Kaby Lake is the seventh generation of Intel’s Core microprocessor family, manufactured using a 14-nanometer fabrication technology. It represents the optimized stage of Intel’s new process architecture optimization model. Kaby Lake started shipping to manufacturers and OEMs in the second quarter of 2016 and became officially introduced in January 2017. In August 2017, Intel announced Kaby Lake Refresh as the 8th generation of mobile CPUs. Skylake was supposed to be superseded by the 10-nanometer Cannon Lake, but it was delayed until the second half of 2017. Intel then released a fourth 14-nm generation called Coffee Lake in October 2017.
FAQ on Kaby Lake Microprocessor Family
Kaby Lake is Intel’s seventh-generation Core microprocessor family announced in August 2016, manufactured using a 14-nanometer fabrication technology. In this section, we provide answers to some frequently asked questions.
What is Kaby Lake?
Kaby Lake is the codename for the seventh generation of the Core microprocessor family manufactured by Intel in August 2016. It is an optimized stage of the newer process architecture optimization model and is manufactured using a 14-nanometer fabrication technology.
When did Kaby Lake begin shipping to manufacturers and OEMs?
Kaby Lake began shipping to manufacturers and OEMs in the second quarter of 2016, and mobile chips were already shipping, while Kaby Lake (desktop) chips were officially introduced in January 2017.
What is Kaby Lake Refresh?
In August 2017, Intel announced Kaby Lake Refresh as the 8th generation of mobile CPUs, breaking the long cycle of matching architectures with corresponding CPU generations. Kaby Lake Refresh was marketed as having improved power efficiency, performance, and security features compared to the earlier Kaby Lake microprocessors.
What was the reason for delaying Cannon Lake?
Skylake was expected to be superseded by the 10-nanometer Cannon Lake, but in July 2015, it was announced that Cannon Lake was delayed until the second half of 2017. The reason for this delay was due to some complications in the development of the 10-nanometer fabrication technology.
What Makes Kaby Lake Microprocessor Family Different?
In this section, we will discuss what sets Kaby Lake apart from its predecessors and what makes it unique.
Manufacturing and Design Model
Unlike Intel’s earlier “tick-tock” manufacturing and design model, Kaby Lake represents the optimized stage of the newer process architecture optimization model. The optimization step helps Intel to increase performance and efficiency by focusing on key areas such as power consumption, transistor density, and interconnectivity.
CPU Generations and Matching Architectures
Kaby Lake Refresh broke the long cycle of matching architectures with corresponding CPU generations. It offered improved power efficiency, performance, and security features compared to earlier microprocessors in the Kaby Lake family.
Delay of Cannon Lake
Although Cannon Lake was expected to replace Skylake as Intel’s next generation of microprocessors, it was delayed due to complications in the development of the 10-nanometer fabrication technology. This delay allowed Intel to release a fourth 14-nm generation called Coffee Lake on October 5, 2017, to improve performance and efficiency.
Performance and Power Efficiency
The Kaby Lake microprocessor family offered improved performance and power efficiency, compared to the previous generation of processors. Kaby Lake Refresh further improved power efficiency, performance and offered security features. The microprocessors have been used in laptops, desktops, servers, and other computing devices.
The final word
The Kaby Lake microprocessor family is the seventh generation of Intel’s Core microprocessor family. It was manufactured using a 14-nanometer fabrication technology, and it represented the optimized stage of the newer process architecture optimization model. The microprocessors offered improved performance and power efficiency compared to previous generations, and Kaby Lake Refresh further improved on those features. Despite the delay of Cannon Lake, Intel has continued to innovate by releasing other generations of microprocessors such as Coffee Lake.
