Intel’s 10th processor generation Comet Lake S – what’s behind it

With its tenth generation of processors, Intel offers impressively fast computing power for all users – from online shoppers to gaming enthusiasts. But what are the differences between the individual models? And for whom is which processor worthwhile? In this article, we provide information about the most important innovations, features and use cases.

Faster and more powerful – the new Comet Lake S Chips

The Comet-Lake range for desktop computers is suitable for home or office computers. The 32 available chips come in different versions – from the basic version with two cores to the high-end version with ten high-performance cores and multithreading. The chips are all higher clocked than the previous models. A higher clock generally ensures that applications run faster.

Multithreading options extended

Multithreading means that several task strings can be processed in parallel on one processor core. The benefits are easy to see: CPU power is better utilized and tasks are completed faster.

However, multithreading also brings great advantages in the high-end segment. For example, the 10-core i9 processor offers 20 threads and thus enables the parallel processing of several particularly computationally intensive tasks, such as rendering a video while streaming a movie or even playing a computer game.

Boost function

Starting with the i3 version, individual cores can be clocked up for a short time under high load. Intelligent mechanisms recognize when more computing power is required for a specific task on a particular core and can automatically accelerate it. Starting with the i9 models, a single core can be accelerated up to 5.3 GHz – or all cores can be accelerated to 4.9 GHz for short periods. For gamers, the rule of thumb is still that high clock speeds are more important for a smooth gaming experience than a particularly large number of cores. In this respect, gaming fans should not lose sight of single-thread performance when buying.

Which model for which application?

Which model is the best choice depends mainly on one’s own needs and user behaviour. Basically there are three different areas of application: Basic class for office work and surfing the Internet, middle class for normal applications and games and the upper class for enthusiasts, elaborate video editing and sophisticated games.

Basic models for easy use: Celeron and Pentium Gold

The entry level models at Intel are the Celeron, Pentium Gold and i3 series. In the latest generation of Comet Lake chips, the Celeron and Pentium Gold models each have two cores, whereas Pentium Gold allows four threads to run in parallel. The basic clock rate is between 3.2 and 4.2 GHz, depending on the model. i3 has four cores throughout, and in the Comet-Lake series a basic clock rate between 3.0 and 3.8 GHz.

Even two cores can already be sufficient, for example if you only want to use the computer for simple office applications such as reading emails, editing texts or moderate internet surfing – especially with the multithreading function. The main advantage here is the low price.

Allrounder in the basic segment: the i3 series

The four-core i3 series already has a little more power, so it is suitable for normal applications that you use every day. Online shopping, image editing, playing videos or working with complex Excel spreadsheets is no problem for these processors. Even games are already possible with four cores. In this sense, the i3 series is a good compromise with a particularly good price-performance ratio.

The middle class already has a lot of power: i5 series

Middle class processors in the Comet Lake range are mainly the i5 models. They have six cores, which is especially interesting for gamers, as new games increasingly benefit from many cores. The basic clock rate of the lowest models is 2.0, the basic clock rate of the highest models is 4.1 GHz.

In addition to gaming, computers with these processors are also suitable for video and sound editing. Even in the middle class, you have a solid tool for a wide range of computationally intensive tasks.

More is more: Upper class models of the i7 series

The new i7 model from Intel consistently counts eight cores, clocked between 2.0 and 3.8 GHz. This paves the way for even more computationally intensive games, but also for complex applications such as 4K video editing or working with particularly large amounts of data. The chips of the upper class also manage well to run several programs at the same time, such as several Excel spreadsheets, a data analysis tool and an image processing program.

These computers are very suitable for gaming enthusiasts. All common games should run smoothly. But also people who work with large amounts of data will be satisfied with the performance of the i7 processors.

The new high-flyers: i9 processors of the Comet Lake series

Can we get more power? Intel’s new i9 chips with ten cores provide the answer. Depending on the model, the basic clock rate is between 1.9 and 3.7 GHz. They are the absolute premium models for power users, so to speak. Due to their high performance, this series is primarily intended for enthusiasts for whom every frame counts or who want to have the latest and fastest technology without compromise.

The true strength of these processors only becomes apparent in special cases such as editing 4K videos or combining applications. If you want to render a video and start another complex program or even play a video game while waiting, the i9 series can do it without any problems.

Tip: When using such computationally intensive applications in parallel, good cooling should be ensured.

Attention when buying – Overview of the abbreviations

The processors are available in different versions. The biggest differences here are the integrated graphics cards, which are not included in all models, and the possibility of overclocking, which is given with two shortcuts. Here it is important to pay attention and weigh up exactly what is needed.

• T: These models are more economical in consumption and particularly energy efficient. However, they have a lower clock speed than other models. So they are useful when less power can be traded in for lower consumption without slowing the user down.
• K: A K in the name indicates that the models can be overclocked and have a higher clock rate. Overclocking is achieved by adjusting the multiplier, which can only be adjusted in K versions. The clock frequency is the product of the base frequency and the multiplier. To reach 4 GHz at a base frequency of 100 MHz the multiplier must therefore be set to 40. This is especially useful for gamers or users with particularly computationally intensive programs. Attention: These models are delivered without a cooler, as they require a correspondingly higher quality cooling solution. A cooler matching the base should therefore be ordered as well, if not already in possession.
• F: These models do not have an integrated graphics card. Therefore a separate graphics card is required to get the PC ready for operation.
• KF: These models combine the variants K and F and are mainly aimed at gamers, as they allow higher clock rates and require an existing graphics card.
• Without abbreviation: The standard version with integrated graphics card and cooler.

Further information about the system behind the product names can be found here.

Last tips for choosing the right processor

When selecting a processor, don’t be blinded by record-breaking numbers. Determine in advance exactly what you need and which model makes the most sense for you. You should also take into account that it is not only the number of processor cores that is responsible for the smooth running of a computer. The graphics card, memory and hard drive are equally important and should not be ignored.

Also, do not rely solely on information from the data sheet. The numbers give you important information for classification. However, if you want to know more, you should also take a look at benchmark tests. There you will find information about performance under real conditions and often tested over a long period of time, on the basis of which you can make an informed purchase decision.