Intel Processor in LGA1851 Packaging Pictured, Possibly Part of Arrow Lake Series

A photograph purportedly showcasing an Intel processor in LGA1851 packaging has sparked intrigue among hardware enthusiasts. The new chip, which could be part of the Meteor Lake-S or Arrow Lake-S series, features a slightly altered integrated heat spreader (IHS). If indeed a prototype of an Alder Lake processor, it may never see a market release.

According to earlier reports, LGA1851 will increase the height of the IHS from 6.73-7.4 mm to 6.83-7.49 mm. To prevent the installation of LGA1851 processors into 1700-pin sockets, the upcoming CPUs will have a distinct cutout configuration.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of this processor, marked as 'Intel Confidential NA QDF4', is its slightly larger heatspreader. It is still unclear whether the enlarged heatspreader was designed to prevent the bending known for Intel's LGA1700 processors, but this remains a possibility.

The processor could come to market in 2024 in the form of Intel's Arrow Lake products.