Intel confirms Meteor Lake will feature L4 cache

Previously, it was reported that Meteor Lake’s integrated graphics would no longer have the ability to allocate L3 cache, with only the CPU portion capable of doing so. However, the related code mentioned the L4 cache on Meteor Lake, marking Intel’s reintroduction of the L4 cache since Haswell and Broadwell, akin to the earlier eDRAM.

According to a patent submitted by Intel in December 2020, their “next-generation SoC architecture,” or Meteor Lake, will feature an “encapsulated cache” function. The so-called Adamantine cache (L4 cache) will become a fundamental component of the multi-chip design, accessible by any module.

Meteor Lake’s shift to a multi-chip design, consists of five modules, including the CPU, GPU, SoC, I/O, and base modules. The Adamantine cache will provide faster access times than any typical L3 cache, which is usually part of the CPU module. Its primary function is to improve boot optimization and enhance security around the host CPU. The L4 cache will retain cache during resets, thereby reducing loading times that would otherwise occur throughout all boot/reset cycles. Sources claim that Meteor Lake’s L4 cache currently being tested ranges from 128MB to 512MB, but it can be expanded to gigabyte levels.

Meteor Lake will employ second-generation hybrid architecture technology, with P-Core adopting Redwood Cove architecture to replace Golden Cove, and E-Core switching to Crestmont architecture in place of Gracemont. Rumors suggest that Intel’s goal for Meteor Lake is to improve energy efficiency, substantially boosting performance and efficiency, with a 50% increase in performance per watt compared to Raptor Lake.

Meteor Lake is set to make its debut in the second half of 2023, initially appearing on mobile platforms.