Intel's new 9th-gen desktop CPUs ditch their integrated GPUs to take on AMD

[sincity]

With the launch of AMD's hotly-anticipated Ryzen 3rd Generation processors just around the corner – the new CPUs are expected to be officially unveiled this Wednesday, January 9 at AMD's CES 2019 conference – Intel has today used its CES event to finally announce it's adding six more 9th-gen Core processors, ranging from Core i3 to Core i9, set to release soon.

The new processors join the company's three existing 'flagship' 9th-generation desktop chips, which launched in October last year – the Core i5-9600K, i7-9700K and i9-9900K – as well as the 9th-generation X-series for HEDT systems. 

Intel's didn't officially announce full details of these new processors, but we've been able to dig up information on all six of them by searching for these model names in Intel's ARK product database:

• Intel Core i3-9350KF: 4-cores, 4-threads, no integrated graphics, clocked at 4.0GHz to 4.6GHz
• Intel Core i5-9400: 6-cores, 6-threads, Intel UHD Graphics 630, clocked at 2.9GHz to 4.1GHz
• Intel Core i5-9400F: 6-cores, 6-threads, no integrated graphics, clocked at 2.9GHz to 4.1GHz
• Intel Core i5-9600KF: 6-cores, 6-threads, no integrated graphics, clocked at 3.7GHz to 4.1GHz
• Intel Core i7-9700KF: 8-cores, 8-threads, no integrated graphics, clocked at 3.6GHz to 4.9GHz
• Intel Core i9-9900KF: 8-cores, 16-threads, no integrated graphics, clocked at 3.6GHz to 5.0GHz

What's perhaps most intriguing about them is that five of the six new chips appear to be part of a brand new F-series of processors, which have removed the integrated graphics – likely in an attempt to reduce the cost.

Somewhat surprisingly, Intel didn't expressly mention the F-series or these new GPU-less processors at its press conference. It seems the new line-up is likely aimed at tackling AMD's Ryzen family of processors, which largely offer better bang for buck than their Intel equivalents. 

With many mid-range and higher-end PCs still coming equipped with a dedicated graphics card, Intel's integrated chips often go to waste, so offering a range of cheaper, GPU-less processors may help Intel win back some of the value-oriented market segment that it's recently been losing to AMD.

We've asked Intel for confirmation of these details and for a comment on the F-series, and will update this story with further information as it comes to hand. 

• Want more CES 2019 highlights? TechRadar is hands-on with 8K TVs and foldable, rollable displays, along with new laptops and Alexa-enabled smart gadgets. Check out everything we've seen, live from Las Vegas!

View the full article