Computex 2018 | Intel's Cascade Lake-X 28-core HEDT CPUs to arrive in Q4 2018

Intel’s gen 7 HEDT CPUs also known as the Skylake-X included models that integrated up to 18 cores and 36 threads, but this did not really impress too many hardcore gamers, as the Skylake-X family was positioned in the US$1,000 – 2,000 price range. Instead of going for these expensive CPUs that were using an already obsolete Skylake microarchitecture, gamers preferred to stick with the more affordable AMD Threadripper for their HEDT needs. This year at Computex, Intel strikes back and presents a gen-8-based HEDT CPU (presumably the Cascade Lake-X series) that integrates no less than 28 cores and 56 threads.

Most high count core CPUs in Intel’s arsenal are either HEDT or server-related, and the more cores a CPU has, the lower its base and turbo clocks get. Last year’s 18-core CPUs had max 2.6 GHz base clocks and 4.4 GHz max turbo clocks, but this year’s 28-core showcased at Computex proved that the 5 GHz barrier is not a problem anymore. According to Anandtech, this type of CPU is most likely going to run on the LGA3647 (server-dedicated Xeon platform) socket which supports six RAM DIMMs. No further specs were disclosed for the time being, however, the 28-core system on display at Computex managed to score 7334 in Cinebench R15.

Analysts say that the new 28-core CPU could either be an EMIB (embedded multi-die interconnect bridge) model, or it could still be an XCC CPU like the Skylake-X models, but manufactured with a refined 14 nm process. Judging by the price of current server CPUs with the same core count, the 8th generation 28-core could come at an MSRP close to US$10,000. Intel’s SVP and GM of Client Computing Group Gregory Bryant stated that this model will be launching some time in Q4 this year.

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