Intel has been forced to modify its classic Tick-Tock strategy in favor of the new Process-Architecture-Optimization scheme, thanks to the natural limits of silicon and the diminishing returns from Moore's Law. The first product to emerge from this change is Kaby Lake, which the company presents as the seventh generation of its Core processors. The first wave of chips targets laptops and hybrid devices, while desktop models are expected to arrive early next year.
The Last Stop for 14nm
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the last stop for 14 nanometers. More than likely they will leave the same way they arrived (without moving the ammeter too much), but we must recognize that the landscape has changed too much to keep the same rules. Computers have longer life cycles, leading to an inevitable cooling of the market, and we also find growing demands for portability, with users wanting more power and longer battery life. Intel's response to these conditions is Kaby Lake, which symbolizes the 'O' in the company's new 'PAO' scheme. If we recall, Broadwell was the first architecture ('P') to reach 14nm as a shrink of Haswell, while Skylake ('A') represented a new design.
U and Y Series for Portables and Hybrids
The general distribution of Kaby Lake will be carried out under two series, identified by the letters U and Y. The U series targets ultraportables, and its three main processors (the Core i7-7500U, i5-7200U, and i3-7100U) do not exceed 15 watts of TDP. In these three cases we detect a configuration of two cores and four threads, with base frequencies between 2.4 and 2.7 GHz, accompanied by Turbo modes that approach 3.5 GHz when necessary. On the Y series side, its three processors (Core i7-7Y75, i5-7Y54, and m3-7Y30) aim to take a place in hybrid devices and tablets. The use of two cores and four threads remains intact, but here we find a TDP of just 4.5 watts, and lower initial frequencies (from 1.0 to 1.3 GHz).
Optimized Video Acceleration
Another very important aspect to mention of Kaby Lake is the optimization in its video module. While Skylake had the ability to accelerate H.264 and HEVC in 4K under a hybrid mode with processor assistance, Kaby Lake offloads the full load to the GPU, and adds accelerated decoding of VP9, a benefit that will be reflected in the playback of 4K videos on services like YouTube. Depending on the environment, Intel anticipates performance increases ranging from 12 to 19 percent, which doesn't sound too bad for this 'double tock'. Several manufacturers have already confirmed that there will be Kaby Lake-based products before the end of the year, but desktop systems will have to wait until January. There will likely be news during CES 2017.
