After Core i3, it looks like Intel will also be giving their Core i5 lineup multi-threading support with their 10th Gen Comet Lake lineup. The supporting evidence is once again the SiSoftware database where the desktop 10th Gen Core i5 (Comet Lake) processor has been spotted along with its preliminary specifications.

Intel's 10th Gen Core i5 Desktop CPU Spotted With With Multi-Threading Support

While not explicitly listed as a Core i5 processor, the listing shows a desktop part with 6 cores and 12 threads. Surely, there have been many 6 core processors launched by Intel recently such as the Core i7-8700K and the Core i7-8086K. Other than that, Intel also launched the 10th Gen notebook line with 6 cores and 12 threads (also part of the Comet Lake family).

The difference here, is that this entry is particularly for a desktop part which was tested on an ECS H470-SF110 platform. So once again, the chip tested features 6 cores and 12 threads. There's only the base clock mentioned that is configured at 2.00 GHz, hinting at an early 'ES' SKU. There's also 3 MB of L2 and 12 MB of L3 cache on the processor. This is also a month older entry than the Core i3 one which we saw earlier which might explain the lower clock speeds.

This entry is another proof that Intel is bringing multi-threading support across their entire 10th Gen lineup. The Intel Core i3 models will get 4 cores and 8 threads, the Core i5 models will get 6 cores and 12 threads, the Core i7 models will get 8 cores and 16 threads and lastly, the Core i9 models will get 10 cores and 20 threads. In short, here's what's going to happen, the 10th Gen Core i3 replaces the 7th Gen desktop flagship, the 10th Gen Core i5 replaces the 8th Gen desktop flagship, the 10th Gen Core i7 replaces the 9th Gen Core i9 flagship and the 10th Gen Core i9 will retain its top position as the new flagship of the lineup.

That's a pretty decent lineup in my opinion, especially when looking at the clock speed advantage that Intel has with their 14nm+++ process node and they still retain a slight IPC lead over AMD Ryzen processors.

In my previous post, I explained that while Core i3 getting multi-threading support is good news, the bulk of Intel mainstream sales used to come from Core i5 and Core i7 models. With Ryzen 3000 and persistent supply issues, that's not the case anymore. The Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 3rd Gen lineup has completely demolished Intel's mainstream parts, but if priced right, Intel's Core i5, and Core i7 may once again become a popular product line for mainstream users.

If Intel's prices are anything to go by, the flagship Core i9 10 core / 20 thread chip could hit a retail price of around $500 US. How is that possible? Well, Intel has already priced their HEDT processor, the Core i9-10900X which boasts 10 cores and 20 threads at $590 US. The processor has up to 4.7 GHz boost clocks and 13.75 MB of L3 cache and a 125W TDP. Considering that Intel charged a huge premium for their previous 8 core HEDT chip, the Core i7-7820X at $600 US compared to the main-stream part which retailed at $480 US, Intel could give us a very competitive chip against the Ryzen 9 3900X. Even the 9th Gen HEDT Core i9-9900X retails for $900 US which is a huge premium when compared to the upcoming 10 core HEDT model.

More recently, an alleged slide detailing the Comet Lake-based 10th Generation desktop lineup leaked out which can be seen below (rumored and not confirmed):

Intel 10th Gen 'Comet Lake' CPU Lineup 'Alleged' Specifications: