For much of the past decade, Intel has been dividing its flagship processors into Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 chips. Generally speaking, the higher the number, the higher the performance.
But now it looks like Intel may be kicking things up a notch. According to a leaked slide published by AnandTech forum member Sweepr, Intel could launch its first Core i9 processors this summer.
If the data in the slide is accurate, the first Core i9 chips will be part of the Skylake-X family of high-power desktop chips, with models ranging from the Core i9-7800X processor with 6 CPU cores to the Core i9-7920X with 12 CPU cores.
Each of the new processors is a 140 watt chip with support for quad-channel DDR4-2666 memory and support for hyperthreading (which means, for example, that the 12-core chip can handle 24 simultaneous threads).
There are also a couple of 112 watt, quad-core Intel Kaby Lake-X chips set to launch around the same time, but despite being based on a newer chip architecture, their spec sheets look generally less impressive.
We won’t know how Intel’s new Core i9 chips stack up against existing Core i7 processors or AMD’s new Ryzen chips until we start to see some real-world performance tests. But with AMD’s new chips offering competitive performance at a much lower price, it’ll be interesting to see if Intel’s next chips offer enough of a performance boost to help set them apart from AMD… and to justify the decision to introduce the Core i9 name.
via HotHardware
In the past, i3/i5/i7 were mostly differentiated by features, like hyperthreading and turbo. I think it’d be stupid to make an i9 with just higher clock speeds. I’d want to see some other feature, like extra virtualization capabilities, be the difference. Otherwise, it’s just marketing bluster.
why 12 not 16?
So, its just Intel’s current Xeon processors getting a rebranding to Core i9.
I suspect there will be some price shuffling too, just enough to make Intel look good.
I guess this will confuse the market just enough for people to start comparing AMD’s high-end Ryzen 1800X to Core i9’s… and have people thinking:
” Wow, Intel’s similar chip offers better performance, energy and thermal attributes. And possibly better software features and optimisations. But it costs $750 instead of $500. Guess you pay for quality. ”
Then again, this PPT Slide could very easily be made up/hoaxed.
AMD’s Ryzen doesn’t mean anything for Intel, AMD might actually make a profit… but Intel’s revenue won’t be affected. So Intel hardly needs to react to Ryzen unless, in the near future, they’re going for OEMs and Servers sales directly.
The Xeons already did get a rebranding in the form of the new platinum/gold/silver scale.
From the forum post:
Sweepr: “Will share the image you guys want as soon as I’m allowed to.”
Why would he be allowed to leak information? Sounds like someone’s going to get fired.
Sometimes leaks are all part of a well planned corporate strateg and a leak done well can really help the stock price.
for Core i9 to compete with AMD cpu, they will need to lower Core i7 price, and Core i5 and Core i3 as well
Or they could have made a Core i1. Nothing has changed. It’s all marketing BS.
Sooo… basically workstation-class Xeons get a new name?
Didn’t Xeon already just get a new naming scheme? The whole platinum/gold/silver whatnot?
Yep. This move feels like Intel reacting to AMDs competition…weather it is the truth or not.