Thursday, November 1st 2012
Top Intel Ivy Bridge-E Core Processors To Still Pack Six Cores
Intel's 2011-launched Core i7 "Sandy Bridge-E" HEDT platform is based on a 32 nm silicon that's common with Xeon E5 series processors. While the silicon physically packs eight CPU cores and 20 MB last-level cache (LLC, or L3 cache), client Core i7 processors are configured with only a maximum of six cores, and up to 15 MB L3 cache. According to a MyDrivers.com report, the maximum core count won't change with next-generation 22 nm Ivy Bridge-E Core i7 processors.
Ivy Bridge-E will be an upscale of Ivy Bridge. Similar to Sandy Bridge-E, the silicon will feature up to eight cores and 20 MB L3 cache. In its Core i7 avatar, however, the chip will be configured with no more than six cores, and no more than 15 MB L3 cache. The new chip will introduce IPC improvements, PCI-Express Gen 3.0 certified root complex (one which NVIDIA will approve of), higher CPU core clock speeds, and support for faster memory.
TDP could be the only reason Intel isn't willing to unlock cores 7 and 8 on client processors. Eight core, 20 MB LLC-laden Xeon E5 models based on today's 32 nm silicon, with 130W TDP, barely manage to scrape the 3.00 GHz mark. Given that, the prospects for Ivy Bridge-E client CPUs to run with all cores and LLC enabled, and yet deliver higher clock speeds than predecessors were always going to be low.
Intel Core i7 "Ivy Bridge-E" HEDT processors are compatible with existing socket LGA2011 motherboards (subject to BIOS update), and are slated for Q3-2013.
Source:
MyDrivers
Ivy Bridge-E will be an upscale of Ivy Bridge. Similar to Sandy Bridge-E, the silicon will feature up to eight cores and 20 MB L3 cache. In its Core i7 avatar, however, the chip will be configured with no more than six cores, and no more than 15 MB L3 cache. The new chip will introduce IPC improvements, PCI-Express Gen 3.0 certified root complex (one which NVIDIA will approve of), higher CPU core clock speeds, and support for faster memory.
TDP could be the only reason Intel isn't willing to unlock cores 7 and 8 on client processors. Eight core, 20 MB LLC-laden Xeon E5 models based on today's 32 nm silicon, with 130W TDP, barely manage to scrape the 3.00 GHz mark. Given that, the prospects for Ivy Bridge-E client CPUs to run with all cores and LLC enabled, and yet deliver higher clock speeds than predecessors were always going to be low.
Intel Core i7 "Ivy Bridge-E" HEDT processors are compatible with existing socket LGA2011 motherboards (subject to BIOS update), and are slated for Q3-2013.
111 Comments on Top Intel Ivy Bridge-E Core Processors To Still Pack Six Cores
wprime for instance 4x8 cores at 2.7ghz
hwbot.org/submission/2314808_dhenzjhen_wprime_1024m_4x_xeon_x7560_34sec_446ms
vs 2x6 cores at 5.3ghz
hwbot.org/submission/1088066_team.au_wprime_1024m_2x_xeon_x5680_39sec_839ms
More cores still wins. Same goes for the most part with rendering.
Bring on the 8 cores please:)
In all seriousness, if you need an 8-core Intel processor why aren't you running a work station with a 2P board or do you have 6 cores just for shits and giggles and have no real application that benefits from it?
I got the 3820 because it was practical, performed just as well as the K edition chips on 1155, it has VT-d (something that k-edition 1155 chips do not have,) and because I wanted a platform that I could upgrade easily if I ever needed to. So far it has not disappointed me. I needed room for plenty of memory expansion because I run a number of virtual machines. I've occasionally found myself using 12/16Gb at least once a week with a typical usage around 4Gb at idle and 8Gb with my normal VMs open.
BTW, can anyone tell me, as I've asked before, but forgot to check for replies, what Vishera 2.0 and/or Trinity 2.0 (and some other name I totally forgot) are all about?
but ya this is about Intel here so if you want to discuss about the AMD create a new topic dude
...LOL, no exactly, they all suck, just some less.
There's a long way 'till IVB-E, as Intel stated some time ago. In the meantime, Haswell, and hopefully FX Steamroller will take away a lot if not all, of it's thunder, 8 cores or not (X89 boards might be interesting tho, if that's how they'll be called).
IMHO, If AMD managed to convince board makers to do dual-socket AM3+s... they might have ~$400 SB-E/IB-E killers on their hands easy, for the time being. Like the "quick fix" (failed at that time) dual FX-7xs "quad" cores, back in 2006(?).
There you go sir.
I don’t thin Intel will add more cores simply because AMD does. It would likely come down to overall performance.
Intel presumably will not upgrade the LGA2011 platform chipset for Ivy Bridge-E or so I have heard.