We have seen multiple roadmaps in the past week related to Intel's 9th generation core processors including the flagship Core i9-9900K. Now,another roadmap has leaked which confirms the launch of these processors, including the HEDT Core-X refreshed parts in October 2018.
Intel Core i9-9900K 8 Core/16 Thread, Core i7-9700K 8 Core/8 Thread, Core i5-9600K 6 Core/6 Thread CPUs Launching in October - Refreshed Core-X Lineup To Launch The Same Month Too
So according to the latest roadmap which is posted by HKEPC, we will be looking at the 9th Gen family launching in October. The exact date isn't mentioned but it's better than a vague Q3 '18 timeframe which we had in the previous roadmaps. As expected, the launch will include all three unlocked SKUs which are mentioned below along with their specifications:
- Intel Core i9-9900K (8 core / 16 thread)
- Intel Core i7-9700K (8 core / 8 thread)
- Intel Core i5-9600K (6 core / 6 thread)
Intel Core i9-9900K, Intel’s First 8 Core Mainstream CPU With Expected 4.7 GHz All Core Boost
First up, we will detail the flagship part, the 8 core, 16 thread, Intel Core i9-9900K. This will be the first mainstream desktop Core i9 part and also the first Intel chip to boast 8 cores and 16 threads. In terms of cache, the chip will feature 16 MB of L3 and will come with an Intel UHD 620 graphics chip.
The clock speeds are something to check out here, we are going to get 3.6 GHz base clock out of the box and a 5.0 GHz boost clocks in single and dual core operations. 4 core boost is rated at 4.8 GHz while 6/8 core boost is rated at 4.7 GHz. This is the highest frequency we have seen on an 8 core part across all cores. All of this is done under a 95W package so we can expect some hefty cooling solutions to go along with this chip.
Intel Core i7-9700K, Intel’s First 8 Core, Core i7 Mainstream Desktop CPU With Up To 4.6 GHz Clocks Across All Cores
Coming to the top Core i7 part, we get 8 cores and 8 threads. This is completely opposite of what we have been hearing as previous rumors identified the chip as a 6 core and 12 thread part. The chip will have 12 MB of L3 cache and as you might tell, it has lower threads than the Core i7-8700K but comes with higher core count. So maybe, we will get same or even better performance from the chip.
In terms of clock speeds, the chip has a base clock of 3.6 GHz and boosts up to 4.9 GHz in single, 4.8 GHz in dual-core, 4.7 GHz in four core and 4.6 GHz in 6/8 core operations. The TDP for this part is maintained at the same 95W.
Intel Core i5-9600K, 6 Cores, and 6 Threads With Higher Clocks Than 8th Generation i5 ‘K” SKU
The Intel Core i5-9600K is a 6 core and 6 thread part with 9 MB of L3 cache. This makes it very similar to the Core i5-8600K. The difference is that it features higher clock speeds of 3.7 GHz base, 4.6 GHz boost (1 core), 4.5 GHz (2 core), 4.4 GHz (4 core) and 4.3 GHz (6 core). All of this is done at the same TDP of 95W.
Intel 9th Generation Core Family CPU Official Specifications:
| Processor Name | Process | Cores / Threads | Base Clock | Boost Clock | Cache | TDP | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core i9-9900KS | 14nm++ | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz (8 Cores) | 16 MB | 127W | $513 US |
| Core i9-9900K | 14nm++ | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 16 MB | 95W | $488 US |
| Core i9-9900KF | 14nm++ | 8 / 16 | 3.6 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 16 MB | 95W | $488 US |
| Core i7-9700K | 14nm++ | 8 / 8 | 3.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 12 MB | 95W | $374 US |
| Core i7-9700KF | 14nm++ | 8 / 8 | 3.6 GHz | 4.9 GHz | 12 MB | 95W | $374 US |
| Core i5-9600K | 14nm++ | 6 / 6 | 3.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 9 MB | 95W | $262 US |
| Core i5-9600KF | 14nm++ | 6 / 6 | 3.7 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 9 MB | 95W | $262 US |
| Core i5-9600 | 14nm++ | 6 / 6 | 3.1 GHz | 4.5 GHz | 9 MB | 65W | TBD |
| Core i5-9500 | 14nm++ | 6 / 6 | 3.0 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 9 MB | 65W | TBD |
| Core i5-9400 | 14nm++ | 6 / 6 | 2.9 GHz | 4.1 GHz | 9 MB | 65W | $182 |
| Core i5-9400T | 14nm++ | 6 / 6 | 1.8 GHz | 3.4 GHz | 9 MB | 35W | TBD |
| Core i3-9350KF | 14nm++ | 4/4 | 4.0 GHz | 4.6 GHz | 8 MB | 91W | TBD |
| Core i3-9100 | 14nm++ | 4 / 4 | TBD | 4.2 GHz | 6 MB | 65W | TBD |
| Core i3-9000 | 14nm++ | 4 / 4 | 3.7 GHz | N/A | 6 MB | 65W | TBD |
| Core i3-9000T | 14nm++ | 4 / 4 | 3.2 GHz | N/A | 6 MB | 35W | TBD |
According to the embargo document, Intel would first release the unlocked SKUs which would eventually be followed by the rest of the 9th generation family which would be introduced in Q1 2019. In the previous slides, we also saw that compatibility will be retained for 9th generation processors on current 300-series motherboards along with the new Z390 platform. You can check out more on that here.
The same roadmap also shows the Basin Falls Refresh platform which includes new Core-X processors and X299 refresh motherboards to be introduced the same month. The embargo lists up to 18 core processors with TDPs of up to 165W which is the same as the current generation i9-7980XE processor.
We are also expecting a 22 core model while the 28 core processors would be introduced with the premium High-end family on the LGA 3647 socketed platform. With the launch narrowed down to October, I guess we will start looking at more leaks in the coming weeks related to the 9th generation Core and Core-X processors.
