Insider Jaykihn has published detailed technical specifications for the upcoming Intel Bartlett Lake-S processor lineup, now also known as the Core 200E series. This new family is geared towards embedded systems, meaning it is not intended for the mass consumer market. The reveal confirms that while these CPUs boast impressive specifications that would appeal to gamers, they are destined for a completely different segment, dashing the hopes of many LGA 1700 platform owners looking for one last major upgrade.
Back to Basics: A P-Core-Only Architecture
The main feature of Bartlett Lake-S is a complete departure from the hybrid architecture seen in consumer chips like Alder Lake and Raptor Lake. Instead of a mix of Performance-cores and Efficient-cores, Bartlett Lake-S exclusively uses high-performance P-cores based on the Raptor Cove design. This approach is often favored for gaming workloads, as it can simplify task scheduling. The flagship model, the Core 9 273PE, will feature 12 full P-cores with multithreading support for a total of 24 threads. It will have a maximum L3 cache of 36 MB and a single-core boost frequency of up to 5.9 GHz. The lineup will also include CPUs with 10 and 8 cores.
The series is divided into three segments based on power consumption to cater to different industrial needs:
- PQE-series: 125W for maximum performance.
- PE-series: 65W for balanced performance.
- PTE-series: 45W for power-efficient edge deployments.
All processors will support business-centric technologies like vPro and ECC error-correcting memory, with integrated graphics featuring either 32 or 24 execution units. However, these powerful chips will have locked multipliers, meaning they won’t support overclocking.
The Incompatibility Wall: An LGA 1700 CPU Not for You
While Bartlett Lake-S processors use the same LGA 1700 socket as Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th generation consumer CPUs, they will not be compatible with consumer-grade motherboards. Motherboard manufacturer ASRock has officially stated that its consumer boards, including high-end Z790 models, will not receive BIOS updates to support the Bartlett Lake-S lineup. Support will be restricted to industrial motherboards running on chipsets like the W680 and Q670. This decision effectively ends the upgrade path for enthusiasts and gamers on the LGA 1700 platform, whose final option remains the 14th Gen Raptor Lake Refresh series.
Market Context and Future Outlook
Intel’s strategy with Bartlett Lake-S highlights a clear market segmentation. These processors are designed for the embedded and edge computing sectors, where long-term stability and reliability are prioritized over raw gaming performance. In this arena, Intel competes with AMD’s Ryzen Embedded series, which is known for its power efficiency and strong integrated graphics. Bartlett Lake-S appears to be Intel’s answer for industrial applications that demand the highest single-threaded performance.
It often happens that processors aimed at the business segment find their way into retail, but whether this will work for Bartlett Lake-S, which is quite suitable for gaming, is unknown. For consumers and gamers, Intel is shifting its focus to the new LGA-1851 socket, which will house the upcoming Arrow Lake and future Nova Lake processors. While some Bartlett Lake-S chips might appear on the gray market, their lack of official motherboard support makes them a dead end for the vast majority of PC builders.
