This is also the first time Intel will be offering hexa-core and quad-core processors in its Core i5 and Core i3 portfolio.
The much awaited refresh of Intel’s mainstream desktop processor lineup is here and will be available over the counter and across various channel partners in India starting October 5. Tough competition from AMD has compelled Intel to finally bring a quad-core processor to the Core i3 range. Both the Core i3-8100 and i3-8350K feature 4 cores and 4 threads. In addition, the Intel Core i5 series also packs two more processors and the two new Core i5-8400 and i5-8600K feature 6 cores and 6 threads. While we still await an official word on the pricing, internationally, the new 8th gen desktop lineup starts at $117 (Rs 7,606 approx) and will go all the way up to $359 (Rs 23,338 approx).
According to Intel, the new 8th gen Coffee Lake chips should provide a significant boost in performance. The company claims that the new the Core i7-8700K can offer 25 percent more fps in gaming compared to the last gen Core i7-7700K. Moreover, in “mega tasks” such as gaming + streaming + recording with Player Unknown Battlegrounds, the new 8700K is 45 percent better than the 7700K. If that turns out to be true, AMD’s Ryzen processors may lose the edge here and we might see a drop in prices across the board.
While the increase in performance was somewhat expected, the biggest change in this mainstream desktop lineup is the core count increase. However, the top of the line Intel Core i7 processors are still two cores short compared to the competing Ryzen chips. The higher core count has also brought down the base frequency by almost 500MHz. That being said, the boost frequency is now 200MHz higher than last time. This has also brought the TDPs at the higher end at 95W, which is a 4W increase over the 91W limit, 7th gen processors had.
To go with the processors, Intel has also announced Z370 motherboard. Intel claims that it has improved power delivery over last gen models and the DDR4-2666 memory is now officially supported.
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Hardik Singh
Light at the top, this odd looking creature lives under the heavy medication of video games. View Full Profile
