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| Intel plans to keep Raptor Lake alive for another generation |
Intel’s Raptor Lake architecture is apparently not ready to ride off into the sunset just yet. According to a new leak, the chipmaker is preparing yet another refresh of its long-serving processor family, this time for high-performance laptops under the Core 2000HX branding.
The information comes courtesy of prolific hardware leaker Golden Pig Upgrade, who shared the details on Weibo. In a brief but telling post, the tipster stated that the notebook HX version of Raptor Lake Next will be called the Core 2000HX series—notably adding an extra digit to the naming scheme.
A Confusing Naming Scheme Gets Even More Crowded
For now, the leak only confirms the series-level branding. Individual model names remain unknown, meaning it’s still unclear whether Intel will roll out names like Core 9 2xxxHX or Core 7 2xxxHX. One thing is certain, however: there’s no “Ultra” branding here. That distinction remains reserved for Intel’s newer architectures.
The switch to a four-digit numbering scheme would at least help consumers distinguish these chips from the existing Core 200H family and the Arrow Lake-based Core Ultra 200HX series. As one commenter on the original Weibo post quipped, the “AI PC era” seems to be defined by increasingly chaotic model numbers.
What We Know About the Specs
The latest information builds on earlier claims from fellow Intel leaker Jaykihn, who reported that Team Blue was working on an HX-only mobile version of the Raptor Lake platform. According to that earlier leak, the proposed lineup consists of three SKUs:
A Core 9 chip with 8 P-cores and 16 E-cores
A Core 7 chip with 8 P-cores and 12 E-cores
Another Core 7 chip with 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores
That gives the top-tier part 24 cores in total, essentially making it a beefed-up Core i9-14900H. For gamers and content creators who don’t need the absolute latest architecture, these chips could offer a compelling balance of performance and value.
Coexistence with Nova Lake
The Core 2000HX family is expected to coexist alongside newer Nova Lake-based silicon. Another earlier leak suggested that Intel would switch to a four-digit naming scheme for Nova Lake desktop and laptop SKUs, with the Core Ultra 4xxx branding.
That leaves Raptor Lake Next looking increasingly like a lower-cost alternative for gaming laptops. It also continues Intel’s long-standing tradition of keeping laptop architectures alive for far longer than they need to be—a strategy that has both fans and critics.
The DDR4 Advantage
On the plus side, Raptor Lake could help offset gaming laptop costs by supporting relatively cheaper DDR4 RAM instead of Nova Lake’s DDR5. In a market where every dollar counts, that could make Core 2000HX-powered machines an attractive option for budget-conscious buyers who still want strong gaming performance.
Whether Intel will officially confirm the Core 2000HX series remains to be seen. But if the leaks are accurate, it looks like Raptor Lake will be sticking around for at least one more lap around the track.
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| Raptor Lake refresh rumour |