Wednesday, March 30th 2011
Intel X79 Enthusiast Chipset Sketched in Roadmap
Intel's next platform for enthusiasts (successor to LGA1366, X58), will consist of a 2011-pin LGA socket, the Sandy Bridge-E (enthusiast) processor that features a massive quad-channel DDR3 memory controller and 32+ lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub, and the X79 chipset. Intel is looking to skip the 6-series chipset family with its next high-end platform chipset, and perhaps it makes sense since the platform is slated for Q4 2011. The X79 is a PCH (platform controller hub), like P55 and P67, since Intel has reorganized the platform. The beefy PCI-E hub housed in the X58 northbridge is relocated to the processor die, and the southbridge is given a much needed overhaul in terms of connectivity.
The X79 is much bigger than P67 in terms of connectivity and features. Differences start right at the interconnect. While P67 connects to the processor over DMI (physical PCI-Express 2.0 x4), X79 supplements this link with an additional PCI-Express 2.0 x4 link to the processor's PCI-E hub if the user chooses so, in the EFI setup program. The chipset bus hence ends up with 8 GB/s of bandwidth, and wait till you hear what will make use of it: a 10-port SATA 6 Gb/s RAID controller integrated to the PCH! That is a huge improvement in terms of storage connectivity, which is limping with 2-port SATA 6 Gb/s (next to four 3 Gb/s ports) on 6-series chipsets.Out of the 10 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, eight can be configured as SAS (serial-attached SCSI) by motherboard manufacturers. In RAID mode, the controller supports RAID 0/1/5/10 modes. Unfortunately, there's no talk of an integrated USB 3.0 controller, the PCH still features 14 USB 2.0 ports. Perhaps Intel is pushing Thunderbolt, but there's no evidence of that integrated with the chipset, either. The PCH itself features an 8-lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub to drive the x1, x4 slots on the motherboard and onboard PCI-E devices. It features an Intel GbE interface (physically PCI-E 2.0 x1 at 50 MHz), to drive a Lewisville gigabit Ethernet PHY chip. Lastly, X79 is geared for extreme overclocking of the processor and memory. That's expected of this platform.
Source:
it.com.cn
The X79 is much bigger than P67 in terms of connectivity and features. Differences start right at the interconnect. While P67 connects to the processor over DMI (physical PCI-Express 2.0 x4), X79 supplements this link with an additional PCI-Express 2.0 x4 link to the processor's PCI-E hub if the user chooses so, in the EFI setup program. The chipset bus hence ends up with 8 GB/s of bandwidth, and wait till you hear what will make use of it: a 10-port SATA 6 Gb/s RAID controller integrated to the PCH! That is a huge improvement in terms of storage connectivity, which is limping with 2-port SATA 6 Gb/s (next to four 3 Gb/s ports) on 6-series chipsets.Out of the 10 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, eight can be configured as SAS (serial-attached SCSI) by motherboard manufacturers. In RAID mode, the controller supports RAID 0/1/5/10 modes. Unfortunately, there's no talk of an integrated USB 3.0 controller, the PCH still features 14 USB 2.0 ports. Perhaps Intel is pushing Thunderbolt, but there's no evidence of that integrated with the chipset, either. The PCH itself features an 8-lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub to drive the x1, x4 slots on the motherboard and onboard PCI-E devices. It features an Intel GbE interface (physically PCI-E 2.0 x1 at 50 MHz), to drive a Lewisville gigabit Ethernet PHY chip. Lastly, X79 is geared for extreme overclocking of the processor and memory. That's expected of this platform.
53 Comments on Intel X79 Enthusiast Chipset Sketched in Roadmap
About 2 buy my new case and 1000 watt psu. Collecting pieces early so all that's left is th board & cpu. Then one click and its drool city.:pimp:
A: Because those who upgrade CPUs represent a miniscule portion of the market and will not be catered to in a way that restricts any development, whatsoever.
It makes perfect sense as unfortunate as it is. If you're that upset about it, go with AMD.
oh and mike, you're actually wrong. they've integrated so much of the motherboards features into the CPU, that they just cant swap them around easily. if they want to add more PCI-E lanes onto a mobo, then the CPU needs to have them built in. otherwise, using an older CPU on the newer board would result in whatevers on those lanes, not working.
basically, progress has shot compatibility in the foot. the more they integrate into the CPU, the harder it is to have seperate generations compatible.
long live AMD?
I guess grabbing my on-the-way 990X was the right move after all.
EDIT: Wait 2: Aren't we a bit close to April 1st? Heh.
in fact, dont talk about it at all... sit back and enjoy the show.
Being sort of ironic...
They have the market cornered, they can do what they want.
And what they want is all of our $$$.
I think x79 might just kill Bulldozer dead. We need some performance leaks.
I certainly don't mind putting the $ for an upgrade but with computers being as fast as they are right now, I don't see any point in moving up. I say that now, but I'm sure i'll end up with an x79 socket system.
btw, funny article. It shows no decent PCIe, no native supports, no BLCK and memory is rated at '2666Mhz' now, if this is any to believe the memory should actually be 2122Mhz native as this "2666" is just doubled "1333" and all high-end LGA1366 parts actually were 1066Mhz not 1333Mhz. Where's the triple-channel boards ?
-edit- O forgot... Forced PHY, lol, manufacturers are gonna be shouting "Why, Why, Why" funny how dirty deep Intel fights against RealTek and Marvell knowing that both companies deliver 50 times better network controllers.
Since, if this is the crap they are offering they can forget 1 customer from here moving to AMD CPUs.
So im going to stick with AMD's Bulldozer when the next gen stuff rolls around. Probably will just buy a board and stick my 1055T in it until i grab a Bulldozer chip.:)
I didn't get my i7 rig all that long ago anyways. (was on 775 for a long time)
still hoping bulldozer comes out and performs as they say it will. It's been a long time since I've been on an amd rig and I do miss it.
EDIT: n/m, didnt realize that chipsets had code names also
Asus will produce a KRAKEN Board.
one thing i am not sure about, will they keep the branding of the CPU as I7 or will it be I9 ?! hopefully Ivy bridge cpus will be able to keep up cause i do not want to get a new platform.
I miss you 775..i will never forget you !! :D
come to think of it guys, AMD will be crushed once again XD.
neither my thoughts nor my words are organised cause intel went wild