Intel adds hyperthreading to Kaby Lake Pentium processors

The specifications that Intel has put online about the new Pentium processors from the Kaby Lake generation show that they have hyperthreading. It is the first time since the Pentium 4 that the technology is applied to desktop processors in the Pentium line.

The new Pentium processors are the G4560T, G4560, G4600T, G4600 and G4620. Just like their predecessors, the two T-processors have a TDP of 35W and run at a lower clock speed than the 51-watt models. The G4560T and G4600T run at 2.9 and 3GHz respectively, just like the G4400T and G4500T. Other specifications are also the same, with the exception of the now added hyperthreading.

The three other models have clock speeds of 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7GHz. The amount of cache is unchanged at 3MB compared to the Pentium and i3 processors from the Skylake generation. Since Intel has not improved the IPC compared to Skylake, the Pentium G4620 is expected to perform at the same level as the Core i3-6100, which also runs at 3.7GHz. However, the suggested retail price of the Skylake-i3 is about twenty euros higher than the new Pentium.

To date, Intel has applied hyperthreading to desktop processors only on processors in the i3 and i7 line, with only a few exceptions. Pentium processors were only available as dual cores without hyperthreading.

It’s not the only major lineup change Intel is making with Kaby Lake. In November, it was announced that Intel would add an overclockable chip to the i3 line. An overclockable model has only been available in the i5 and i7 line since Sandy Bridge, with the sole exception of the Pentium G3258, which was introduced in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Pentium processor.