Images of the packaging for Intel’s upcoming 8th generation desktop processors have been spotted soon after the official announcement of the Kaby Lake-R mobile CPUs. To be more specific, the retail boxes that were shown are that of the 8th generation Core i5 and Core i7 desktop CPUs.
Looking at the description found on the packaging of both the upcoming 8th generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7, it can clearly be seen that they will feature six CPU cores. In addition, only Core i7 processors will feature Intel’s HyperThreading technology; a depature from the traditional route of putting the technology on the Core i5. That said, what’s even more intriguing is the fact these retail boxes also contain note that they require “Intel 300-series chipset-based motherboard.”
This, of course, means that Intel’s upcoming lineup of 8th generation desktop-grade processors will only be compatible with 300-series motherboards and are not backwards compatible. Despite this, it remains to be seen whether 300-series motherboards will be compatible with older Intel CPUs like Skylake and Kaby Lake.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that Intel’s new desktop CPUs will feature the company’s UHD Graphics 630 iGPU. Interestingly, Intel is now branding its integrated graphics solution as “UHD” instead of “HD.” Regardless, as mentioned by Intel in its livestream last night, its desktop-based 8th generation family of processors will only be officially launched sometime in autumn 2017.
(Source: AnandTech, TechPowerUp)
