Intel’s Next-Generation Razor Lake-AX Platform Unveiled at Summit

At the Semiconductors Powering Humanoids summit held in South Korea, Cho Min-sung, Intel’s senior vice president, revealed plans for the upcoming Razor Lake-AX platform. This new system-on-chip (SoC) is expected to dramatically enhance computing capabilities with a robust performance metric of 700 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) at INT8/FP8 precision. This advancement positions Razor Lake-AX as approximately 3.88 times more powerful than its predecessor, the Panther Lake mobile chips, which offer 180 TOPS.

Key Features of Razor Lake-AX

The significant increase in compute power is driven primarily by a substantial integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU) alongside a complex CPU. Several details about the iGPU emerged, indicating that Razor Lake-AX will be available in two configurations:

• A 16-core integrated GPU
• A flagship model featuring a 32-core integrated GPU

Graphics Performance

Both versions of the iGPU are anticipated to utilize Intel’s Xe3 graphics architecture, which is currently present in the Panther Lake series. This enhancement suggests a performance leap that could make Razor Lake-AX nearly three times as powerful as the existing Arc B390 GPU used in Intel’s PTL lineup.

Specifications and Manufacturing Insights

According to reports, the die size for the iGPU is approximately 162.84 mm², hinting at a sizeable package design. Additionally, Intel intends to reintroduce on-package memory in Razor Lake-AX, contradicting earlier statements where the Core Ultra 200V “Lunar Lake” was touted as the last design to feature this technology. The forthcoming Razor Lake-AX is expected to include LPDDR5X/LPDDR6 memory housed on the chip.

The exact manufacturing details remain under wraps, but the chip’s large iGPU likely utilizes advanced interconnect technologies such as EMIB and Foveros 3D.

Socket and Compatibility

Razor Lake-AX is likely to feature a BGA-4326 package, consisting of 4,326 pins—a design reminiscent of Intel’s Xeon CPU packages. This extensive pin count is indicative of the platform’s advanced capabilities.

Future Prospects

While there were initial considerations for a Nova Lake-AX SoC featuring 48 Xe3 cores and a 28-core CPU setup, development on that chip has been paused. The Razor Lake-AX generation is slated to launch following Nova Lake, with its official release expected in 2028.

Intel’s Razor Lake-AX platform is a promising development that signifies a leap forward in AI computing power, and its arrival will be one to watch closely in the coming years.