During Computex 2017, Intel has announced its latest Intel Core X Series processors (codename: Basin Falls), together with the new X299 chipset, designed for high-end desktop platform. The new Core X series and X299 replaces the current X99 (Wellsburg) and Broadwell-E; now featuring a new socket, better and newer technology as well. The new Core X Series includes two Kaby Lake-X CPUs – Core i5-7640X and i7-7740X; and seven Skylake-X CPUs. However, I think in the Skylake-X lineup is where things get really interesting; starting with the Core i7-7800K, i7-7820X, the i9-7900X, i9-7920X, i9-7940X, i9-7960X and the flagship i9-7890XE. Check out more details below.
Intel Kaby Lake-X and Skylake-X (Core-X Series) CPUs Features
The Intel Core X series processor family is the company’s most scalable, accessible and powerful desktop platform ever. It starts with a Core i5 Kaby Lake-X with 4 cores, and up to 18 cores with the Core i9 Skylake-X CPUs. With these new processors, Intel is targeting every price point from $242 up to $1,999; making sure that there is a product on every price point. You can learn more from the slides embedded in this article.
Extreme Performance for Single-Thread and Multithread Computing:
- Up to 10 percent faster multithread performance over previous generation
- Up to 15 percent faster single-thread performance over previous generation
- Massive 36-thread performance and quad-channel memory for content creation and extreme mega-tasking
- Up to 44 lanes of PCIe 3.0 directly connected to the CPU, to expand your system with fast SSDs, multiple discrete graphics cards and ultrafast Thunderbolt 3 technology
Intel Core X Series Key Features:
- New! Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processor featuring 18 cores and 36 threads
- New! Intel’s most scalable high-end desktop platform ever with 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4-core options
- New! Intel X299 chipset with improved I/O capabilities
- New! LGA 2066 socket for Intel Core X-series processor family
- New! Additional system performance and amazing responsiveness with Intel Optane memory support
- Improved Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 (select SKUs) for single- and multithreaded performance
- Up to 44 lanes of PCIe 3.0 directly connected to the CPU
- Up to 4 channel DDR4-2666 memory support, support for the Intel Extreme Memory Profile (Intel XMP) specification, revision 2.0 for DDR4
- Fully unlocked for performance tuning
- Rebalanced smart cache hierarchy
- Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
Intel Liquid Cooler for LGA 2066
Intel also recommends that these new processors be cooled using a liquid cooling solution. Intel has the Thermal Solution TS13X which is compatible with sockets 2011, 1366 and 115X as well. The said liquid cooler will be priced around $85-$100 USD. Of course, expect that there will be better liquid cooling solution for socket LGA 2066 offered by various companies.
The new Intel Core X Series processor will be available in the following weeks to come, starting with the Core i5-7640X up to Core i9-7900X. Since Intel hasn’t fully disclosed the details on the Core i9-7920X up to the Core i9-7980XE, they might be released on a much later date.
