Intel i7-9700K Appears on SiSoftware Database: 8 Cores, No Hyper-Threading

Megalith

Megalith

24-bit/48kHz
Staff member
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
13,000
A listing on the SiSoftware database confirms earlier details surrounding Intel’s upcoming i7-9700K processor. The 8-core, 8-thread Coffee Lake S part will feature a base clock of 3.6 GHz and maximum boost clock speed of 4.9GHz and 12MB of L3 Cache. It will lack Hyper-Threading, however.

This database listing also confirms that the i7-9700K will lack hyperthreading, making it the first desktop-grade i7 processor to do so, offering users eight cores and eight threads. This change creates an unusual situation where Intel's previous generation i7 8700K could deliver more performance in selected workloads, with its six cores and twelve threads, though this depends on how well applications utilize higher thread counts and SMT technologies.
 
Fine by me. HT has always been borderline gimmicky. Yes there are lots of cases where it's objectively better in multithreaded programs, I understand how it works and why it creates efficiency in certain SMT scenarios, but I'm fine with the straight cores and no abstraction layer.
 
Last edited:
Considering this is Intel I half suspect this is an underhanded way of helping the Dells & PCWorlds out there to increase their profit margins. The last time AMD had decent products out the Intel started to 'bribe' PC sellers into keeping AMD's market share low. They cant pull the same trick very easily so they're trying something new.

Intel: Hey if you stick these cheaper CPUs in your machines you'll be able to say its an i7 and charge just as much as for the PCs with fully-featured CPUs, most of your customers are too stupid to know the difference, theyre buying a PC from you after all.
PCWorld: Wow thanks, it has the same effect for us as that cashback scheme you got clobbered for a few years ago but slightly less illegal.

Edit: Just to clarify, PCWorld here in the UK is full of overpriced boxes sold by morons who get all their PC knowledge from reading the little card listing the specs that they have next to the shop floor display models.
 
Well my future plans went into the crapper. I figure my 6850k 6/12 will be swifter than the 9700k 6/6 on blender:(

Oh well. Maybe i9
 
This is the response that Intel has to AMD? Come on Intel! AMD is kicking your ass in nearby every market segment. Get the lead out.
 
DPI said:
Fine by me. HT has always been borderline gimmicky. Yes there are lots of cases where it's objectively better in multithreaded programs, I understand how it works and why it creates efficiency in certain SMT scenarios, but I'm fine with the straight cores and no abstraction layer.
Click to expand...

not to mention the situations where SMT hurts performance (low count but multiple threads) which to be where games are with threads.

increase a 10-15% performance boost from disabling SMT is not a bad boost to get
 
I don't like it, but it makes sense. There will likely be situations where 8/8 beats 6/12.

And they don't want an i5 8/8 beating their other i7 8700k.
 
This is kind of bizarre. 8C 8T is certainly better than the 4C 8T i7s we've been used to. But they broke that cycle last cycle. In any case, until they make it Spectre proof, I'm on the sidelines, so I guess it doesn't even matter.
 
theplaidfad said:
I guess AMD needs to start doing more than nipping at the heels of Intel if we're ever to see any real gains anytime soon.
Click to expand...

I feel like Intel is in big trouble until they can retire Skylake. They keep upping the clocks and cores but with very little architectural changes.

Perf/W has really stagnated for Intel.

Regardless, 8 cores at 5 Ghz ACT with 3466+ MHz DDR4 should be sweet.
 
Good. I will make even more money with AMD next quarter too while lounging on my SB-e. Maybe I will upgrade to a Zen2 7nm.
 
Disable hyper threading so we can clock it higher. Higher clocks make people go wowzers and want to buy :)
 
I'd like to upgrade before waiting 5 more generations (2600k-7700k) but I think most games are still more GPU limited and the Spectre fix just seems like a mandatory requirement.

I don't care how many cores AMD has, when their single thread performance is on par with a 5Ghz Intel, I'll give them a look.
 
it's crap like this that puts intel and nvidia on my "not to buy again" list.

intel bigwig 1: hmmm we need to increase margins somewhere in our consumer cpu line.
intel bigwig 2: i know! let's create a totally new tier called i9 and place that tier above i7! then we can nerf i7 sku AND charge more for i9 sku at the same time!!
intel bigwig 1: brilliant!! now let's give ourselves fatter bonuses!!
 
Well, in order to get to 5+ GHz on all cores (for marketing to shout from the rooftops about single-core speed being faster than the competition), there have to be fewer cores running.
It's Pentium 4 mentality all over again.
 
To get these new chips on z370 boards you be forced use a new bios with fixes for Spectre and Meltdown plus with windows patches for Spectre and Meltdown bring major slowdowns to your new upgrades putting you somewhere where you are now with a 8700k . . . Ya ill skip that side grade and better yet overclock a bit more ;) and stay consuming a bit less until Intel builds a new architecture.
 
Last edited:
Ok a bit long winded..

Too early to be sure but it seems like the 8700k is still an all around better cpu. More threads for tasks that need them and plenty of ipc for gaming and less threaded work. Sooo?

AMD has 8 core mainstream cpus we need one NOW?

Maybe this one should be in the MacBook

Spectr/melt still baked in so why build anything new on this platform if you plan to keep it.

Maybe 8/16 won’t be possible on those $120 z370 boards

This is still a refresh so how much per clock are they squeezing here.

Seems like a strange sku

BUT priced right it could be an amazing value if you already have the platform and an i3 or something.
 
Perhaps power draw was why they kept HT off this chip, it sure is making their lineup damn confusing tho.
 
Gideon said:
Perhaps power draw was why they kept HT off this chip, it sure is making their lineup damn confusing tho.
Click to expand...

When was it easy? Maybe back in the MHz days... hehe.

Seems that AMD is getting this right, Ryzen models seem pretty easy to understand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top