2x performance boost compared to a 5-year-old PC

Gregory Bryant

The pace of innovation in the IT industry is astonishing. Just five years ago, "thin" laptops were over two centimeters thick, 4K content was emerging, and Oculus had just launched its Kickstarter campaign. Compare this to today: laptops are now less than 1.1 centimeters thick, 4K content is widespread, and the advent of Windows Mixed Reality has made virtual reality (VR) a daily operating system.

What Intel is doing today is a bit like waiting for a total solar eclipse. The last one happened 100 years ago. If you weren't on the right path to experience a total solar eclipse, you'd miss the whole moment, even if you knew it was coming from the beginning. Today's event is no different. People around the world can be part of this moment, but the 450 million people using computers more than five years old will experience it very differently because they won't be able to experience the breathtaking detail of the original live stream, the vivid images that follow, and the content people will create and share in the future.

These are the things that inspire you to push the boundaries with the 8th Gen Intel® Core™ processor. From 4K to virtual reality and beyond, we wanted to embrace and enhance the amazing innovations that surround us, while making them accessible to everyone. Today, I'm excited to share for the first time how we're making this happen with the new 8th Gen Intel Core processors. Starting today, Intel is unveiling the 8th Gen family of products, starting with a range of mobile processors specifically designed for thin and light premium laptops and 2-in-1s.

This new mobile product line sets a new standard for incredible performance, delivering up to 40% performance gains over the previous generation and up to 2x performance gains compared to a five-year-old PC. This is made possible by a new quad-core configuration, power-efficient microarchitecture, advanced process technologies, and extensive silicon optimizations. These performance improvements also enable richer, more immersive entertainment and optimized experiences. Best of all, all of this is possible without compromising battery life. In fact, you can enjoy 10 hours of 4K UHD local video playback on a single battery charge[iii].

Here are some examples of the results that these performance improvements will bring:

• When editing photos or creating slideshows, 8th Gen Intel Core processors are up to 48% faster[iv] than their predecessors from last year. Compare it to a 5 year old device.

• Video editing tasks are up to 14.7x faster[v], so tasks that took 45 minutes on a 5-year-old PC now take just 3 minutes.

• Enjoying your favorite content in 4K UHD is easier than ever. Enjoy all the new content coming soon to Amazon Prime Video and Vudu, as well as content already available on Netflix, Sony Pictures ULTRA, and iQiyi.

• Enjoy even more immersive experiences with new features like Windows Mixed Reality, as well as Thunderbolt 3 external graphics (up to 4K) for advanced gaming and virtual reality.

Devices featuring the 8th generation Intel Core i5/i7 processors will be available starting in September, and Intel expects to offer over 145 designs. Furthermore, the 8th generation Intel Core processors will continue to launch this fall with a range of products built for desktops, enterprise customers, and a variety of other applications. Furthermore, the 8th generation family will include Intel's first 10nm process products.

Beyond the incredible advancements in technology, one of the best things about the 8th Gen Intel Core processor lineup is its scalability. The wide range of options opens the door to endless opportunities for Intel's partners and the entire ecosystem. This means customers can choose from hundreds of design options spanning all shapes and sizes. And the common denominator that underpins all of this? Amazing performance. Performance not only simplifies the tasks people perform today, but also enables the experiences of tomorrow.

We'll be sharing more details about the 8th generation product line via a Facebook Live stream at 8:00 a.m. PDT (0:00 a.m. Korean time on August 22, 2017). This will include a first look at some of the devices powered by the 8th generation product line, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a new virtual reality experience we'll be bringing to people around the world to enjoy today's eclipse. It's always amazing what happens when everything comes together, isn't it?