Intel’s recent Core processor roadmap has progressed from Alder Lake to Raptor Lake and now to Bartlett Lake, introduced under Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2). For organizations already deploying 12th or 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors, the question is straightforward: what actually changes with Series 2?
Because Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) are pin to pin compatible with existing LGA1700 designs, this is not a disruptive architectural shift. Instead, it represents a performance focused evolution built on the same electrical and mechanical foundation. The more relevant question becomes whether that evolution delivers meaningful gains and whether upgrading makes sense.
The answer depends on sustained performance, lifecycle planning, and workload growth.
What Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) Introduce
Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2), based on the Bartlett Lake architecture, retain the familiar hybrid design of Performance cores and Efficient cores. Maximum core and thread counts remain aligned with prior TE-class processors, scaling up to 24 cores and 32 threads.
The primary changes appear in operating characteristics:
- 45W TE power class compared to 35W TE on most 13th Gen Intel® Core™ TE processors
- Turbo frequencies up to 5.4 GHz on the Core™ 7 251TE
- Up to approximately 46 percent higher overall CPU performance compared to the Core™ i9-13900TE
- Continued support for integrated Intel® UHD Graphics
- Extended lifecycle availability through 2035 with a 10-year embedded roadmap
These updates increase sustained compute headroom while preserving architectural continuity.
Why Pin-to-Pin Compatibility Changes the Upgrade Decision
Pin-to-pin compatibility means Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) can be installed into the same LGA1700 socket used by 12th and 13th Gen Intel® Core™ processors. The board layout, cooling design, and mechanical fit remain unchanged.
This eliminates motherboard redesign, enclosure modification, and full system revalidation cycles. Firmware updates may be required, but the overall hardware design remains intact.
As a result, organizations can increase processing performance and extend lifecycle availability without reengineering existing designs. That reduction in friction significantly lowers the risk typically associated with processor upgrades.
Direct Comparison: Series 2 vs. 13th Gen Intel® Core™ (TE)
The following table outlines the generational differences between 13th Gen Intel® Core™ TE processors and Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2 TE).
|
Aspect |
13th Gen Intel® Core™ (TE) |
Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2 TE) |
|
Top SKU |
Core™ i9-13900TE |
Core™ 7 251TE |
|
Architecture |
Raptor Lake |
Bartlett Lake |
|
Max Total Cores |
Up to 24 |
Up to 24 |
|
Max Threads |
Up to 32 |
Up to 32 |
|
Max Turbo Frequency |
Up to 5.0 GHz |
Up to 5.4 GHz |
|
TE Power Class |
35W |
45W |
|
PCIe Support |
Gen4 |
Gen4 |
|
Integrated Graphics |
Intel® UHD Graphics |
Intel® UHD Graphics |
|
Lifecycle Availability |
Through 2032 |
Through 2035 |
|
CPU Mark (Top SKU) |
~20,603 |
~30,020 |
|
Single-Thread Score |
~2,658 |
~3,785 |
Although core and thread counts remain comparable, the higher 45W power envelope and increased turbo frequency allow Bartlett Lake to sustain stronger performance under continuous computational load. The approximately 46 percent overall CPU performance uplift reflects this additional headroom rather than architectural restructuring.
What This Means for Premio’s RCO and VCO Series
Premio supports Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) across the RCO-3000-RPL, RCO-6000-RPL, and VCO-6000-RPL series.
- The RCO-3000-RPL Series, a super-rugged small form factor computer, now supports up to 48GB DDR5 5600 MT per second memory through a single SO-DIMM slot. With Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) support, it delivers higher sustained CPU performance while maintaining its compact footprint and fanless thermal design.
- The RCO-6000-RPL Series scales up to 96GB DDR5 through dual SO-DIMM slots and integrates PCIe Gen4 expansion with modular EDGEBoost technology. Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) enhance processing headroom for compute-intensive and AI-enhanced workloads without altering the system’s mechanical design.
- The VCO-6000-RPL Series, engineered for machine vision and GPU acceleration, supports dual full-height, full-length GPUs with a 600W GPU power budget. Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) strengthen host-side CPU performance, complementing GPU workloads in demanding vision and inference applications.
Across all three series, Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) deliver higher sustained CPU performance and extended lifecycle availability through 2035 while preserving the same proven system design customers already rely on.
To explore more details about the upgrade, including performance data and lifecycle positioning, read the official press release announcing Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) support across Premio’s RCO and VCO series.
For organizations planning their next system refresh, Intel® Core™ Processors (Series 2) provide a straightforward path forward within the RCO-3000-RPL, RCO-6000-RPL, and VCO-6000-RPL series. For configuration guidance or project consultation, contact sales@premioinc.com.