantially better and well suited for basic use.
These run at half the speed of processors from six years ago with the same IPC. Intel calling them E-cores doesn’t mean anything. They are slow as hell.

Base clock of 1.2 GHz. Run very very far from these.
Posted on Reply
#17
Eternit
A bought a tablet with N100 processor. It is a joke. It overheats and throttles when running Windows Update.
Posted on Reply
#18
A&P211
Intel didnt have "p-cores" 3-4 generations ago. P-cores weren't named p-cores until 2 generations ago, in the 12th gen processors.
Posted on Reply
#19
JohH
DavenI’ve used even faster MS Surface Go 3 tablets with those Y processors. Slow as hell. Avoid these N processors at all costs.


These run at half the speed of processors from six years ago with the same IPC. Intel calling them E-cores doesn’t mean anything. They are slow as hell.

Base clock of 1.2 GHz. Run very very far from these.
The 10100Y is slower than even N100 according to benchmarks online. N100 has twice the multithread performance and 20% higher 1T. You're arguing against Alder Lake N by citing a different chip with worse performance and claiming Alder Lake N is slower than. It isn't. Not sure why you think so.

N305 is 30% faster 1T and 3x faster MT than 10100Y. It does use more power, though.
Posted on Reply
#20
sLowEnd
DavenI’ve used even faster MS Surface Go 3 tablets with those Y processors. Slow as hell. Avoid these N processors at all costs.


These run at half the speed of processors from six years ago with the same IPC. Intel calling them E-cores doesn’t mean anything. They are slow as hell.

Base clock of 1.2 GHz. Run very very far from these.
You asserted that Alder Lake-N isn't adequate for general computing use. What is "general computing" to you?

This review shows the N100 browses the web, plays Youtube videos even at 4K, and can word process just fine.

This TPU review of an N95 based mini PC says this in its conclusion
www.techpowerup.com/review/acemagician-ad03-n95-alder-lake-nuc-mini-pc/11.html
The Ace Magician AD03 N95 mini-pc is limited in regards to the performance it offers, but when you consider the price, it is a fairly solid system depending on the circumstance. For most office use cases, it will prove more than adequate; it also has plenty of USB ports to handle your connectivity needs. As a system for basic tasks, email, work, web browsing, etc., I found no discernible faults. If you are working with larger data sets in Excel or want to do video or photo editing, I would recommend something more powerful, but for daily tasks, it's a damn good system.
Posted on Reply
#21
Daven
sLowEndYou asserted that Alder Lake-N isn't adequate for general computing use. What is "general computing" to you?

This review shows the N100 browses the web, plays Youtube videos even at 4K, and can word process just fine.

This TPU review of an N95 based mini PC says this in its conclusion
www.techpowerup.com/review/acemagician-ad03-n95-alder-lake-nuc-mini-pc/11.html
Here’s the thing…that reviewer tossed the review unit aside and went back to his or her regular computer. Using a computer for a few hours to write a review isn’t the same as making it your main machine.

Buyer beware of these is all I can say to warn you.
Posted on Reply
#22
TheinsanegamerN
Heiro78I recommended an Acer Aspire netbook some 9 years ago since they were only using a browser to store their photos and wanted something bigger than their phone to look at and make calendar, albums and such. It was so slow at loading the photo pages that she hated it. Intel Atom laptops on the low end (:love:00USD) were pretty bad for this general use case.
Thank you for confirming you have never used an N200.
DavenHere’s the thing…that reviewer tossed the review unit aside and went back to his or her regular computer. Using a computer for a few hours to write a review isn’t the same as making it your main machine.

Buyer beware of these is all I can say to warn you.
tech reviewer likes better tech, news at 11.

For most people, they wont notice the difference. Most people are STILL using dual or quad core laptops with HDDs FFS.
Posted on Reply
#23
Daven
TheinsanegamerNThank you for confirming you have never used an N200.

tech reviewer likes better tech, news at 11.

For most people, they wont notice the difference. Most people are STILL using dual or quad core laptops with HDDs FFS.
I'm afraid I can't agree with you there. I worked at a community college for the last 3.5 years and encountered coworkers and students from all walks of life including international students. All of them had laptops from the last 3-4 years which are 100% SSDS. Most had Macbooks which means M1 or the last Intel model. From smartphones to laptops, most people are use to fast boots, responsive interfaces, opening and leaving open multiple applications with fast switching between them and watching streaming up to 4K video. I've seen video chat, browsers with dozens of tabs, word, powerpoint, watching TV and more all open simultaneously. I'm not even mentioned the myriad of background processes going on. This N250 would crawl under this scenario and aggravate the hell out of these everyday users. This is an edge case processor that has uses in specific scenarios but should be avoided by the general population.
Posted on Reply
#24
Heiro78
TheinsanegamerNThank you for confirming you have never used an N200.

tech reviewer likes better tech, news at 11.

For most people, they wont notice the difference. Most people are STILL using dual or quad core laptops with HDDs FFS.
What's an N200 then
Posted on Reply
#25
Lew Zealand
Heiro78What's an N200 then
Read the first sentence of this news item.
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