Intel Mainstream and High-End Desktop Roadmap Leaks – 9th Gen Core Family With Core i9-9900K Flagship, Basin Falls X299 Refresh Confirmed

A new set of Intel desktop product roadmap has leaked out which shows us the mainstream and HEDT families and their expected launch schedules. The roadmaps are listed in several slides that are compiled by XFastest and give us a look at what Intel's CPU lineup would look like in the coming quarters.

Intel Mainstream 'Z390' and High-End 'X299' Desktop Product Roadmap Leaked - 9th Gen Core and Refreshed Core-X Processors For Consumers

There have been lots of leaks on the Intel desktop roadmap plans, much of that has already been officially confirmed while some of it is still a rumor at this point. The information posted in the new slides is mostly what we have known so far and further confirms what we have been hearing for a while now. All Intel CPU families including the desktop ones will be based on the 14nm process so following is a list of all of those families expected to launch in the current and the coming year:

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• 2018 Mainstream Desktop: Coffee Lake-S 9th Generation (LGA 1151)
• 2018 HEDT Core-X Desktop: Skylake-X (LGA 2066 V2)
• 2018 Ultra HEDT Core-X Desktop: Cascade Lake-X (LGA 3647)
• 2018 Server/Workstation: Cascade Lake-SP (LGA 3647)
• 2019 Server Workstation: Cooper Lake-SP (LGA 4189)

Intel HEDT Roadmap (2018-2019) - Basin Falls Refresh on X299 Platform, Up To 22 Cores

Starting off with the High-End desktop lineup, the refresh Core-X processors are no secret anymore as Intel themselves have confirmed them on multiple occasions. We first heard about it from Intel themselves during Computex 2018, where they confirmed new processors for the X299 refreshed platform would be released later this year. Just a few days ago, Intel again confirmed the existence of these processors and reaffirmed their late 2018 release.

According to the leaked roadmap, we are looking at a complete product refresh and not only the top tier. This means we are looking at new series of chips, all the way from the entry level to the top-end Core i9-7980XE which would be replaced later this year. The refresh will last till Q2 2019 so if there's anything new coming next year, the second half would be the time we would start hearing about the new HEDT family.

As for the chipset roadmap which you will see later in this post, the X299 platform would also be Intel's primary HEDT line till Q2 2019. Till then, Intel's Core-X processor family and the refreshed processors will be supported by it on the LGA 2066 socket. Of course, we also know about the new HEDT Cascade Lake-X processors which will feature up to 28 cores and 56 threads but they aren't mentioned in the leaked roadmap. Intel confirmed their availability by the end of this year on a new LGA 3647 socketed motherboard which you can read more about over here.

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Intel HEDT Processor Families:

Intel HEDT Family	Gulftown	Sandy Bridge-E	Ivy Bridge-E	Haswell-E	Broadwell-E	Skylake-X	Skylake-X	Skylake-X	Cascade Lake-X
Process Node	32nm	32nm	22nm	22nm	14nm	14nm+	14nm+	14nm+	14nm++
Flagship SKU	Core i7-980X	Core i7-3960X	Core i7-4960X	Core i7-5960X	Core i7-6950X	Core i9-7980XE	Core i9-9980XE	Xeon W-3175X	Core i9-10980XE
Max Cores/Threads	6/12	6/12	6/12	8/16	10/20	18/36	18/36	28/56	18/36
Clock Speeds	3.33/3,60 GHz	3.30/3.90 GHz	3.60/4.00 GHz	3.00/3.50 GHz	3.00/3.50 GHz	2.60/4.20 GHz	3.00/4.50 GHz	3.10/4.30 GHz	3.00 / 4.80 GHz
Max Cache	12 MB L3	15 MB L3	15 MB L3	20 MB L3	25 MB L3	24.75 MB L3	24.75 MB L3	38.5 MB L3	24.75 MB L3
Max PCI-Express Lanes (CPU)	32 Gen2	40 Gen2	40 Gen3	40 Gen3	40 Gen3	44 Gen3	44 Gen3	44 Gen3	44 Gen3
Chipset Compatiblity	X58 Chipset	X79 Chipset	X79 Chipset	X99 Chipset	X99 Chipset	X299	X299	C612E	X299
Socket Compatiblity	LGA 1366	LGA 2011	LGA 2011	LGA 2011-3	LGA 2011-3	LGA 2066	LGA 2066	LGA 3647	LGA 2066
Memory Compatiblity	DDR3-1066	DDR3-1600	DDR3-1866	DDR4-2133	DDR4-2400	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2800	DDR4-2666	DDR4-2933
Max TDP	130W	130W	130W	140W	140W	165W	165W	255W	165W
Launch	Q1 2010	Q4 2011	Q3 2013	Q3 2014	Q2 2016	Q3 2017	Q4 2018	Q4 2018	Q4 2019
Launch Price	$999 US	$999 US	$999 US	$1059 US	$1700 US	$1999 US	$1979 US	~$4000 US	$979 US

