Reports from industry insiders suggest the emergence of an Intel Core i5-14490F ‘Black Edition’ CPU that has not been previously disclosed. Alleged images of an unreleased Core i5-14490F SKU have surfaced online, indicating that Intel might be gearing up to introduce a new processor within its unofficially named “Black Edition” series, which is specifically tailored for the Chinese market. If the leaks hold true, this upcoming chip is expected to deliver enhanced performance compared to the standard Intel Core i5-14400, while maintaining the same power profile.
Identified by their unique black packaging, Intel’s Black Edition CPUs are renowned for their exclusivity. These special “xxx90F” variants were primarily available in China and often boasted superior capabilities compared to their globally distributed counterparts. The recent circulation of an image, purportedly depicting an unannounced chip from this series, suggests that Intel may be preparing for the launch of a new Black Edition processor.
A hardware industry leaker known as wxnod on Twitter shared the photo of the purported Intel Core i5-14490F on social media. According to the leak, this SKU is expected to feature 10 processing cores and 16 threads, aligning with the specifications of the Core i5-14400. Notably, the rumored chip stands out due to its enhanced max turbo frequency of 5.0GHz, surpassing the i5-14400’s 4.7GHz. Despite the performance boost, the i5-14490F is anticipated to maintain the 65-watt TDP of its predecessor. Given the popularity of Intel’s mid-range i5 CPUs among gamers, the introduction of a new model that enhances performance without increasing power consumption is likely to be well-received in the market.
Intel Core i5-14490F Rumored Specs
- 10 Cores (6 Performance Cores + 4 Efficiency Cores), 16 Threads
- 2.5GHz base clock, 5.0GHz max turbo frequency
- 65W TDP
The leaked information lacks specific details on pricing and availability, but it is anticipated that the Intel Core i5-14490F will be introduced in China, likely with a slight increase in cost compared to similar chips such as the Intel Core i5-14400 upon launch. Intel’s recent i5 offerings, excluding high-performance CPUs like the unlocked Core i5-14600K, generally fall within the $200 to $250 price range. If the Core i5-14490F is priced within this bracket, it will enter the competitive arena against AMD’s top budget gaming CPUs, including the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Ryzen 7 5700X.
The source of wxnod’s access to the photo of the Intel Core i5-14490F remains unclear; however, such occurrences are not uncommon in the hardware industry. For instance, recent leaks on Chinese forums revealed information about new motherboards featuring the Intel 800 and AMD 700 chipsets.
In a more notable incident, the Intel Core i3-14100 was mistakenly made available for sale in China last November, preceding its global release scheduled for early 2024. The initial units of this entry-level Intel 14th Generation Raptor Lake Refresh desktop processor turned out to be qualification samples, intended for testing purposes rather than general market distribution.
Suggested Read: Is GTA 6 Coming To Nintendo Switch?
