At their event in New York City today, Intel took the wraps off of their much-rumored 9th generation series of desktop processors.
Built upon the same "14 nm++" process technology as Coffee Lake, this new 9th generation is launching with 3 new processor models.
At the lower end, we have the i5-9600K, replacing the current i5-8600K. Staying with the same 6C/6T configuration, the 9600K improves the base frequency by 100 MHz, while adding 300 MHz to the rated single-core Turbo Boost 2.0 clock speed.
Moving onto the 8-core processors, we have the i7-9700K and the i9-9900K. Coming with Intel's first consumer i9 processor also comes the first i7 desktop processor not to feature Hyper-threading. While both processors have eight physical cores, only the i9-9900K will feature Hyper-threading allowing for a 16-thread configuration. Both processors maintain the same 95W TDP as the i7-8700K.
The lack of Hyper-Threading on the i7-9700K will provide quite the interesting performance comparison with the current flagship 6C/12T i7-8700K.
The flagship Intel Core i9-9900K has a base clock 100 MHz lower than the i7-8700K but features the same 5.0 GHz single-core Turbo Boost clock as the i7-8086K. Intel has also said that the all-core frequency for the i9-9900K is 400 MHz faster than the i7-8700K. Additionally, the i9-9900K features 16MB of cache, compared to the 12MB found on the i7-8700K.
Price-wise, both the i5-9600K and i7-9700K are similar to the 8th generation processors they are replacing, while the i9-9900K will come in at $500.
Addressing one of the most common complaints from enthusiasts about recent Intel processors, the 9th generation series of processors will come with what Intel is referring to as "Solder Thermal Interface Material" (STIM).
Switching back to solder as the TIM for these CPUs should provide significantly improved thermal conductivity, resulting in additional overclocking headroom as well as cooler and quieter operation at stock frequencies without the need of delidding.
Alongside these new processors comes the launch of a new chipset from Intel, Z390. In addition to native USB 3.1 Gen 1 (10 Gbit/s) support, Intel claims the Z390 chipset will sport improved power management for the 8-core processor variants, as well as integrated 802.11 AC connectivity.
The Z390 platform will continue to feature the same "up to 40" PCI Express lanes that we've seen for several generations, with 16 lanes being directly connected to the CPU, and the rest coming from the chipset which is still connected via a DMI 3.0 link.
Despite the launch of a new chipset in the form of Z390, these new 9th generation chipsets will maintain compatibility with all previous 300-series Intel chipsets, such as Z370 through updates that will be made available by motherboard manufacturers.
These new 9th generation processors will also feature a combination of hardware and software fixes for the following side-channel attack security vulnerabilities like Spectre and Meltdown:
- Speculative side channel variant SpectreV2 (Branch Target Injection) = Microcode + Software
- Speculative side channel variant Meltdown V3 (Rogue Data Cache Load) = Hardware
- Speculative side channel variant Meltdown V3a (Rogue System Register Read) = Microcode
- Speculative side channel variant V4 (Speculative Store Bypass) = Microcode + Software
- Speculative side channel variant L1 Terminal Fault = Hardware
While the almost $500 price tag is substantially higher than AMD's $330 8-core Ryzen 7 2700X, Intel's advantage in single-threaded performance combined with matched core counts should provide for quite the interesting comparison.
The i9-9900K is available for pre-order today, and will launch on October 19th. No word on the rest of the 9th generation lineup, but we expect them to launch at the same time as the i9 processor.
Low supply + retailer price
Low supply + retailer price gouging and this is another paper launch.
Intel has one advantage,
Intel has one advantage, clock speed. It looks good on paper but is way over-hyped.
The $500 i9 is $170 more expensive than a $330 2700x. Pair the 2700x with a $170 more expensive video card and it should beat an i9 in most games.
Or you could switch from 2700x to a $320 1900x and spend the $170 on an x399 mobo. That gives you the option to upgrade to a Ryzen 3 Threadripper next year.
