Intel Launches 11th-Generation Processors with Enhancements Designed for the Internet of Things

Intel has announced new 11th-generation processor ranges aimed specifically at the Internet of Things (IoT), aiming to boost performance of artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge.

"By 2023, up to 70% of all enterprises will process data at the edge," claims Intel's John Healy, vice president of the company's Internet of Things Group (IoTG). "11th Gen Intel Core processors, Intel Atom x6000E series, and Intel Pentium and Celeron N and J series processors represent our most significant step forward yet in enhancements for IoT, bringing features that address our customers’ current needs, while setting the foundation for capabilities with advancements in AI and 5G."

"To further deliver the products and solutions our customers need to drive their businesses forward, at the Intel Industrial Summit we introduced two new processors that will bring features such as new AI, security, functional safety and real-time capabilities to edge customers," add Intel's Tom Lantzsch and Dan Rodriguez of the launch. "Developed alongside the silicon are software tools and hardware modules that accelerate time to market for a wide range of vertical solutions so customers can quickly customize their edge applications."

The new parts with IoT enhancements begin with 11th-generation Intel Core processors, based on the previously-released client computing parts but with enhancements aimed at the IoT: Intel claims these enhancements provide a 23 percent boost in single-threaded performance, 19 percent in multithreaded performance, and up to a 2.95x performance gain in graphics based on their equivalent previous generation parts. The chips also include the ability to run AI algorithms on up to 96 graphic execution units, model depending, or on the CPU cores themselves using Vector Neural Network Instruction (VNNI) extensions. The parts also include Intel Time Coordinated Computing (TCC) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) capabilities.

For deployments requiring lower power parts, Intel has also unveiled the Atom X6000E, Pentium, Celeron N, and Celeron J families. Like the higher-power Core parts, these all include dedicated enhancements for Internet of Things projects including built-in hardware-based security, a dedicated real-time offload engine, 2.5GbE time-sensitive networking, and the Intel Programmable Services Engine (PSE) out-of-band and in-band remote management system.

More information on the new parts can be found on the Intel Industrial Summit 2020 website.