Website BenchLife recently leaked the following table showing the launch schedule for Intel's (INTC +0.42%) upcoming 14-nanometer Skylake processors for PCs and 2-in-1 convertible devices:
Source: BenchLife.
Following the soap opera that has been the rollout of Intel's Broadwell family of processors, this table -- assuming it is accurate -- should allow Intel investors to breathe a sigh of relief. Here's why.
A busy September for desktops and notebooks
From August to September, Intel will seemingly roll out all of its Skylake-S processors for traditional desktops, bringing a sorely needed refresh to the Haswell processors that Intel has been selling for the last two years.
The refresh on the desktop side looks quite comprehensive, spanning everything from unlocked high-end enthusiast models all the way down to low-power models.
Intel also appears set to bring out some new laptop chips in September. According to the table, Intel will bring out an initial batch of Skylake-H processors for high-performance notebooks and all-in-one PCs.
The table also indicates Intel will launch Core M processors for fanless notebooks and 2-in-1 convertibles, along with 15-watt Skylake-based Core i-series processors.
More chips in late 2015
From October to November, according to the table, Intel will roll out additional Skylake-H SKUs. These look like faster notebook/all-in-one chips in addition to Xeon E3 v5 processors that Intel claims are suitable for small-business servers, microservers, and entry-level workstations.
Topping it off with more chips in January 2016
The table indicates Intel will wrap up its Skylake rollout in January 2016 with additional Skylake-U processors and an additional Core M model (6Y57).
If this table is accurate, Intel will essentially roll out its entire client Skylake processor family in just five months. This is a far more aggressive rollout, in terms of speed and product breadth, than we saw with the prior-generation Broadwell chips.
Some omissions and oddities
There are some omissions and oddities in this table that are worth noting. For example, the table lists only the the Skylake-U processor models with the format Core i3/5/i7-6x00. This model numbering system in the Haswell generation of processors indicated 2+2 chips with 2 CPU cores and GT2 graphics.
Other leaks suggest that there will be models with GT3e graphics. If Intel's prior numbering scheme is anything to go by, the model numbers should be Core i5/i7-6x50, but they're omitted from this table.
Also, in the Skylake-Y row showing the parts launching in January 2016, the 6Y75 is listed again after having been listed as part of the initial wave of Skylake-Y parts coming in September 2015.
Looking forward to official details
I suspect Intel will offer more details about the launch timings of its Skylake parts within the next few months. If the launch schedule shown above is valid, then I applaud Intel for aggressively rolling out Skylake after its struggles with the prior-generation Broadwell chips.
