8th-Generation Intel Core processors – All the details
Intel has unveiled its next generation of mobile Core processors, designed for slim notebooks and 2-in-1 devices.
The processors feature the same Intel HD graphics cores used on the previous-generation Kaby Lake processors, and support 4K video playback.
Intel has currently only launched four 8th-generation processors – comprising two Core i7 and two Core i5 chips.
The CPUs will be available inside notebooks and laptops within the next month, with more chips launching later this year.
Specifications
The processors all boast four physical CPU cores, eight threads, and a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of only 15W.
In addition to more CPU cores and boosted graphics performance, Intel 8th-generation processors also feature improved I/O support – allowing manufacturers to create devices with more high-bandwidth ports, such as Thunderbolt 3.
Intel Core i5 and Core i7 8th-generation chips also support DDR3 and DDR4 memory modules.
The specifications of Intel’s new 8th-generation mobile processors are below.
| Specifications | Core i7-8650U | Core i7-8550U | Core i5-8350U | Core i5-8250U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cores | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Threads | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Base Clock | 1.9GHz | 1.8GHz | 1.7GHz | 1.6GHz |
| Boost Clock | 4.2GHz | 4.0GHz | 3.6GHz | 3.4GHz |
| Cache | 8MB | 8MB | 6MB | 6MB |
| GPU Clock | 1,150MHz | 1,150MHz | 1,100MHz | 1,100MHz |
Architecture and Performance
While the four new chips bear the 8th-generation designation, they are based on the same CPU architecture used in the chipmaker’s 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors.
According to Intel, 8th-generation chips could also include products based on its upcoming 10nm Cannonlake and 14nm Coffee Lake architectures.
The company said its new mobile products boasts a performance improvement of up to 40% over the previous generation of processors, however.
This performance improvement is the result of, among other improvements, improved clock speeds and further optimisation of the 14nm manufacturing process. The new Core i5 chips also offer an increased physical core count.
Editing video footage on a mobile 8th-gen chip is almost 15-times faster compared to its predecessors, according to Intel’s benchmarks, and the battery life when watching 4K video is greatly improved.
Devices powered by Intel’s 8th-gen Core i5 and Core i7 processors will be available in September 2017, and will be followed by devices with 10nm processors later this year.
Now read: Intel Core i9 vs AMD Ryzen Threadripper – South African pricing
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