Earlier this month, Intel unveiled its Core X-series processor family, a high-end desktop platform which includes the company’s first consumer desktop CPU with 18 cores and 36 threads, targeted at users with heavy multitasking workloads.
Today, as was previously announced, the firm unveiled its latest mainstream processor family, the 8th generation of its Core line of CPUs. According to Intel, the 8th-gen chips offer up to 40% better performance than their 7th-gen Kaby Lake predecessors, a marked improvement over the company’s previous claims of a 30% boost.
The four 15W U-series mobile processors Intel has announced today are based on an updated version of the Kaby Lake architecture and are built on the firm’s "14nm+" manufacturing process. These low-power Ultrabook chips have four cores and eight threads, another first for the company, with the top part having a base clock speed of 1.9GHz and a maximum clock speed of 4.2GHz when only two cores are used.
| i7-8650U | i7-8550U | i5-8350U | i5-8250U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Processor Frequency (GHz) |
4.2 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.4 |
| Base Clock Frequency (GHz) |
1.9 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Number of Processor Cores/Threads |
4/8 | 4/8 | 4/8 | 4/8 |
| Cache Size (MB) | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 |
| Number of Memory Channels |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Memory Type |
DDR4-2400 |
DDR4-2400 LPDDR3-2133 |
DDR4-2400 LPDDR3-2133 |
DDR4-2400 LPDDR3-2133 |
| Intel® UHD Graphics | 620 | 620 | 620 | 620 |
| Graphics Dynamic Frequency (MHz) |
Up to 1150 | Up to 1150 | Up to 1100 | Up to 1100 |
It's worth noting, as Ars Technica points out, that for the first time in the Core line, the 8th-gen platform will span three different architectures. Desktop chips that will be released in the fall are expected to be six core, 12 thread processors built on a refined "14nm++" manufacturing process utilizing the Coffee Lake core.
In addition, 45W H-series mobile processors will be released for performance laptops, while 4.5W Y-series chips will ship on ultra-mobile devices. At least some of these processors will be built on the new 10nm process and will be using the next-gen Cannonlake architecture. More information about these CPUs will be unveiled later in the fall.
The first laptops with the new 8th-gen chips will be available in September and are marketed as a large performance upgrade from older parts. Looking further to the future, the company has already started to tease its next-generation Ice Lake processor family, which will be built on the enhanced "10nm+" manufacturing process.
Source and image: Intel
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