CES 2019: Intel’s 10nm Ice Lake processors ready for prime-time, 5G modem in the works

Intel’s much-delayed 10nm-based Ice Lake family of processors are finally ready for prime-time. The chip-maker announced at CES 2019 that OEM devices powered by Intel’s next-generation Ice Lake processors – based on its new Sunny Cove microarchitecture -- will be available for buying later this year. Intel is touting Thunderbolt 3, Wi-Fi 6, and DL Boost (deep learning boost), as key features. 

“Ice Lake brings a new level of integration with Intel’s new Sunny Cove microarchitecture, instruction sets to accelerate AI usage and a graphics engine, and Intel Gen11 graphics to improve graphics performance for richer gaming and content creation experiences,” the company said in a statement. 

Ice Lake is Intel’s first 10nm-based product which was supposed to launch back in 2016 as Cannon Lake. There were also rumors, at one point of time, that Intel may shelf its 10nm plans altogether. Only it did not, and in December last year it announced a rethink of its chip design: and now it has released Ice Lake for mass market. Clearly, it took a long time coming, but now that it has, it would be interesting to see how soon OEMs can get on-board with Intel to launch the first wave of Ice Lake-powered devices.  

Ice Lake isn’t the only seemingly futuristic tech that Intel is working on right now. While Ice Lake seems all well and good, it is another product, that stole the limelight at Intel’s CES 2019. It was a tiny thing called Lakefield. Intel’s smallest PC motherboard PC, aka Lakefield is based on a 10nm hybrid CPU architecture and uses its recently announced 3D Foveros packaging, making a strong case for 11-inch and lower form factors: it’s crazy. Lakefield is also expected to go into production this year, Intel has announced. 

Moving on, Intel launched six new 9th generation Core processors, from Core i3 to Core i9, and announced that 9th generation Core mobile will be coming in the second quarter of 2019. Moreover, Intel is also working on a 5G modem due for release by the end of this year.

For Real-Time updates on CES 2019 check out our live blog, here.