Intel Debuts 9th-Generation Core Chips, Including Core I9 And X-Series Parts, With A Few Twists

Hyper-Threading suddenly becomes scarce, and the stunning 28-core chip is Xeon only.

- Mark Hachman

Intel unveiled its 9th-generation Core desktop chips in early October with the notable omission of a key feature: Hyper-Threading, at least on all but the most exclusive Core i9-9900K for mainstream PCs. Hyper-Threading has also been reserved for a new iteration of Intel’s X-series processors, which includes up to 18 cores and 36 threads.

In a livestream from its Fall Launch Event in New York, the company announced just a single Core i9 chip, the $488 Core i9-9900K. Later, the company privately revealed two others in the Core i7 and Core i5 families. Intel also announced a new series of X-class chips for gamers, ranging from 8 cores and 16 threads through 18 cores and 36 threads. Prices will range from $589 to $1,979.

What this means for you:

It’s certainly fair to say that Intel surprised us all with the unexpected shift of its upcoming 28-core chip to the Xeon family, as well as the announcement of the X-series chips, too. And what’s the deal with Hyper-Threading? Intel’s announcement certainly adds some new topics to talk about in the months ahead.

Part of the confusion was due to what Intel was expected to announce: a family of new 9th-gen chips, from Core i3s up through the Core i9, and how it did so. On the publicly available livestream, the company revealed only the presence of the Core i9-9900K, as well as the presence of the new X-series parts. Later, after the livestream had concluded, Intel fleshed out the remaining members of the K-series parts, and disclosed the price and performance of the X-series parts.

However, Intel didn’t even mention what many enthusiasts wanted to know: why only the i9-9900K, out of all of Intel’s mainstream parts, boasts the Hyper-Threading feature.