FEBRUARY 2019 PCWorld 27

Intel’s ‘F-series’ Core chips lack

an integrated GPU, and probably

aren’t worth your money

Intel’s new F-series chips may become more attractive if and when they get discounted

over time. BY MARK HACHMAN

W

hen Intel tipped a half-

dozen new desktop

processors during its CES

keynote (go.pcworld.

com/iclk), the company kept quiet about

specifics. Now we know: The new chips end

with an “F” suffix—and they lack an integrated

GPU. So you probably should skip them.

Why? Because right now, they’re priced

identically to chips that do include the

integrated GPU. No, it doesn’t mean that

Intel’s new F-series processors are worthless,

especially if you already own a PC with a

discrete GPU. It does mean, however, that the

discrete GPU will be powered on for every

task, possibly consuming more power than

your PC normally would. Tom’s Hardware,

which noted the new pricing (go.pcworld.

com/svzr), called the processors a

manufacturing “relief valve” to help alleviate

IMAGE: MARK HACHMAN