Intel has been stuck with its line of CPUs for so many years. Even though the firm upgrades its processors each year, Intel's product categories linger. The Core i3 runs the affordable PCs; the Core i5 supports the mid-range ones; and the Core i7 powers up the premium ones. However, this year, Intel is bound to change its game with the Core i9.
After months in the rumour mill, Intel is now confirmed to launch a monstrous Core i9 chip very soon. In an exclusive information acquired by Videocardz, the chipmaker has been revealed to release three Core i9 models, the most powerful of which is the 18-core version.
New Intel processors
According to the information, the Core i9 takes the frontline of a new batch of Intel processors called the Core X series which will come in Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9 versions ranging from 8 to 18 cores. Below are the details so far acquired by the publication:
| Processor | Cores/Threads | L3 Cache | PCle Lanes | Base Clock | Turbo Clock 2. | Turbo Clock 3.0 | Launch |
| Core i9-7980XE | 18C/36T | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Core i9-7960X | 16C/32T | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Core i9-7940X | 14C/28T | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Core i9-7920X | 12C/24T | 16.5 MB | 44 | TBD | TBD | TBD | August |
| Core i9-7900X | 10C/20T | 13.75 MB | 44 | 3.3 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 4.5 GHz | June |
| Core i9-7820X | 8C/16T | 11 MB | 28 | 3.6 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 4.5 GHz | June |
| Core i9-7800X | 6C/12T | 8.25 MB | 28 | 3.5 GHz | 4.0 GHz | - | June |
| Core i7-7740X | 4C/8T | 8 MB | 16 | 4.3 GHz | 4.5 GHz | - | June |
| Core i5-7640X | 4C/4T | 6 MB | 16 | 4.0 GHz | 4.2 GHz | - | June |
The Core i9-7980XE, the 18-core version with 16W of TPU, is expected to be ultra-fast and most efficient, among others. Tech pundits believe that when these chips come out, they challenge the AMD Ryzen chips head-on.
