Intel announces Core i9-9900K octacore

Intel has announced new ninth-generation Core desktop processors, including the Core i9-9900K, an eight-core processor with HyperThreading running at 3.6GHz and up to 5GHz.

The ninth generation Core processors are a refresh of the Coffee Lake range, which are still made on the 14nm++ process. The three processors are the Core i9-9900K, Core i7-9700K and Core i5-9600K.

The Core i9 has eight cores and support for HyperThreading, which Intel says is the first mainstream processor with support for sixteen threads. The clock speed is standard at 3.6GHz, but the maximum boost speed is 5GHz. The multiplier is unlocked and the Core i9 comes in a striking dodecahedron-like packaging. The Core i7-9700K also has eight cores but lacks HyperThreading.

The manufacturer uses ‘stim’ for the three processors, which stands for solder thermal interface material. This therefore concerns solder as a material between the die and the internal heat spreader, which should ensure better cooling performance than thermal paste. In previous years, Intel used the cheaper thermal paste.

The introduction is accompanied by the arrival of the Z390 chipset. The changes compared to the Z370 concern the arrival of six fast USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, in addition to the ten Gen 1 variants and the, partly, integration of WiFi-ac. By the way, after a BIOS update, motherboards can also handle the ninth generation processors.

The processors will go on sale October 19.