Intel Expands 9th Gen Core Portfolio With New Desktop CPUs Including Core i9-9900KF
Much of Intel's keynote at the Consumer Electronics Show on Monday was centered around upcoming platforms, and providing reassurance that the chip maker is still on track with its 10-nanometer lithography process. Time will tell, of course. Intel also announced new additions to its 9th generation Core desktop processor family, with more than a half a dozen new SKUs.
We had to do a little digging to find out which ones, along with the details. After the keynote, Intel published a press release that mentions the new 9th gen Core processor additions, but it only links to a single model, that being the Core i5-9400. Thankfully Intel's ARK database that contains product specifications and model numbers is not that difficult to navigate, so we were able to find the new CPUs.
There are seven new models in all, including the Core i9-9900KF, Core i7-9700KF, Core i5-9600KF, Core i5-9400F, Core i5-9400, Core i3-9350KF, and Core i3-8100F. Out of the bunch, only the Core i9-9900KF supports Hyper Threading.
The new CPUs join the Core i9-9900K (also with Hyper Threading support), Core i7-9700K, and Core i5-9600K. Here's how they all compare:
- Core i9-9900K: 8C/16T, 3.6GHz to 5GHz, UHD 630, 16MB SmartCache, 95W TDP
- Core i9-9900KF: 8C/16T, 3.6GHz to 5GHz, 16MB SmartCache, 95W TDP
- Core i7-9700K: 8C/8T, 3.6GHz to 4.9GHz, UHD 630, 12MB SmartCache, 95W TDP
- Core i7-9700KF: 8C/8T, 3.6GHz to 4.9GHz, 12MB SmartCache, 95W TDP
- Core i5-9600K: 6C/6T, 3.7GHz to 4.6GHz, UHD 630, 9MB SmartCache, 95W TDP
- Core i5-9600KF: 6C/6T, 3.7GHz to 4.6GHz, 9MB SmartCache, 95W TDP
- Core i5-9400: 6C/6T, 2.9GHz to 4.1GHz, UHD 360, 9MB SmartCache, 65W TDP
- Core i5-9400F: 6C/6T, 2.9GHz to 4.1GHz, 9MB SmartCache, 65W TDP
- Core i3-9350KF: 4C/4T, 4GHz to 4.6GHz, 8MB SmartCache, 91W TDP
- Core i3-8100F: 4C/4T, 3.6GHz, 6MB SmartCache, 65W TDP
The "KF" models are almost exactly the same as their "K" counterparts, just without integrated graphics. Otherwise, the core and thread counts match up, as does the cache allotment and power envelope. The KF models also sport unlocked multipliers for overclocking, just like the regular K models.
Our guess is that the KF models do actually have integrated graphics in the silicon, but they're disabled, either to sell a new SKU or to improve yields (a chip with defective integrated graphics that otherwise works can now be sold as a KF model).
It's not clear when these CPUs will be available to purchase or much they will cost. As points of reference, Amazon lists the Core i9-9900K at $529.99, Core i7-9700K at $442.95, and Core i5-9600K at $259.99. Those are current street prices. When Intel launched its 9th gen Core desktop CPUs, it set pricing for 1,000-unit trays at $488 for the Core i9-9900K, $347 for the Core i7-9700K, and $262 for the Core i5-9600K.
