Just when you think that computers couldn’t get any better, manufacturers pump out new CPU processors that completely change the game.
Some of those releases have a lasting impact on the industry as a whole. For example, the Ryzen 3000 release has caused an increase in the number of powerful budget CPUs.
How so? Well, the release caused Intel to drop prices on almost all of their processors. This made building high-powered machines accessible to a much wider audience.
2019 was a massive year for CPUs. It brought about the release of some impressive hardware.
Despite some security issues arising at both AMD & Intel, both companies are reassuring customers that these have been taken care of.
Thanks to the growing demand for high-powered processors, 2020 is poised to be even better. Here are some of the most anticipated CPU releases to look out for in 2020.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3990x
The upcoming Threadripper 3990x from AMD is going to be one of the powerful processors on the market.
It’s the world’s first 64-core processor. This isn’t going to be your average CPU that’s marketed towards average gamers or PC builders.
Instead, it’s meant for creators who perform resource-heavy operations regularly. Think special effects artists and film studios.
With 64 and 128 threads, the CPU has more than enough juice to handle any task. The processor will also be sporting up to 228MB of combined cache, allowing it to access data sets in record time.
It’s a powerhouse processor that’s going to push the limits of what computers can do. The CPU has already been used by major motion picture studios, so the proof is out there for us to see.
If you’re planning on streaming, which is a great online side-hustle idea, the 3990x will be the perfect CPU for you.
Many new streamers fail due to their processors, even though top-tier, are not able to support live streaming and playing a video game at the highest graphics settings at the same time.
AMD hasn’t announced an official release date yet. However, the company did confirm that it will hit the market sometime in 2020.
If you’re thinking about investing in the CPU, get ready to shell out some big bucks.
It’s reportedly going to cost almost twice as much as the current Threadripper 3970x.
Intel Tiger Lake
Unveiled at CES 2020, one of Intel’s upcoming chips is specifically designed for lightweight laptops.
It’s meant to improve upon the mobile Ice Lake CPUs, which was a 10nm processor released in 2019.
Not a lot is known about Tiger Lake just yet. But, it’s said to have some impressive capabilities when it comes to graphics.
Intel’s new Xe graphic’s architecture will be used on the CPU. This will provide vast graphical improvements to thinner laptops.
Typically, ultrabooks aren’t known for being great for gaming. However, Tiger Lake is supposedly going to change that by making HD gaming possible.
The processor will also have some great AI capabilities. AI improvement will make quick tasks like quick photo editing possible.
Software developers can take advantage of the built-in AI to create apps that weren’t possible for ultra-light laptops before.
Intel stated during their CES press conference that the chip will ship to original equipment manufacturers sometime during the summer of 2020, making it available to consumers in the latter part of the year.
Intel Ice Lake Desktop CPU
Intel launched 10nm processors for mobile computers in 2019, but the CPU makers have yet to release the 10nm processors for desktops just yet.
The rumors for a 10nm processor have been a bit shaky. Intel has admitted that they’ve fallen a bit behind when it comes to smaller processor technology.
Originally, there were reports that Intel wouldn’t release a 10nm desktop processor at all.
However, Intel has refuted that claim. The company’s Canadian country manager stated that we would see them in early 2020. No exact release date has been announced yet.
Intel’s Ice Lake line of mobile processors has been a big hit, so there’s a lot of demand for a desktop variant.
The tiny 10nm transistors offer high performance with low power consumption.
Thanks to the small footprint of the processors, manufacturers would be able to take advantage of higher density. Intel has an established schedule detailing their nanometer transistor plans for the future.
So, we’re just waiting to see when the current 10nm desktop CPUs fit into those plans.
Intel Comet Lake
Announced in late 2019, Intel’s Comet Lake processors are an iteration of the popular 14nm Skylake architecture.
The CPUs are part of Intel’s 10th Generation Core line. It’s believed that Comet Lake is a direct response to AMD’s growing popularity in the market.
Following AMD’s release of the Ryzen, Intel has had to develop some compelling hardware to keep up.
Like the brand’s current Ice Lake hardware, Comet Lake is another processor built for laptop devices.
Details are a bit sparse, but EEC registration shows that high-end i9 processors will have 10 cores and 20-thread processors.
This particular model is said to provide a 5.1 GHz boost. Leaked benchmarks show that the CPU will run at a higher clock speed than the AMD’s Ryzen 9, despite it having 2 fewer cores.
In addition to the laptop processor, Intel is reportedly planning on releasing a variant for consumer desktops, too. Called Comet Lake-S, the Core i9 version of these chips will also have 10 cores.
They’re said to have Hyperthreading, improving performance even more. The lowest model, the Core i3, will have 4 cores and 8 threads.
Intel is said to be releasing the processors very soon. Official announcements haven’t been made, but they’re expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2020.
AMD Ryzen 4000 Series
With the upcoming release of the Ryzen 4000, AMD is poised to continue with its streak of success.
These mobile processors were announced at CES 2020, competing with Intel’s Tiger Lake CPUs.
Like Tiger Lake, these processors will be used on ultrathin laptops. However, it’s specifically geared toward gaming laptops.
The 4000 series is set to provide a 10 to 20 percent performance boost of previous generations.
The CPU is built on AMD’s 7nm Zen 2 architecture. It’s going to provide impressive performance capabilities, ensuring that laptops are highly responsive.
Not only that, but the chips are more power-efficient, allowing you to game for longer. They also will have Radeon graphics and Radeon Software Adrenalin.
The mobile processors will have 8 cores and 16 threads. According to AMD, the chips will offer up to 4 percent better single-thread performance than other CPUs on the market.
When it comes to multithread performance, the company is saying the 4000 series will have 90 percent greater performance than the competitors.
Not only will the processors benefit gamers by improving physics simulation and responsiveness, but the CPUs will also help with resource-heavy software. The processors are going to be able to improve tasks like 4k encoding.
No concrete information has been released in regards to a release date. However, if AMD’s release history is anything to show for it, you should start seeing laptops sporting Ryzen 4000 processors by the end of the first quarter of 2020.
Conclusion
As you can see, there’s a lot to look forward to in 2020! The CPU market is only getting more competitive.
While Intel has had a tight grip on the industry for many years, AMD is continuing to create some innovative hardware.
This stiff competition has only pushed CPU technology further. Whether you’re building your own desktop PC or you’re looking to get a high-powered laptop in 2020, you have some great processor options at your disposal.