Intel Mainstream Desktop Roadmap (2018-2019) - Core i9-9900K Flagship For Z390, Support Retained Across Entire 300-Series Lineup For 8th / 9th Gen Processors

On the mainstream front, Intel has plans to deliver a new 14nm S-series processor lineup which is going to be branded under the 9th generation family for desktop PCs. Intel will have at least three ‘K’ series SKUs in the lineup. These would include the flagship Core i9-9900K, Core i7-9700K, and the Core i5-9600K.

All three processors will feature compatibility with the entire 300-series board lineup. Moving on to the SKU configurations, we will see the processors with the following configs:

• Intel Core i9-9900K (8 core / 16 thread)
• Intel Core i7-9700K (8 core / 8 thread)
• Intel Core i5-9600K (6 core / 6 thread)

We know from leaked details that the Core i9-9900K will be the flagship processor of this lineup and would feature 8 core and 16 thread configuration which is same as AMD’s current generation flagship, the Ryzen 7 2700X on the mainstream front. This will be the first mainstream desktop Core i9 part and also the first Intel chip to boast 8 cores and 16 threads. In terms of cache, the chip will feature 16 MB of L3 and will come with an Intel UHD 620 graphics chip.

The clock speeds are something to check out here, we are going to get 3.6 GHz base clock out of the box and a 5.0 GHz boost clocks in single and dual core operations. 4 core boost is rated at 4.8 GHz while 6/8 core boost is rated at 4.7 GHz. This is the highest frequency we have seen on an 8 core part across all cores. All of this is done under a 95W package so we can expect some hefty cooling solutions to go along with this chip. You can check out detailed information on the rest of the unlocked SKUs over here.

Intel 9th Generation Core Family CPU Official Specifications:

Processor Name	Process	Cores / Threads	Base Clock	Boost Clock	Cache	TDP	Price
Core i9-9900KS	14nm++	8 / 16	3.6 GHz	5.0 GHz (8 Cores)	16 MB	127W	$513 US
Core i9-9900K	14nm++	8 / 16	3.6 GHz	5.0 GHz	16 MB	95W	$488 US
Core i9-9900KF	14nm++	8 / 16	3.6 GHz	5.0 GHz	16 MB	95W	$488 US
Core i7-9700K	14nm++	8 / 8	3.6 GHz	4.9 GHz	12 MB	95W	$374 US
Core i7-9700KF	14nm++	8 / 8	3.6 GHz	4.9 GHz	12 MB	95W	$374 US
Core i5-9600K	14nm++	6 / 6	3.7 GHz	4.6 GHz	9 MB	95W	$262 US
Core i5-9600KF	14nm++	6 / 6	3.7 GHz	4.6 GHz	9 MB	95W	$262 US
Core i5-9600	14nm++	6 / 6	3.1 GHz	4.5 GHz	9 MB	65W	TBD
Core i5-9500	14nm++	6 / 6	3.0 GHz	4.3 GHz	9 MB	65W	TBD
Core i5-9400	14nm++	6 / 6	2.9 GHz	4.1 GHz	9 MB	65W	$182
Core i5-9400T	14nm++	6 / 6	1.8 GHz	3.4 GHz	9 MB	35W	TBD
Core i3-9350KF	14nm++	4/4	4.0 GHz	4.6 GHz	8 MB	91W	TBD
Core i3-9100	14nm++	4 / 4	TBD	4.2 GHz	6 MB	65W	TBD
Core i3-9000	14nm++	4 / 4	3.7 GHz	N/A	6 MB	65W	TBD
Core i3-9000T	14nm++	4 / 4	3.2 GHz	N/A	6 MB	35W	TBD

