Today at a global event in Beijing, Intel unveiled the first Intel Core i9 processor for laptops, announced a new Intel Core platform extension that brings together the benefits of 8th Gen Intel Core processors with Intel Optane memory, and shared new details on the 8th Gen Intel Core vPro platform.

The new 8th Gen Intel Core i9, i7 and i5 processors for laptops are based on the Coffee Lake platform are based on Intel's 14nm++ process technology. According to Intel, the new chips are delivering up to 41 percent more frames per second in gameplay or edit 4K video up to 59 percent faster than the previous generation with same discrete graphics.

At the top of the stack, the 8th Gen Intel Core i9-8950HK processor is the first mobile Intel processor with six cores and 12 threads. It comes fully unlocked and features the new Intel Thermal Velocity Boost (TVB), which opportunistically and automatically increases clock frequency up to 200 MHz if the processor temperature is low enough and turbo power budget is available. This translates to a turbo frequency of up to 4.8 GHz.

TVB is essentially another phase on top of Intel Turbo Boost such that if the CPU stays under a certain temperature, in this case 53 degrees C, the single core turbo frequency can go up to 200 MHz higher than the processor is "normally" rated for.

It is also worth noting that the new Xeon E-2186M, mirrors the Core i9-8950HK in almost every aspect, but swaps the overclocking functionality for the ability to use ECC memory and be vPro enabled.

The rest of Intel's 45W processor line mimics previous generations, with the noticeable bump up in core count, memory support, and Optane support.

All the CPUs are rated at 45W for their base frequency, all support Optane as a drive accelerator, and all support DDR4-2666 in dual channel operation.

Alongside the consumer processors, Intel is also pushing out two Xeon mobile CPUs with the rest of the 45W stack. The two Xeon E mobile processors are both set for the high end, emulating the Core i9 in performance and support.

The two big advantages for the Xeon E processors are vPro support and ECC memory, however they lose overclocking capabilities.

Coffee Lake with Iris Plus at 28W

Intel recently announced its 'Intel Core with Radeon RX Vega' processor line, featuring a H-series processor combined with an AMD graphics chip and a sizeable amount of high-speed HBM2 memory connected via Intel's proprietary EMIB technology. These parts are designed to service the high-end for integrated graphics, going above and beyond any other integrated graphics solution in the past. That used to be a post held by Intel's processors that used eDRAM, using the Iris, Iris Pro, and Iris Plus branding. Now the Iris line sits in the middle, acting as Intel's graphics focused products in the mid-power range.

Intel is lifting the lid on four Iris Plus-based processors. These all use the Coffee Lake microarchitecture and are built on Intel's 14++ process. All four of these processors are in Intel's 'GT3e' graphics configuration, which uses Intel's Gen 9.5 graphics with 48 execution units (EUs) and 128 MB of eDRAM. This is compared to the GT2 configurations seen on most other processors, that have 24 EUs and zero eDRAM.

The 28W Iris Plus processors will match the other mobile counterparts on chipset, and support the new features such as integrated Intel 802.11ac Wi-Fi and native USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) support.

Coffee Lake Desktop Processors

For the desktop, and the Core i7 family, the new entrant is the Core i7-8700T. This will be the only six-core processor, with hyperthreading, to fall into the 35W bracket. It features the full L3 cache support, dual channel memory up to DDR4-2666, and is eligible for vPro support. It is worth noting that the 35W TDP value is only valid when the CPU is at its base frequency, which in this case is 2.4 GHz. At the peak turbo of 4.0 GHz.

In the Core i5, most of the parts are new. As with the Core i5 desktop parts that are already launched, these have six-cores but do not have multithreading. They have a reduced L3 cache per core compared to the Core i7, and it is worth noting that the base frequency for the processors is only 3.1 GHz for the Core i5-8600. All of the parts support dual channel DDR4-2666, and all but one processor supports vPro.

There are 3 three new members of the Core i3 section, all of which are quad-core processors. The two Core i3-8300/T parts have the peak 2MB L3 per core, while the Core i3-8100T only has 1.5 MB L3 per core. These parts are all reduced in memory frequency as well, supporting dual-channel DDR4-2400. Intel has no vPro parts in the Core i3 line, but all the Core i3 SKUs will support Optane.

The Pentium Gold processors fit in where the older Core i3 processors once stood: dual core with hyperthreading. Intel rates the 'full speed' models at 54W, while the lower-power T-models are at 35W. They don't support Optane.

The highest-performance 8th Gen Intel Core mobile processor family also adds a new Intel 300 Series Chipset, which adds integrated Gigabit Wi-Fi for a fast connection that is capable of being up to 2 times faster than standard 2x2 802.11AC 80 MHz (867 Mbps).

