Four 9th Gen Core "KF" Processor Models Get Listed

[btarunr]

We've tracked the possibility of GPU-disabled 9th generation Core "Coffee Lake Refresh" processors since early December with a Q1-2019 launch target. Some of these chips are already surfacing on retailers, with Norwegian and Finnish online stores listing four chips: the Core i9-9900KF, the i7-9700KF, i5-9600KF, and the i5-9400F. There's no sign of the quad-core i3-9350KF. As mentioned earlier, these are processors with their integrated graphics either disabled or physically absent. The "KF" extension indicates that in addition to lacking an iGPU, these chips feature an unlocked base-clock multipler. The i5-9400F, on the other hand, has a locked multiplier and lacks an iGPU.

The clock-speeds of the i9-9900KF, i7-9700KF, and i5-9600KF appear identical to their iGPU-equipped siblings, with the i9-9900KF featuring 3.60 GHz nominal and 5.00 GHz Turbo Boost, the i7-9700KF featuring 3.60 GHz nominal and 4.90 GHz Turbo Boost, and i5-9600KF featuring 3.70 GHz nominal with 4.70 GHz Turbo Boost. The i5-9400F is an interesting chip, it is speed-bump over the popular i5-8400, with 2.90 GHz nominal and likely 4.20 GHz Turbo Boost. Besides slightly increase clock speeds, you get hardware fixes to certain security vulnerabilities Intel addressed with the 9th generation. The prices of these chips are off the scale, and nothing really worth mentioning.



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[Arrakis9]

it's probably just the same chip with the gpu disabled + firmware update.

 

[ypsylon]

Intel seems to move along the same lines as car manufacturers. Let me explain. (disclaimer: not really good with cars or model names, just the general idea)

OK, everybody knows what Porsche 911 is. Good example. You go to the showroom and say: I want to buy 911. Sure what model? And then you have many models to choose from. Certainly most will take classic 911, with all bells and whistles your wallet can afford (or not if you live permanently on debit, but that's your problem ). Anyway.... but there will be 0.1% of customers which will say - No! I want track version GT98whatever-no-frills-no-bells version. And VW/Porsche will say sure, why not. Then they take normal 911, remove and strips down everything you may need in a car, fit in roll-cage and then charge say 100k$ more for that version, just so user can drive 10km/h faster on a track.

And now we have Intel. 9900K is stupidly overpriced already, but then they come-up with KF which doesn't have iGPU (poo we all agree on that) and charge even more?

 

[the54thvoid]

Wait, are they charging more?

 

[SL2]

From a customer perspective I don't see the point.

Only way to analyze the price is to compare with other prices in Norway. Seems like it's about the same, given that prices usually drops a bit after the parts become available.

 

[ShurikN]

Wait, are they charging more?

Until it comes to a large US retailer we wont know.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

Surely there is some kind of plus to buying one , a bit cheaper ,more pciex lanes free, boost clocks higher ,something.

 

[EarthDog]

I think part of the allure here to this chip may bring better temps and overclocking since the iGPU isnt there/disabled? I'd imagine few use it on this class of chip in the first place so to me it makes sense....especially if it is a bit cheaper.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

I think part of the allure here to this chip may bring better temps and overclocking since the iGPU isnt there/disabled? I'd imagine few use it on this class of chip in the first place so to me it makes sense....especially if it is a bit cheaper.

yeah i see that as fair enough but a price cut would help them sell and the buyer get that Dgpu, but if the Igpu isnt using pciex lanes then why not the consumer use them, it would also be a USP , more pciex lanes that is.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Intel seems to move along the same lines as car manufacturers. Let me explain. (disclaimer: not really good with cars or model names, just the general idea)

OK, everybody knows what Porsche 911 is. Good example. You go to the showroom and say: I want to buy 911. Sure what model? And then you have many models to choose from. Certainly most will take classic 911, with all bells and whistles your wallet can afford (or not if you live permanently on debit, but that's your problem ). Anyway.... but there will be 0.1% of customers which will say - No! I want track version GT98whatever-no-frills-no-bells version. And VW/Porsche will say sure, why not. Then they take normal 911, remove and strips down everything you may need in a car, fit in roll-cage and then charge say 100k$ more for that version, just so user can drive 10km/h faster on a track.

And now we have Intel. 9900K is stupidly overpriced already, but then they come-up with KF which doesn't have iGPU (poo we all agree on that) and charge even more?

as a non car person that knows a little about cars. Its not just that though. Sure they rip everything out that isnt necessary but a lot of why the cost goes up is the added materials to make it lighter... such as carbon fibre body panels etc etc Part of the time they might not even use the same engine. or if it is the same engine then its been heavily tuned with a whole manner of performance parts added, Gearbox and transmission, suspension will be different. Exhaust/muffler. engine/oil cooling... Almost everything will be different compared to the regular or classic version.


A better example would be if intel ripped out or disabled iGP to make the CPU a better overclocker.

 

[EarthDog]

yeah i see that as fair enough but a price cut would help them sell and the buyer get that Dgpu, but if the Igpu isnt using pciex lanes then why not the consumer use them, it would also be a USP , more pciex lanes that is.

The iGPU doesnt use pcie lanes for itself... its inside the cpu already.

What is USP?

 

[SL2]

I think part of the allure here to this chip may bring better temps and overclocking since the iGPU isnt there/disabled?

Have such CPU's ever got better clocks/temps in the past?

