Intel has unveiled Kaby Lake, the company's 7th generation Core microprocessor, in what can be considered a mid-generation refresh.
According to Intel's press release, the new processor was built for the immersive internet, with advances made across the board, including developments that will please users who love watching 4k videos.
Kaby Lake is a revamp of the 14nm Skylake, bridging the gap until Intel launches the 10nm Cannonlake processor that is expected to be released next year.
Intel has been operating on what is known as a tick-tock strategy over the past years. The tick corresponds to the migration of an existing design into a more efficient manufacturing process, while the tock corresponds to the re-architecture of the chip with new optimizations and features.
Kaby Lake interrupts Intel's tick-tock strategy, as it is a second tock after the release of Skylake, which explains why it was not meant to be a significant upgrade to Skylake with massive power and stamina improvements. Instead, Intel focused on functions that users of new CPUs powered by Kaby Lake would do, with video on the top of that list.
According to an official press release of Intel, Kaby Lake enables users to access premium 4K ultra high-definition content with longer viewing times. Kaby Lake will also allow users to create, edit and share 4K UHD videos and 360-degree videos at speeds that are 15 times faster compared with a 5-year-old PC.
In addition to the focus on video, Kaby Lake also provides a threefold improvement in video game graphics compared with a 5-year-old PC, which will allow gamers to play on thinner and lighter laptops.
Intel also claims that the 7th generation Core chips are 10 times more efficient compared with the first generation, while the 6th generation Core chips are only eight times more efficient. Intel also improved web performance by 19 percent and the speed of productivity apps by 12 percent.
According to the recent Intel Developer Forum, Kaby Lake has already started shipping, with the first ultrathin laptops and 2-in-1 PCs powered by the processor to begin appearing in shelves this fall. There are over 100 new designs from the different PC manufacturing companies that are set to be released this year, which means that Kaby Lake would be found in many, and perhaps even most, of the computers that will be sold in this year's holiday shopping season.
In other news, one of the most important announcements that Intel recently made is Project Alloy, a virtual reality reference design that will enable the operation of a standalone wireless VR headset. The headset will work without being connected to a smartphone or PC.
