Intel Core i3-8350K and Core i3-8100 Leaked

In just a few short weeks, Intel will release their new 8th gen processors. Coffee Lake is expected to be an incremental update on the current architecture. At the same time, Intel may shake up the mainstream lineup. So far, we already have hexacore models all but officially confirmed by leaks. In what may be the biggest shift since the launch of the Core series, there are now quad core i3 models. As expected, there are more than one.

Coffee Lake uses the 14nm process from Kaby Lake and the architecture from Skylake. Intel has further optimised the design, claiming a 30% performance increase from the same power draw. Part of this performance increase is likely due to an increased core count. The top mainstream core count goes from 4 cores 8 threads to 6 cores and 12 threads. The Core i3 lineup is also expected to make a jump as well from 2 cores to 4 cores.

Intel Coffee Lake Core i3 CPUs May Lack HyperThreading

Sitting below the Core i3 8300, we have the i3 8100. The 8100 clocks in at 3.6 GHz with 6MB of L3 cache and a 65W TDP. The Core i3 8350K is the unlocked version of the 8300. It clocks in at 4 GHz out of the box with a 91W TDP and 8MB of L3 cache. As expected of the i3 segment, there is no Turbo Boost. More intriguing is the lack of HyperThreading in this report. This goes against earlier leaks that suggested 4 cores and 8 threads for the i3 lineup.

With the launch so close, eager consumers won’t have long to wait. Intel has a chance to dramatically shake up their mainstream lineup. AMD has already done so with their impressive Ryzen lineup. By moving more cores to the low end, developers will see greater incentive to optimize for more cores. Hopefully, Intel will deliver in not just the performance aspect but offer lower prices for entry quad core and higher users.