Intel's betting on a big 'Windows refresh' in 2024 to boost revenue client CPU revenue, seemingly confirming Windows 12 release date rumours
Transcripts of analyst-facing conferences, held by multi-billion dollar organisations, are usually terminally dull affairs. But a recent Intel chat contains a wee snippet we can add to the rumour fire about when the next version of Windows is due. And in this particular case, Intel is hinting that it's definitely next year.
Intel sat down with Citi last month to chat about how things had been going and what the near future looked like, in terms of finances, foundries, and so on. But stuck in amongst it all was a brief, almost passing, comment about how Intel thinks sales will improve during 2024:
«We actually think '24 is going to be a pretty good year for client, in particular, because of the Windows refresh. And we still think that the installed base is pretty old and does require a refresh and we think next year may be the start of that, given the Windows catalyst. So we're optimistic about how things will play out beginning in '24.»
I know what you're thinking: Windows 12 isn't explicitly stated, but at no point is any normal update to Microsoft's operating system ever referred to as a refresh. Or something that will be enough of a catalyst for Intel's sales folk to perk up.
It's possible Microsoft is planning a significant change to the interface, or something like that, but there have been enough rumours floating around for that not to be the case. For example, development for major releases is on a three-year cycle and that alone points to the next Windows dropping out of the sky in the second half of 2024.
Don't forget that Intel's next CPU architecture for mainstream computing, Meteor Lake, is a radical change for how everything all works inside and just as Alder and Raptor Lake work best with Windows 11, the
Read more on pcgamer.com