Original Post: The most interesting thing about this roadmap leak is that it lists down the 9th Generation CPU family to release in Q1 of 2019 whereas the Z390 chipset is mentioned for release in Q3 of 2018. Could be possible that we are looking at two different roadmaps for the desktop lineup and the PCH.

Since the Z390 and 9th Generation family are inclined to launch around a similar timeframe, the Q1 '19 launch of the 9th Gen family seems a little odd. We have been hearing a 2H 2018 time frame for the 9th Generation lineup for some time now so maybe we just have to wait for official word on this.

Update: As expected, the roadmap posted previously was slightly outdated and the new one (via Videocardz) confirms the release date of Q3 2018 which we have been hearing since some time now. So all looks according to plan now.

8th and 9th Gen Core Processors Will Work Across Entire 300-Series Motherboard Lineup, Z390 Chipset Details and 300-Series Compatibility List Officially Confirms

This is the most interesting part about the leak as it is officially confirmed that 8th generation CPUs would work on Z390 chipset and vice versa, the 9th generation CPUs would work on all previously released 300-series motherboards including Z370. I think it puts all rumors to rest that showed that Intel would not offer 9th generation processor support on older motherboards.

As for a detailed comparison between the Z390 and Z370 chipset, the following table gives a good presentation:

Intel Desktop Platform Chipset Comparison

Chipset Name	Coffee Lake S (KBL-R) PCH / Z370 Platform	Coffee Lake S (CNL-H) PCH / 300 Series (Z390/H370, B360, Q370, H310)	Comet Lake-S (CML-S) PCH / 400 Series (Z490)
Process Node	22nm	14nm	14nm
Processor	8C, 6C, 4C (6 Consumer SKUs at Launch) Enhanced IA and Memory Overclocking Gen 9 Intel Graphics GT2 (Up To 24 EUs) Consumer Only	8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch) Enhanced IA and Memory Overclocking Gen 9 Intel Graphics GT2 (Up To 24 EUs) Corporate/vPro & Consumer	10C, 8C, 6C, 4C, 2C (Full corporate/consumer SKU stack at launch) Enhanced IA and Memory Overclocking Gen 9 Intel Graphics GT2 (Up To 24 EUs) Corporate/vPro & Consumer
Memory	Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2666 (Native)	Up To DDR4-2933(Native)
Media, Display & Audio	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface	DP 1.2 & HDMI 1.4 HDCP 2.2 (HDMI 2.0a w/LSPCON) HEVC & VP9 10-bit Enc/Dec, HDR, Rec.2020, DX12 Integrated Dual-Core Audio DSP SoundWire Digital Audio Interface
I/O & Connectivity	Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Thunderbolt 3.0 (Alpine Ridge)	Integrated USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4	Integrated USB 3.2 Gen 2 Integrated Intel Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi / BT CNVi) Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller Thunderbolt 3.0 (Titan Ridge) w/ DP 1.4
Storage	Next Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, SATA 3.0	Next Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, SATA 3.0	Next-Gen Intel Optane memory PCIe 3.0, SATA 3.0
Security	Intel SGX 1.0	Intel SGX 1.0	Intel SGX 1.0
Power Management	C8 Support	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby	C10 & S0ix Support for Modern Standby
Launch	2017	2018	2019

It will be interesting to see the new CPU lineups finally launching in the consumer market as competition gets heated in the processor department on both mainstream and high-end desktop segments once again.