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An Intel website leaked some details of the Intel Core i7-8809G, a "Kaby Lake" desktop CPU with on-package AMD Radeon graphics and High Bandwidth Memory 2.0. While it is listed as an 8th-generation part, 8th-generation "Coffee Lake" CPUs for desktop users have up to 6 cores (in other words, Intel has been releasing multiple microarchitectures as "8th-generation"). The i7-8809G may be officially announced at the Consumer Electronics Show next week.
The components are linked together using what Intel calls "embedded multi-die interconnect bridge technology" (EMIB). The thermal design power (TDP) of the entire package is around 100 Watts:
Intel at the original launch did state that they were using Core-H grade CPUs for the Intel with Radeon Graphics products, which would mean that the CPU portion is around 45W. This would lead to ~55W left for graphics, which would be in the RX 550 level: 8 CUs, 512 SPs, running at 1100 MHz. It is worth nothing that AMD already puts up to 10 Vega CUs in its 15W processors, so with the Intel i7-8809G product Intel has likely has gone wider and slower: judging by the size of the silicon in the mockup, this could be more of a 20-24 CU design built within that 55W-75W window, depending on how the power budget is moved around between CPU and GPU. We await more information, of course.
It is rumored to include 4 GB of HBM2 on-package, while the CPU also supports DDR4-2400 memory. Two cheaper EMIB CPUs have been mentioned:
According to some other media, the 8809G will turbo to 4.1 GHz, while the graphics will feature 24 [compute units (CUs)] (1536 [stream processors (SPs)]) running at 1190 MHz while the HBM2 is 4GB and will run at 800 MHz. The same media are also listing the Core i7-8705G (20 CUs, 1000 MHz on 'Vega M GL', 700 MHz on HBM2) and a Core i7-8706G. None of the information from those sources is yet to be verified by AnandTech or found on an official Intel webpage.
Currently available AMD Ryzen Mobile APUs only include 8-10 Vega CUs. These are mobile chips with a maximum TDP of 25 W; no desktop Ryzen chips with integrated graphics have been announced yet.
Previously: Intel Announces Core H Laptop Chips With AMD Graphics and High Bandwidth Memory
(Score: 1) by waximius on Tuesday January 02 2018, @10:18PM (2 children)
Thank you, great information. One follow up to your point:
I didn't mean to imply that I thought this configuration was useless, but that it applies to a limited market segment. Based on what you say though, I can see that the segment is much broader than I initially thought. If I understand right, the on-package GPU could be used for rendering lighter weight things, and a full video card could still be added and utilized for heavier weight applications like gaming. It's not an "either-or" situation, but a "yes-and".
I like that as long as an Intel+GPU combo doesn't speed up obsolescence. My current configuration of CPU + video card runs just fine 10 years after I built it. I've upgraded to an SSD, and upgraded my video card multiple times, but am still using a Core-i7 920 and only have 6GB RAM. The longevity of that processor has been amazing, and I'm just now thinking I should upgrade the CPU. Having the GPU on-chip scares me only because I feel like I need to upgrade my video card somewhat regularly (based on need, but games require better hardware every year).
In any case, thanks for the response, very informative.
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Tuesday January 02 2018, @10:45PM
The combination of an on-package GPU and the High Bandwidth Memory may have some advantages over discrete GPUs. Moving everything closer together helps overcome certain limits:
http://www.nersc.gov/users/computational-systems/cori/application-porting-and-performance/using-on-package-memory/ [nersc.gov]
Some users want smaller form factors, for Home Theater PCs (HTPCs) for example. This kind of on-package stuff might be cheaper than using a discrete GPU, with lower power consumption, but with better performance than integrated graphics. It might be worth it.
Also, I was not sure when writing the summary, but I think both the Intel integrated graphics and AMD Radeon Vega graphics may be included on these chips. In which case you might have a setup well suited to newer graphics APIs like Vulkan which can take advantage of these disparate assets.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by LoRdTAW on Wednesday January 03 2018, @03:12AM
There are plenty of use cases where the on die GPU is basically a necessity, even if it is low end. One I forgot to mention is that I think chrome renders pages on the GPU if supported. Then there is GPU 3D accelerated desktop compositing window managers. All that is used on business desktops daily.
My Linux box is an AMD A10 APU which has plenty of CPU and GPU to do all the basics for development stuff and web browsing. Though I now wish it would morph into a Ryzen but I'm not spending money on it just to have it as I don't need all that CPU.