Intel has officially unveiled today its new 7th Gen “Kaby Lake” Core processors, the third Intel PC chips to use the 14-nanometer process after “Broadwell” and “Skylake” released in 2014 and 2015, respectively. While the latest chips bring the usual performance boosts and power efficiency improvements, the chip maker claims that Kaby Lake is the first Intel chip do deliver true ultra HD 4K entertainment:
Intel Core extends the benefits of Intel’s industry leading 14nm process technology, delivering even more performance. It also introduces a new media engine that opens up a new world of premium 4K UHD content – for viewing, streaming, creating and sharing. The result is new PCs that have incredible performance and responsiveness, richer visuals with better integrated graphics, more refined and expanded user experiences, longer battery life, and the ability to take full advantage of the immersive internet.
A few other highlights:
- Kaby Lake will deliver “up to 12 percent faster productivity performance1 and up to 19 percent faster web performance” over the previous generation
- The new chips will also allow users to enjoy enjoy up to 9.5 hours of 4K video playback
- Intel also promises “more than 70 percent faster mobile productivity” as well as “3.5x better 3D graphics performance” than a 5 year old PC.
The chip maker expect OEMs to start shipping the first devices featuring 7 th Gen Intel Core m3, Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors in the fall, with “more than 100 different 2 in 1s and laptops powered by 7th Gen Intel Core to be available starting in September through this holiday season.”
While it remain to be seen if these latest processors will help PC manufacturers put an end to the overall decline in PC shipments, the chip maker that it will reveal more details about the rest of the 7th Gen Intel Core family for desktops and enterprise PCs “early next year.” Let us know in the comments if the performance and power efficiency improvements promised by Kaby Lake could push you to upgrade your current PC in the coming months.
