Why Doesn‘t Intel Have an i8 Processor?

Let‘s directly address the question that prompted this article – why is there no 8th tier Intel processor called the i8? As a tech specialist focused on gaming hardware, I have researched this exact question out of my own curiosity. The short answer is the i8 naming slot was essentially replaced by the new i9 category. But there are a few key reasons why Intel opted to skip the i8, which I‘ll analyze in detail here.

A Brief History of Intel‘s Naming Scheme

To understand the missing i8 mystery, we need to first look at the origins of Intel‘s distinctive Product tiers. Back in 2010, Intel introduced a new naming convention moving from technical model numbers to consumer-friendly names indicating performance level:

• i3 = Entry-level
• i5 = Mid-range
• i7 = High-end

This was designed to simplify choices for average users when buying new PCs. The scheme worked well for many years with 3 clearly defined tiers.

Then in 2017, Intel faced rising competition from rival AMD. They decided to extend their naming scheme by introducing a new Ultra premium category:

• i9 = Extreme Performance

Rather than adding the expected i8 next, Intel jumped straight to i9 branding. As a market leader they were defining new segments to stay ahead of competitors. But why skip i8 when it would logically sit between i7 and the new i9 series?

I‘ll analyze 4 key reasons Intel broke the naming sequence:

1. Trademark Limitations

Intel has faced trademark issues dating back to their early processors. Numbers and letters can‘t be protected legally when used to name products. For example, Intel lost rights to 286 and 386 names because they were too generic.

Learning from the past, modern Intel tier names like i7 and i9 can be trademarked. This grants Intel stronger branding control and exclusive use of those product designations in the computing market.

But if they had continued sequentially with i8, that name could face similar trademark scrutiny to their old numbered series. By leapfrogging to i9 they ensured the new brand was protectable legally.

2. Product Positioning Strategy

Another consideration is deliberately differentiating product tiers for optimal market positioning:

• The i3, i5 and i7 branding ladders up nicely as Good – Better – Best
• Adding i8 would have narrowed the gap between midrange i5 and premium i7
• By skipping i8, the i9 stands clearly apart as the ultra enthusiasts tier

This helps Intel carve out wider price/performance bands in the processor market. An i8 may have muddied the waters in terms of placement. Intel carefully ladders brands to guide consumers towards higher profits on top tier models.

3. Maintaining Clear Tier Separation from AMD

Since AMD was rapidly gaining market share in 2017, introducing a new tier above i7 helped Intel stay firmly ahead in the premium category.

The i9 family defines a new performance standard that AMD took years to match with their Ryzen 9 series. Intel enjoyed strong sales growth in the $500+ desktop processor segment thanks to large i9 performance margins.

An intervening i8 could have reduced separation if AMD quickly introduced a new Ryzen 8, dragging Intel into a closer price/feature battle. Defining the i9 category first in a huge leap over i7 let Intel claim undisputed leadership.

4. Avoiding Confusion with Physical CPU Cores

Modern processors all contain multiple processing cores to handle parallel workloads. For example 6 cores or 8 cores in a chip.

Since core counts generally increase in steps of 2 (2, 4, 6, 8) there‘s potential confusion between model numbers and physical cores. By using odd numbered naming like i3, i5, i7, Intel reduces this chance of mistaken assumptions.

If they called a 6-core CPU an "i8" for example, buyers may second guess the actual core configuration. Sticking to distinct odd product numbers and even core counts reduces marketplace uncertainty.

In summary, moving the high-end from i7 directly to i9 was a strategic decision to grow Intel‘s product ladder, maintain market position against rivals, and clearly communicate performance differences to customers. The absent i8 was collateral damage in service of those competitive objectives!

What‘s Next? Could i8 Return?

While an Intel i8 processor seems unlikely now having skipped that naming opportunity, the explosion of new computing segments does open the door for future naming experimentation.

As artificial intelligence, neural networks, autonomous driving, cloud robotics and other revolutionary technologies mature, they will demand specialized processing capabilities surpassing today‘s CPUs for complex workloads like deep learning.

Intel is investing heavily in new configurations optimized for AI, graphics and neural nets – such as multi-chip Foveros 3D packaging revealed at CES 2023. Combined with new architectural optimizations through projects like the recent Lunar Lake and Movidius Myriad X VPUs, we will see processors diverge into domain-specific designs vs. general purpose CPUs.

There may yet be opportunities for additional naming brackets as innovative categories emerge. Intel has also trademarked additional names like i11 and i20 for future expansion headroom.

While the current i9 family tops the consumer computing market, who knows what the future of intensive workloads may demand. Surging growth in areas like self-driving vehicles, neural networks and speech processing point towards orders of magnitude more raw performance down the road.

Maybe the omission of i8 today sets the stage for its triumphant return years later backed by some revolutionary advancement to claim a currently-unforeseen niche! Given Intel‘s history of silicon innovation and room for growth, despite the dormancy I wouldn‘t write off i8 just yet…

What are your thoughts on Intel skipping the i8 designation? Do you think it may make a comeback? Let me know your perspective in the comments!