Intel's New 9th Gen Chips Don't Include a GPU

On stage at CES yesterday, Intel offered no update on how the move to 10nm chips was going, but it did show off a Lakefield motherboard prototype as well as talking about AI, 5G, and a new 9th gen six-core Core i5-9400 processor. However, a few more 9th gen chips were revealed later in the day and they all had one key difference: no integrated GPU.

As Tom's Hardware reports, a number of new chips carrying an "F" suffix appeared on Intel's website yesterday. The new chips include the Core i9-9900KF, Core i7-9700KF, Core i5-9600KF, Core i5-9400F, Core i3-9350KF, and the Core i3-8100F. In all cases, a graphics card will be required when using them.

The obvious question to ask is why would Intel introduce GPU-less chips? The obvious answer is they aren't GPU-less, but they came off the production line with a GPU that didn't work. Chip manufacturers can't guarantee all processors will work properly such is the complexity of chip manufacturing. That doesn't mean they are useless, though.

Intel is currently dealing with a CPU shortage, so it makes sense to try and sell as many chips as possible that come off the production line, even if they have a faulty GPU. If you purchase an "F" processor, you're simply getting a processor with the GPU deactivated. If you were going to pair it with a graphics card anyway, then it makes no difference and should save you some money on the cost of the chip.

Recommended by Our Editors

Intel Starts Teasing Its Graphics Card

Intel has yet to confirm pricing for these new chips, but it stands to reason they should be cheaper than the equivalent Core processors shipping with an integrated (working) GPU. For example, the Core i9-9900K costs $499 and the Core i9-9700L is $385, so it stands to reason that the Core i9-9900KF price will fall somewhere between that, and I'd guess Intel will price it at $429-$449.