As we all know, Intel is expected to release its range of 8th generation core processor called Coffee Lake on August 21, 2017. They make use of 14nm processors. Also, these processors are likely to be upgraded with 10 nm processors sometime next year and they will be called Cannon Lake which can be used for desktops as well as laptops. While we are eagerly waiting for these processors to be launched in the market, Intel gave us quite a surprise with what it calls the Ice Lake which is Intel’s 9th generation core processor.
A Peek Into The Architecture
The Ice Lake processors are also based on 10 nm + chip fabrication process. When a processor has fabrication process that is small, it uses less power and generates less heat when used. It improves the performance of efficient operations and also provides longer battery life. As with the 14 nm chips, Intel has planned to do the same with the 10 nm chips. We can expect the 10 nm, 10 nm + and 10 nm ++chips to be released soon as well.
Features
Unfortunately, not much is known about the Ice Lake lineup of processors as Intel has not revealed much about them. A major difference between the Ice Lake processor range and Intel’s previous range of processors is that the Ice Lakes will be built based on the second generation of Intel’s 10 nm node (10 nm +). This is exactly why the Ice Lake chips are expected to replace the Cannonlake chips in the year 2018. The Ice Lake processors are also expected to work in conjunction with Intel’s 500 series chipsets whereas the Kaby Lake chips are used along with Intel’s 200 series chip sets. In addition to this, word has it that the Ice Lake chips will work with Intel’s 11th generation integrated GPU chips but it has not been confirmed yet.
Performance
Compared to the performance of the third generation 14 nm Coffee Lake chips which are expected to be released this year, the first generation 10 nm Ice Lake processors will be lower. This gap in performance is expected to be filled possibly with the release of the second generation of Ice Lake chips which will be released next year. Lower capacitance and lower power consumption are some of the biggest advantages of these 10 nm chips. In these 10 nm chips, the transistor density is likely to increase by a factor of 3 which improves the performance and at the same time, it also manages the cost.
No official information regarding the Ice Lake chips has been given by Intel. On a note of speculation, the official announcement of Ice Lake chips might be made sometime late in the next year 2018 or in early 2019. However, the chips will be launched only by the middle of the year 2019. With the final generation of the 14 nm processors ready to be released, the next generation 10 nm processors will show up in no time!
