AMD's Ryzen processors are already out, and Intel discovered the hard way that its dominant position wasn't as solid as it imagined. Even though Kaby Lake processors remain a step or two above their direct rivals, Sunnyvale's low-cost multi-threading changed the priorities of many users. What is Intel's idea? Throw more cores at the problem with its new Core i9 series, whose flagship model will have 12 cores and 24 threads of processing threads.
This is the rumor control, here are the facts: You can buy a Ryzen 5 1500X for 210 euros. For 70 euros more we jump to a 1600X with twelve processing threads on the desktop. Many online benchmarks suggest the 1600X combined with a B350 chipset as the entry point to the Ryzen platform, and although we cannot deny that Ryzen suffers some "first-generation pains", its work prevented Intel from sleeping comfortably on old laurels. On the horizon looms a core race that we all eagerly await, as it will demand greater code optimization and a drop in prices. Intel's idea is to start its advance from above, with a supposed series of processors that will bear the name Core i9.
The leaked processors are six, and there are several interesting points to analyze. First, the chips use two revisions of Intel's latest architectures, Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X. At the bottom of the list we find the two Kaby Lake-X, the Core i7-7640K (essentially an i5-7600K with 200 MHz extra base), and the Core i7-7740K, a 100 MHz update to the already formidable i7-7700K. The Core i9 are divided into 7800X, 7820X, 7900X and 7920X. The core distribution is organized as 6 (7800X), 8 (7820X), 10 (7900X), and 12 (7920X), with double the threads in each case, courtesy of Hyper-Threading.
The table, which was published by VideoCardz, shows what is known so far.
Another detail to highlight is that the three top models will have an additional Turbo mode level. The frequencies of the Core i9-7920X have not yet been published, but the 7900X and 7820X reach 4.5 GHz with this extra Turbo, whose access I imagine will depend on the cooling used by the user. Why is it necessary to mention this? Because if the data is correct, the Core i9-7920X will oscillate between 140 and 160 watts. Intel has left behind the bad memories of NetBurst, but if confirmed, the Core i9 series represents a change in strategy, reducing overall efficiency to add more cores to the design. We need to see them in action, now.
