Intel Core i9-9900KFC lacks graphics and chicken

The Intel Core i9-9900KFC chip popped up in the AIDA64 database. This new "KFC" processor is an eight-core model with 16 threads and no integrated graphics. The naming is a bit mysterious, the K indicates the chip will be overclockable, the F indicates a lack of integrated graphics, and the C is a letter that was used a couple of years ago to designate Broadwell processors with improved integrated graphics and eDRAM as a buffer between the L3 cache and the CPU.

AnandTech speculates this "KFC edition" may feature eDRAM, but it's impossible to know for sure as this part hasn't been announced yet by Intel. For the Broadwell CPUs, the eDRAM provided a small performance boost to integrated graphics workloads, but did not provide extra performance for other tasks. As such, it's a little mysterious what Intel is trying to do here.

But if the naming holds true here, then Intel might be set to offer eDRAM on its high-end eight core processors. Given that we saw benchmark performance increases only on a couple of benchmarks, it will be interesting to hear what Intel has to say about the added benefits are here. Having a non-integrated graphics part with extra hardware to improve graphics performance is like a double edged sword, except with no swords and two hilts.