 

[Dave65]

Wait, are they charging more?

Of course they charge more, it's Intel and the name changed.

 

[EarthDog]

Have such CPU's ever got better clocks/temps in the past?

I dont know. Offhand I cant think of any that did this and comparisons.

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

The iGPU doesnt use pcie lanes for itself... its inside the cpu already.

What is USP?

Unique selling point, the igpu connects in what way then , its attached to a bus via ?
Also I have not looked at recent chip's but for years the igpu was a separate die connected via mcm substrate , when did it get incorporated into the cpu die?

 

[SL2]

Also I have not looked at recent chip's but for years the igpu was a separate die connected via mcm substrate

I believe it was one year, 2010

when did it get incorporated into the cpu die?

2011, Sandy Bridge

https://www.anandtech.com/show/4118/a-closer-look-at-the-sandy-bridge-die

 

[DR4G00N]

I think part of the allure here to this chip may bring better temps and overclocking since the iGPU isnt there/disabled? I'd imagine few use it on this class of chip in the first place so to me it makes sense....especially if it is a bit cheaper.

Once a graphics card is installed the igpu is completely disabled anyway (ie. it no longer receives power). Well, unless you want it to run a second display or something. So I don't see the point of this unless they're just trying to sell chips with dead igpu's.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Wait, are they charging more?

Not that I can tell, but it seems like "journalists" these days are too lazy to do some quick research and just copy/paste from other sites.
https://verkkokauppa.accountorict.f...6124/pi_4/pl_bybrand/s_4?ffd=l-p3710-v2146024
The 9600KF (€193+VAT) is listed at around €80+VAT less there, than the 9600K.
Although the prices seem to be all over the place right now, especially as they list the 9400F at the same price as the 9600KF.
The 9600KF is going for around €180+VAT in Denmark https://www.buyblue.dk/processorer/cat-c/c36124/s_1?pfd=onp-1_pvk-e3012v1255932
This shop wants €165+VAT https://www.yritystenverkkokauppa.fi/komponentit/cat-c/c1000020/l_en/s_14
Whereas this one is closer to €276+VAT http://networkx.chainshop.eu/product/details/intel/newly-added-products/bx80684i59600kf/2440349A
It's anyone's guess what the final pricing will be.

 

[EarthDog]

Once a graphics card is installed the igpu is completely disabled anyway (ie. it no longer receives power). Well, unless you want it to run a second display or something. So I don't see the point of this unless they're just trying to sell chips with dead igpu's.

Is it? I want aware. Typically, even with a dGPU installed there is still the option to disable it in the bios. I figured it sat in deep idle.

 

[DR4G00N]

Is it? I want aware. Typically, even with a dGPU installed there is still the option to disable it in the bios. I figured it sat in deep idle.

It may be handled differently on different mobo's but at least on my Z170M OCF it just doesn't initialize the GT power phases unless a display is connected to it.

 

[Paganstomp]

Intel forgot to add the "C".

 

[bug]

these are processors with their integrated graphics either disabled or physically absent

Well, this is kind of a big deal. Because if the IGP is physically absent, the die would be smaller and thus cheaper.
Wait and see, I guess.

 

[Basard]

Intel seems to move along the same lines as car manufacturers. Let me explain. (disclaimer: not really good with cars or model names, just the general idea)

OK, everybody knows what Porsche 911 is. Good example. You go to the showroom and say: I want to buy 911. Sure what model? And then you have many models to choose from. Certainly most will take classic 911, with all bells and whistles your wallet can afford (or not if you live permanently on debit, but that's your problem ). Anyway.... but there will be 0.1% of customers which will say - No! I want track version GT98whatever-no-frills-no-bells version. And VW/Porsche will say sure, why not. Then they take normal 911, remove and strips down everything you may need in a car, fit in roll-cage and then charge say 100k$ more for that version, just so user can drive 10km/h faster on a track.

And now we have Intel. 9900K is stupidly overpriced already, but then they come-up with KF which doesn't have iGPU (poo we all agree on that) and charge even more?

Seems accurate.... Not a car guy, but you've caught a couple episodes of Top Gear...

 

[stimpy88]

Hardware fixes... Yeah, more like a firmware update, one that will be deliberately withheld from all previous models with identical architecture for "reasons", such as to make idiots think that these are actually new products, and are worth paying more money for. The sad thing is that millions of suckers probably will.

But I look forward to when a real site will actually test the so called "hardware fixes", and see what is really going on here. I don't trust Intel, they are simply taking far too long to update their architecture, and I get the feeling like they want us to all forget about what performance was like before these "fixes", so they can just brush it under the carpet, in typical Intel fashion.

Anyone wanna bet that these "hardware mitigations" are nothing more than new firmware? Just like when Intel say that a "new" CPU won't work on an old chipset or motherboard, that just has one pin different in the CPU socket, just to make sure it can't be done!

Maybe some hardware hacker will save the day.

 

[R-T-B]

Hardware fixes... Yeah, more like a firmware update, one that will be deliberately withheld from all previous models with identical architecture for "reasons", such as to make idiots think that these are actually new products, and are worth paying more money for.

No. It really does fix L1 termination fault issues. It even flags to OS to stop the mitigations for it.

It fixes nothing else, but that is real. It couldn't not be real because we already have firmware fixes, and they require the OS to cooperate. It has to be hardware if it doesn't need OS-interaction.