Intel Unveils Meteor Lake Architecture: Intel 4 Heralds the Disaggregated Future of Mobile CPUs
by Gavin Bonshor on September 19, 2023 11:35 AM ESTSoC Tile, Part 3: Disaggregating Xe Media and Display Engine From Graphics
As we noted earlier, Intel has completely redesigned its graphics, media, and display engine for Meteor Lake and, as such, separates all three entities from each other. While we'll cover the new graphics tile next, we'll start with everything that's not part of the graphics tile. Opting for a disaggregated architecture allows Intel to not only shuffle things around from an IP perspective but also allows Intel to integrate new IPs such as cores, graphics, and I/O as and when advancements have been made at a silicon level, but the design allows unties Intel from being limited to a specific manufacturing process.
Starting things off, we have the Xe Media Engine, which is embedded within the SoC tile. Within the Xe Media Engine are two Multi-Format Codecs (MFX), designed and responsible for all the encoding and decoding tasks. Intel's Meteor Lake with Xe supports the latest codecs ranging from AV1 (decode and encode), HEVC, AVC, and VP9, with up to 8K60 HDR decode supported. For encoding, there's support for up to 8K resolutions with 10-bit color and HDR. Aiming to improve power efficiency on-chip with encode/decode workloads, having a dedicated Media Engine separate from the graphics allows Intel to find granular power savings as things are directed to the Xe Media Engine, which means the graphics tile doesn't need to be powered up to accomplish encode or decode tasks.
The Xe Media Engine provides various functionalities across a large spectrum of different video codecs. This ranges from JPEG/MPEG and AVC to the more advanced VP9, HEVC, and AV1 codecs. Designed to give Meteor Lake a solid level of computational efficiency for video processing, the Xe Media Engine balances the gaps between high-performance output and power efficiency, rendering it particularly well-suited for various applications, from real-time video streaming to high-fidelity playback. There's also support for diverse color formats and bit depths, including but not limited to 4:2:0 at 10-bit and 12-bit, which means it's versatile for video editing and video encoding and should satisfy content creator's needs.
Xe Display Engine: Also Within the SoC
Much like the Xe Media Engine, the Xe Display Engine is also found within the SoC tile on Meteor Lake. Decoupling this directly from the graphics tile and embedded into the SoC allows it to communicate directly with the Xe Media Engine, saving power and improving overall battery life. The engine supports up to four display pipes, two of which have been designed and optimized for low power consumption, further boosting overall efficiency for Meteor Lake.
Looking at compatibility, the Xe Display Engine looks to use the latest connections and ports, including native support for HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, Embedded DisplayPort (eDP) 1.4. and even DSC 1.2a. Via these blocks, Meteor Lake can support displays up to 8K60 HDR, or up to 4 x 4K60 HDR displays, and this is on top of 1080p360 and 1440p360 too. This gives Meteor Lake substantial display and multimedia device support, including current and up-and-coming panels.
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dwillmore - Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - link
Nice! Finally might get a desktop CPU without having to pay for an expensive built in GPU that I don't want. (If you think $25 off for an F model is the same thing you're dillusional)On an unrelated note, I'm curious which of these tiles represent a minimum viable system. Are the LP E cores on the low voltage island of the SoC die sufficient? Can we get by without the CPU nor GPU dies? That might make a really nice media player as it would have all the display driving and video decoding hardware and a coupld of LP E cores to manage housekeeping and maybe drawing a GUI if necessary.
What about for a simple headless system, can just the SoC die be enough? In either of these cases you'd need the I/O die (maybe even a harvested one where some parts don't work, but are for dies not used.....)
Gavin Bonshor - Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - link
As it stands, there's no plans to bring MTL to desktop. As for next year, that remains to be seenFWhitTrampoline - Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - link
Intel has ruined the Small For factor DIY market that needs Socket Packaged processors and not BGA packaged processors/SOCs. So no Chances to Build an ASRock Desk Mini that's STX MB form factor based and supports Socket Packaged Intel and AMD SOCs/APUs with powerful iGPUs.And really AMD has intentionally delayed any Ryzen 7000G(Socket Packaged) Desktop APU release in favor of BGA only OEM SKUs on Minisforum and Beelink mini desktop PC systems where there are now Ryzen 7040/BGA Packaged processor based systems allotted 70w cTDPs and so 5 more watts that the Ryzen 5700G(65W) desktop APUs, that was the last generation usable for the ASRock X300 Desk Mini line there.
And the InWin Chopin DIY friendly very Small form factor build that takes a Mini-ITX MB but lacks the room for any dGPU to be slotted in there as the Chopin's form factor is just too small there and AMD's Ryzen 5000G APUs where a popular choice there for DIY friendly small form factor Chopin system builds. And AMD's Desktop Ryzen 7000 series offers RDNA2/2CU integrated graphics but that's not APU class or marketed by AMD as APU class.
I had hoped that Intel would have at least released a 65W Socket Packaged Meteor Lake SKU so folks could possiblely have some ASRock Desk Mini DIY friendly option on a Socket Based STX MB from factor. And I was even more hoping that some Meteor Lake S(65W-80W) Socket Package variant would force AMD's hands there to make them release some Ryzen 7000G Socket Packaged desktop APU for the DIY market! But now sans ant Intel competition in that product segment AMD may just not release any Ryzen 7000G for a good long while and DIY Small Form Factor will go depreciated in favor of BGA Only and OEM Only as well.
kwohlt - Tuesday, September 19, 2023 - link
Oh hey, you're that guy from WCCFFWhitTrampoline - Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - link
Stop trying to DOXX People here, and I hope the MODS see thiskwohlt - Wednesday, September 20, 2023 - link
It's not doxxing to point out someone on another forum copy-pastes the same comment all the time. There's no personal info here at allFWhitTrampoline - Thursday, September 21, 2023 - link
More intimidation here and Doxxing is Doxxing! You are using intimidation tactics that should get a moderation res ponce before any legal response is required!TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, September 21, 2023 - link
Learn how to spell "DOX', and go back to WCCFtech to get dunked on.FWhitTrampoline - Thursday, September 21, 2023 - link
Look at you here and trying to intimidate and adding nothing to any discourse! This is not the kind of posting that should be allowed at Anandtech!TheinsanegamerN - Thursday, September 21, 2023 - link
Oh I know this guy! His obsession with the InWin Chopin is almost chris chan like.