Alder Lake Mobile specification approved – P and H series

Specifications of 12th generation Alder Lake Mobile processors by Intel Approved with the release of a guide for developers. In this document, we look at the steps needed to optimize software for hybrid architectures such as Alder Lake.

Undoubtedly, you know that Intel Alder Lake uses two types of low-power and powerful cores. Each of these cores will have its own application and do not necessarily have to be assigned the same tasks. The blue giant has now confirmed the Alder Lake P series as a replacement for the Tiger Lake U with two large cores and eight low-power cores (the letter A in the diagram means Atom). The next generation H series will also accommodate up to 6 large cores and 8 small cores.

All of these configurations, of course, had already been identified with various disclosures. In fact, we even saw them in Intel’s presentation at Architecture Day 2021. However, we have never seen them officially approved.

The specifications of Alder Lake Mobile processors have been confirmed

The guide also claims that Alder Lake processors will follow the AVX512 instructions, but only when the low-power cores are disabled. In fact, it’s up to the manufacturers to decide whether the AVX512 should be enabled or not. However Ian Cutress from Anandtech has stated that this guide is flawed and will be updated soon (AVX512 is not available in Alder Lake).

This guide, as we said, focuses more on software implementation for hybrid processors. In fact, various optimization strategies such as non-optimization, good scenario and the best scenario are mentioned. According to this document, non-optimization means that the processor is not able to distribute workloads between cores, although the ThreadDirector should be responsible for this task in any case, but some of them may be processed by the wrong cores.

In a good case scenario, Intel imagines that the program is aware of hybrid architecture. The main tasks are assigned to powerful cores, and at the same time unnecessary and less important background tasks will be performed by low-power cores.

In the best case scenario, it also shows what specific workloads should be processed by low-power cores.

The guide also confirms that Alder Lake will be available for a variety of platforms such as desktops, notebooks, ultrabooks and 2-in-1 devices. But the initial release will take place in the fourth quarter of 2021 (desktop models only).

The Alder Lake S family will be released in November, and before that we will see their unveiling on October 27th. Of course, the mentioned mobile models will probably not be released until the first quarter of next year.