Intel launches four new Tiger Lake desktop processors for small form-factor machines

Intel has unveiled four new 10nm Tiger Lake desktop processors out of the blue, in what could be the most bizarre launch we've seen so far. The information comes from Intel's ark database, so we know for sure that it is legit. There are four models in total: the Intel Core i9-11900KB, Core i7-11700B, Core i5-11500B, and Core i3-11100B. It is also worth noting that the 'B' suffix indicates they use a BGA (Ball Grid Array) socket. Intel told us the following in a statement:

Intel has partnered with customers interested in expanding their product portfolio with enthusiast, small form-factor desktop designs. The Intel Core i9-11900KB processor is a BGA solution built with unique specifications and performance specifically for these designs.

Starting with the top-of-the-line Intel Core i9-11900KB, we get an eight-core, sixteen-thread processor clocked at 3.3GHz. It can turbo up to 4.9GHz under ordinary circumstances and 5.3GHz using Intel's Thermal Velicity Boost- all at a TDP of 65W. Its younger sibling, the Intel Core i7-11700B, is pretty much identical in core count and TDP but scales down the base and turbo clock speeds to 3.2GHz and 4.8GHz, respectively. Both processors ship with 24MB of cache.

Moving on to the middle-of-the-pack Intel Core i5-11500B, we get a six-core, twelve-thread part clocked at 3.3GHz. Lastly, the entry-level Intel Core i3-11100B is a four-core, eight-thread SKU with a base clock of 3.6GHz. Refer to the attached images for the full specifications of each model. All four models come with the same iGPU found on Tiger Lake chips.

For some reason, PCIe support is restricted to Gen 3 on all models. While all four CPUs are technically classified as desktop parts, they are little more than Tiger Lake chips repurposed for small form factor PCs. The additional 20W headroom could come in handy, though. With proper cooling (and a dedicated GPU) they could offer heretofore-unseen levels of performance. Nonetheless, it'll be interesting to see these new CPUs in action due to their peculiar position in the Intel's product stack.

Buy the Intel Core i7-11700K on Amazon