Intel Channel Director On How Partners Can Make Money Off New 8th-Gen Core Processors

New Chips For The Channel

Intel on Monday lifted the curtain on its new eighth-generation processors. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company hopes that the new Kaby Lake-based chipset will help partners incentivize its customer base of 450 million people globally with PCs five years or older to upgrade.

Intel said that its next-generation processor lineup, which is targeted for small businesses with 2-in-1s and thin notebooks, touts a 40 percent performance increase over the previous generation of chips.

For partners, that performance boost is essential for driving sales to small businesses, according to Intel Channel Director Todd Garrigues. Following are excerpts from CRN's conversation with Garrigues.

What is the mobile device opportunity for partners? What kind of demand on the mobile end are you seeing from customers?

The 2-in-1 category continues to grow in popularity within the channel and provides the best of both worlds for end users. This lasting evolution of our platform technologies will help drive innovative form factors and usage models.

In the first half of 2017, 2-in-1 growth was greater than 10 percent, according to IDC.

What kind of opportunity for partners are you seeing in Intel’s eighth-generation processors?

Intel’s latest processors will help drive incredible performance leaps in mobile PCs, with performance expected to grow by as much as 40 percent from last year’s models. Overall performance, as well as enhancements in immersive entertainment and simple convenience, will help deliver an incredible opportunity to amaze customers and drive refresh opportunities.

Will these customers who have PCs five years or older have a good reason to upgrade?

Customers will see performance gains of up to 2 times versus PCs that are five years old, which will provide an amazing experience for the use and help drive compelling reasons to upgrade.

What part do you hope Intel’s channel to play as part of the company’s go-to-market strategy for its eighth-gen processors?

Intel’s channel plays a critical role in helping customers understand new products, and helping them understand what’s possible with today’s technology. We have extensive training efforts that will kick off post-launch, and we are committed to helping our partners be the trusted advisors for their customers when it comes to new technology.