The 2700x is a tremendous bargain. Even the lowly i7-8700 is more expensive than the 2700x, $330 vs $340.
Heck, a Ryzen 2200g at $99 is $400 cheaper than the i9. Paired with a $400 more expensive card it should beat the i9 in many games. Or, rumor says AMD will soon offer 12 and 16 core CPUs for socket AM4. If so, buy a 2200g now then upgrade to 12 or 16 core later. $400 should help out a lot.
Then you have the four thread i3-8350K vs the twelve thread Ryzen 5 2600. Both around $180. The 2600 has been on sale as low as $159. Why would anyone buy a four thread CPU when they can get a 12 thread CPU for less money?
Don’t get me wrong, Intel makes good CPUs, but a balanced system is a lot more than the CPU.
Don’t forget that adding to
Don’t forget that adding to the cost of the Intel parts compared to the AMD counterparts is the need to buy a separate cooler.
I suspect that Intel’s
I suspect that Intel’s “Supply issues” will help keep their Gross Margin figures from looking so bad but that’s going to cost Intel Market Share.
Low supply is just one Reason that Intel can keep its markups higher along with segementing its products by PCIe lane count or RAID features and other such milking for dollars market schemes.
TSMC’s 7nm is going to put the hurt on Intel with TSMC’s 5nm on the way. And TSMC’s customer base will definitely be giving Intel some headaches in the server market, both x86 and ARM ISA based.
TSMC is looking at starting 5nm production(1) and Intel is having to rework(Less dense, other changes) its 10nm process to get it out the door so very very late by now with Intel the one havng to play process node catch up.
Apple has enough compute in its A12 big cores to move into the laptop space rather easily if Apple so decides and that’s more worries for Intel if that happens. It looks like Apple has gone even wider order superscalar with its designs over the last few iteration of Apple A series big cores. So maybe by the next generation Apple will make the switch to its own designs for Macbooks.
I see that Intel is segementing by Hyperthreading(SMT) on its 8 core offerings where AMD does not on its top end 8 core offerings(Ryzen 2700/2700X) that offer 8 core/16 threads and are only different in clock speeds.
At $500 and that’s going to be cost embiggened with even more Retailer Big on top of that action for the i9-9900K!
It looks like it’s going to be short supplies and higher margins all around for Intel and no new process node shrink again in Intel’s new Tick Boink cadence release cycle.
(1)
“TSMC to Start 5nm Production With Full EUV in April 2019”
https://www.hardocp.com/news/2018/10/05/tsmc_to_start_5nm_production_full_euv_in_april_2019/
AMD’s 1st gen Ryzen 7 1800X
AMD’s 1st gen Ryzen 7 1800X was 499.99$. Expecting Intel’s first mainstream 8c/16t proc to undercut that to compete on price with the 2700X is absolutely ludricrous.
This is now and the Zen based
This is now and the Zen based Ryzen 7 1800X is selling for around a bit less than $250 with the Zen+ based Ryzen 7 2700X being released at an MSRP of only $329.
So what does the 1800X’s release price have to do with the current Ryzen 7 2700X’s MSRP and Intel’s 8 core/16 thread SKU will not win any Price/Performance metrics costing $171 dollars more.
And Amazon is selling the 2700X for 299.99 currently and that comes with a Wraith Prism Cooler!(That’s $199.99 less now with the 2700x on sale including the cooler)
So you have gone past illogical at ludicrous speed to illogical at Plaid Speed with that specious argument! And you can’s go any more insane than Plaid!
Edit: can’s
to: can’t
Edit: can’s
to: can’t
The smart thing to do. is to
The smart thing to do. is to wait and compare this with ryzen2 when it launches in about 6 months.
Would like to see comparison
Would like to see comparison with nvme storage on Intel vs AMD.
In you review, would it be
In you review, would it be possible to include the 6700k as a comparison as well?
Is Shrout Reasearch doing a
Is Shrout Reasearch doing a piece on these new chips?