Intel is set to introduce a new variant of its Meteor Lake processors designed for the LGA1851 socket, ahead of its Arrow Lake series. This information, uncovered by hardware analyst momomo_us, suggests a strategic shift from previous speculations that Arrow Lake would pioneer the use of the LGA1851 socket. Initially, there was uncertainty about whether Intel would release its 7nm Meteor Lake processors for desktop platforms. Intel later confirmed that Meteor Lake would primarily cater to mobile platforms, with Michelle Johnston Holthaus, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Intel's Client Computing Group, indicating a desktop version would be available in 2024.

The desktop iteration of Meteor Lake, however, is expected to diverge from traditional socketed chips, likely adopting a BGA (ball grid array) packaging similar to the approach taken with Tiger Lake's B-series for AIO and embedded systems. The iBase MI1002 motherboard, described as compatible with "Intel Meteor Lake PS," features the LGA1851 socket, hinting at Intel's plan to extend Meteor Lake's reach to the IoT sector, akin to the role of Alder Lake PS CPUs.

The MI1002 motherboard, adhering to a mini-ITX form factor, includes two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots supporting up to 64GB of memory and a single M.2 2280 slot for NVMe storage, operating at PCIe x4. Additionally, it offers two SATA III ports for storage, two M.2 ports for wireless connectivity, and dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports powered by Intel's i226LM and i226V controllers. For display connections, it provides one HDMI and one DisplayPort, alongside two USB 3.2 Type-C ports, four USB 3.2 Type-A ports, and potential for additional USB 2.0 ports via an onboard header. The motherboard is also equipped with four serial ports for industrial applications.

Meteor Lake PS processors are tailored for specific market segments, particularly IoT devices, whereas Arrow Lake is geared towards high-performance desktop computing. Arrow Lake is anticipated to launch later in the year, possibly in Q4, positioning itself against AMD's upcoming Zen 5 processors.

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