Intel announced four new chipsets for the desktop platforms. Joining the currently available Z370 chipset will be the mid-range H370 chipset, the corporate focused vPro-enabled Q370 chipset, the cheaper mid-range B360 chipset, and the limited function consumer-focused H310 chipset. All four of these new chipsets are based on the Platform Controller Hub (PCH) originally designed for the still-missing Cannon Lake architecture CPUs.

These parts feature an integrated 2T2R 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, allowing the latest Wave 2 (160 MHz) channel communications and giving speeds up to 1733 Mbps. Intel states that this is 12x faster than 1T1R 802.11n support provided by low cost solutions, and double the performance of most 2T2R options on the market.

All three CRFs support Linux, Chrome OS, and Windows 10, but are only offered with a 1 year warranty.

The new chipsets also support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports. Motherboard manufacturers will have to use HSIO lanes to enable USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports, with up to four being supported on H370/B360, and six being supported on Q370.

In addition, the chipsets support features like Modern Standby/Smart Connect, allowing for systems to update email and such while in a sleep state similar to some laptops.

Intel also lists 'ambient computing' as being enabled by the chipset. This allows for wake-on-voice in a low powered mode, much like a smartphone or connected device that the user can call Cortana or Alexa while the system is in screen-off or Modern Standby.

Intel also announced the HM370, QM370 and QMS380 notebook chipsets with similar features: enhanced audio, enhanced IO, integrated 802.11ac with gigabit throughput, and USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) native support.

Intel Optane memory is an adaptable system accelerator for desktop and mobile platforms, increasing the performance and responsiveness of SATA-based storage technology without compromising storage capacity.

Now, Intel Optane memory is available across both 8th Gen Intel Core mobile and desktop platforms. Additionally, Intel has released a new Data Drive Acceleration feature that delivers a boost to a large secondary HDD data drive.

Intel also said that you will begin to see a new platform extension with Intel Core i5+, i7+ and i9+ badges on select systems, starting with today's 8th Gen Intel Core mobile processors and desktop processors. This indicates they are purchasing a device that has the combination of Intel Core performance with the acceleration of Intel Optane memory.

New 8th Gen Intel Core vPro processors

Intel's new 8th Gen Intel Core vPro processors are spanning from the Intel Core processor family to the Intel Xeon processor family.

With new 8th Gen Intel Core processors built on the Intel vPro platform, businesses can:

• Bring a new quad-core configuration to mainstream mobile PCs, as well as six cores to premium mobile and desktop designs.
• Finance and marketing teams can analyze and visualize data up to 40 percent faster on new 8th Gen Intel Core vPro processor-based laptops using tools like Microsoft Power BI for speed to insight. And on the other side of these dashboards, data scientists can find patterns in data faster to shape the future of machine learning.
• With the addition of Intel Optane memory, power users can gain up to 78 percent better overall system performance with new 8th Gen Intel Core i5+ vPro platform-based desktops.
• Advanced professionals can count on the reliability of new workstations powered by new Intel Xeon E processors, which deliver up to 20 percent faster modeling and interactive 3D applications.

Protect data

The Intel vPro platform is architected to provide security, which now includes improvements to the Intel Authenticate solution and a new hardware enhancement called Intel Runtime BIOS Resilience.

• Intel Authenticate, a multifactor authentication solution that verifies identities in hardware for added protection below the software layer, now includes support for facial recognition with Windows 10.
• Right out of the box, new Intel vPro platform-based PCs from Lenovo and HP will begin to take advantage of Intel Runtime BIOS Resilience - a hardware enhancement that minimizes the risks of malicious code injection. This new firmware feature locks BIOS when software is running to help prevent planted malware from gaining traction.

Mitigate risks and costs

In addition to how Intel Active Management Technology (IntelAMT) reduces on-site support and the Intel Stable Image Platform Program mitigates maintenance during transitions, Intel is also introducing new component-level traceability through the Intel Transparent Supply Chain, as well as streamlined tools for taking full advantage of Intel AMT.

• Dell and Intel recently unveiled new functionality for the Dell Client Command Suite. This deployment and provisioning toolkit will help IT activate Intel AMT in under 30 minutes for managing endpoints remotely and out-of-band.
• Counterfeit and gray market parts are also an increasing issue in the cybersecurity landscape. Select new business PCs from Lenovo are the first to leverage the Intel Transparent Supply Chain - a sophisticated service Intel has extended from servers into clients. The program gives IT pros peace of mind by enabling traceability and allowing them to validate the authenticity of their PC purchases.
• Staying on the latest PCs is how modern organizations can optimize Windows 10 and prepare for heightened cybersecurity standards such as GDPR.

Notebooks and 2 in 1s powered by new 8th Gen Intel Core vPro processors are available now, followed by premium mobile, desktops and workstations coming later in the first half of this year.