In April 2020, Intel announces new desktop processors as part of the 10th Gen Intel Core processor family, including Intel’s flagship Core i9-10900K processor, the world’s fastest gaming processor. (Credit: Intel Corporation)
Intel recently launched its latest generation of desktop processors. The 10th Gen Intel Core S-series is a much faster version for playing games, surfing content and editing videos. Intel company is claiming the flagship models to be the “world’s fastest gaming processor.”
The models follow the standard naming convention of Intel and are named S-series. They are available in four models: the Core i9, i7, i5 and i3. The i9-10900K is the flagship model, offering ten cores, 20 threads and a maximum base frequency of up to 3.7 GHz. With performance-boosting systems that Intel has, the system can be cranked up to a blistering 5.3 GHz.
Fastest Processor
According to Intel, the i9 is capable of advanced system performance of up to 31% in comparison to earlier models. The company also states that in contrast to the previous models, the i9 can get up to 63% more frames per second in gaming, 15% faster HD video editing and 18% faster 4K video editing.
Intel Core i9-10900K – Fastest Gaming Processor
The Core i7 has eight cores and 16 threads, outputs at 3.8 GHz typically. This can be upgraded to 5.1 GHz. The Core i5 comes with six cores and 12 threads and can be upgraded to a maximum of 4.8 GHz. And the Core i3 comes with a modest four cores and eight threads and can be upgraded to 4.6 GHz. All machines can support faster internet connections. As per Intel, the first wave of desktop systems with the 10th Gen Intel Core S-series may be released in May.
The 10th generation Core, Pentium, and Celeron machines follow the trend established by Intel’s new laptop H-series launch: they have the old process technology tweaked to a newer version.
Performance
The new set of machines have razor-sharp focus, raw clock speed and single-core turbo speeds on the highest SKUs over 5GHz. The machines are equipped for high-performance gaming, focusing on gaming and gamers to give them an extreme experience.
Architecture
The new CPUs are designed for an LGA1200 socket, rather than LGA1151, which means a user will have to get a new motherboard if they want a 10th generation Intel desktop CPU. The Turbo Boost Max 3.0 dynamically selects and boosts the fastest two cores on a given individual CPU. There are lots of new knobs for hardcore overclockers to twiddle in the Extreme Tuning Utility. The i9 series also has a new Thermal Velocity Boost feature, which can give an additional 100MHz for short periods while the CPU is cool. Intel has also thinned the CPU die on some models, allowing for a thicker integrated heat spreader and therefore potentially better cooling to the hottest-running areas on-die. The officially supported RAM speed is also increased, from DDR4-2666 to DDR4-2933.
CPU Models
Celeron and Pentium Gold
- Celeron and Pentium Gold are the cheapest processors available in Intel’s 2020 desktop line-up, ranging from $42 to $86. These are all dual-core parts; Pentium G offers hyper-threading, while Celeron does not.
- Celeron and Pentium G operate at the base clock only, with no Turbo boost or any of the associated technologies.
- The two Celeron models and the lowest-end Pentium Gold are the only CPUs in the line-up to offer UHD Graphics 610—the rest of the line-up offers the faster UHD 630 iGPU.
i3 and i5
- The i3 models offer four cores plus hyperthreading, and i5 models offer six cores plus hyper-threading. Base clocks range from 3.6GHz to 4.1GHz, with boost clock ranging from 4.3GHz to 4.8GHz.
- None of the i3 or i5 models offers Turbo Boost Max or Thermal Velocity Boost. The i3s have neither K nor F variants; the lowest i5 offers an F-series GPU-free variant, and the fastest i5 offers both K and KF variants.
i7 and i9
- Both i7-10700 and i9-10900 models come in all five possible variants, though—base, F, K, KF, and T. i9-10900 is a 10-core/20-thread CPU, and i7-10900 is 8-core/16-thread.
- Base clock rates for non-K models are 2.8GHz for i9, and 2.9GHz for i7, with Turbo Boost Max 3.0 of “4.8GHz” for i7, “up to 5.1GHz” for i9.
Thermal Design Power
Intel’s 2020 desktop CPU line-up comes in four distinct TDP ratings: 35W, 58W, 65W, and 125W. All T-series CPUs are rated at 35W TDP. Pentium Gold and Celeron CPUs, without the T variants, are all rated for 58W TDP. The i3, i5, and i7 CPUs, without the T, K and KF variants, are all rated for 65W TDP. The K and KF models are rated for 125W TDP.
Conclusions : Intel Core i9-10900K
With the new machines, Intel is banking on high raw clock speed to impress buyers, while refining the newer 10nm process. For Intel fans, they can expect to see minor performance boost- if they to a new motherboard. The machines are a delight for professional gamers, as they will witness a potential rise in single-core clock speeds.
