Intel release 8th Generation of Mobile Processors – Up to 6 cores!

Intel release their 8th Generation of Mobile Processors - Up to 6 cores!

Intel release 8th Generation of Mobile Processors – Up to 6 cores!

The notebook market has long been limited to quad-core processors, offering ample performance to the average user but performance levels that are left in the dust behind their higher-end desktop counterparts.  

With the move to Coffee Lake, Intel bought 6-core CPUs into their mainstream desktop lineup, making it seem inevitable that a similar processor would make it into the company’s 8th generation mobile lineup. Intel has now revealed two 6-core SKUs in the form of the i9-8950HK and the Xeon E-2186M, both of which offer base clock speeds of 2.9GHz and boost clock speed of up to 4.8GHz with “Thermal Velocity Boost Technology”. 

Both Intel’s 6-core i9 and Xeon processors have their advantages, with the Xeon offering vPro technology and ECC memory support while the i9 offers an unlocked multiplier, making it overclockable on specific setups. Yes, Intel has released a notebook 6-core processor that is overclockable. 

Intel release their 8th Generation of Mobile Processors - Up to 6 cores!

Strangely, Intel i7-8750H and i7-8850H both are 6-core offerings, making the i9 branding confusing for the ultra-high-end i9-8950HK, making the only difference between these models clock speed and cache size. It is understandable that Intel makes their i9 offering a performance flagship, but this branding is exceptionally confusing.  

Intel i5 series CPUs are mobile CPUs are quad-core octo-thread CPUs, giving i7/i9 models a 50% core/thread advantage. All of Intel’s 8th Generation of H, M and K processors have a TDP of 45W. 

On top of Intel’s standard Turbo speed technology, the company has added a new feature called “Thermal Velocity Boost”, a single core boost tech which is similar to AMD’s XFR technology. To summerise the technology, Intel can boost their single-core clock speeds by 200MHz and a multi-core clock boost of 100MHz when thermals are low enough, and there is enough power budget to handle it. Intel’s new 8th Generation mobile CPUs will also ship with full Optane memory cache support.  

  
Intel release their 8th Generation of Mobile Processors - Up to 6 cores!

 

With Intel’s new 300-series mobile chipset, the company has added support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 directly into their chipset as well as an 802.11ac radio, which is capable of 2×2 MIMO at 160MHz, supporting some of today’s strongest routers. Intel says that their wireless controller can handle speeds that are more than a Gigabit. 

  
Intel release their 8th Generation of Mobile Processors - Up to 6 cores!  

As usual, Intel is also offering new U-series low-TDP CPUs, which have a thermal design power of 28W and up to 4 cores and eight threads with a base/boost clock speed of 2.7/4.5GHz. When used with Intel’s new 300-series chipset notebook makers will be able to easily rely on Intel for WiFi connectivity, cutting competitors like Broadcom out of the market somewhat. If Intel’s chipset can handle wireless without additional chips, why go for another brand, especially if you are making a thin & lite system. 

Intel release their 8th Generation of Mobile Processors - Up to 6 cores!  

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