Intel introduces new stepping of ninth-generation Core desktop processors

Intel will release a new stepping of its ninth-generation Core processors for the lga1151 socket in Q2. This is evident from bios updates that Asus has made available. It is not yet known what kind of changes the new stepping will bring.

The move to a new stepping means Intel Core processors of the ninth generation will make a slightly improved version of its 14nm process. It is possible that there will be some new processors, or that they are variants of the current lineup.

Sometimes when switching to a new stepping, the name of the relevant CPU is slightly changed and, for example, the maximum clock speed is adjusted. Often the changes are much smaller and involve bug fixes, for example. In that case, the name of the processors will probably remain unchanged.

In any case, motherboards need a bios update to recognize the processors with the new stepping. This is evident from the announcement that Asus has put online. The Taiwanese manufacturer has made bios updates available for its entire lineup of motherboards with chipsets from the Intel 300 series.