Intel 2011 Core Series Desktop Processor Roadmap Surfaces

[btarunr]

Having turned its most profitable quarter, Intel is banking on its vast lineup of the 2010 Core processors, which will be updated towards the end of the year. By 2011, Intel will have a new series of second generation Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3 processors, based on a brand new architecture, and built for new sockets and chipsets. A roadmap of the same reached sections of the European media, which shows the company to be almost ready with a full-fledged lineup of desktop processors covering most price-points, by 2011.

The new architecture on which these processors are based is referred to by Intel as "Sandy Bridge", key features of which include the inclusion of the new Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX), a more advanced instruction set than SSE, to accelerate complex applications. AVX aside, there's Turbo Boost technology 2.0 that comes with even smarter algorithms to automatically manage clock speeds of individual processor cores to maximize performance within the processor's TDP envelope, AES-NI, which is a more manageable hardware data encryption instruction set, and processors with integrated graphics (IGP) controllers will have even faster ones, because Intel will be relocating the IGP and memory controller to the same die as the processor cores, this IGP is referred to as Intel "GT2" graphics.

Package and Platform
The new processors in Intel's lineup are built on the new 1,155-pin LGA package (LGA1155), and almost every motherboard manufacturer has already displayed consumer motherboards based on the upcoming Intel P67 "Cougar Point" chipset, at this year's Computex event held in Taipei.

Nomenclature and Positioning
Intel's 2011 lineup of Core processors will use the same brand identifiers as the 2010 series: Core i7 delivers all the features and quantitative performance available to the generation, Core i5 delivers "smart performance" by balancing "smart" features (such as Turbo Boost 2.0) to manage performance and energy-efficiency, with mid-thru-high levels of quantitative performance, while Core i3 delivers the essentials, and captures the value segment.

While the 2010 series three-digit processor model numbers starting with 5xx for Core i3 dual-core, 6xx for Core i5 dual-core, 7xx for Core i5 quad-core, 8xx for Core i7 LGA1156 quad-core, and 9xx for Core i7 LGA1366 quad-core and six-core processors, the 2010 series will use a four-digit processor number scheme:

• 21xx - Core i3 dual-core
• 23xx - Core i5 dual-core
• 24xx - Core i5 quad-core
• 25xx - Core i5 quad-core
• 27xx - Core i7 quad-core

Among these, there are a few number suffixes that denote some special features:

• K - Overclockers' favourite, has unlocked BClk multipler
• S - Energy efficient, quad-core S chips have TDP of 65W against 95W, while having comparable clock speeds
• T - Low-power, have relatively lower clock-speeds, quad-core chips have TDP of 35W
• M - Mobile processors
• QM - Quad-core mobile
• XM - Extreme Performance mobile

Principal Features
There are essentially three kinds of dies Intel engineered, and carved out a horde of SKUs. A dual-core die that has a truly integrated memory controller (compared to present Core i3/i5 dual-core chips where IMC isn't on the same die as the processor cores), an IGP, and 3 MB of L3 cache; a quad-core die with integrated memory controller and 6 MB of L3 cache; and a high-end quad-core die with integrated memory controller and 8 MB of L3 cache.

Models
As given in the table below. At this point we're not entirely sure what differentiates Core i5 24xx from Core i5 25xx, frequencies don't seem to be it. Perhaps there's an instruction set or a feature that's enabled on the 25xx.



Availability
There has got to be a reason why every motherboard maker had an LGA1155 motherboard ready for display as early as in June 2010, especially 7 months ahead of CES 2011 (it's typically held in early January), and the only possibility that makes sense is that Intel could start releasing these processors very early in 2011, or even towards the end of 2010. As far as pricing goes, one can expect them to be on par with 2010 Core processors.

Source: Computerbase.de

[CharlO]

Wow! Quad core 35W? If less than 300 will be a great deal.

[HillBeast]

Originally Posted by CharlO

Wow! Quad core 35W? If less than 300 will be a great deal.

Well not quad core but quad threaded. Either way though that is impressive. I can see Sandy Bridge will bring the performance of Nehalem + the improvements of Sandy Bridge into nettops.

[erocker]

I love it that Intel is keeping with the unlocked (non-extreme, non-big budget) chips. Unless Bulldozer really surprises me with awesome/competetive performance, an Intel CPU will be in my next build.

[mdsx1950]

Nice set of Procs. Awaiting more details.

[mlee49]

I'm gonna look up more on AVX, first time I heard about it I was excited as I was under the impression it would make lesser L2 cache chips preform better per MHz. I hope I'm not dissapointed.

[ERazer]

wer the hell is my cheap x6 intel

[AltecV1]

oh you guys just wait and see how well they will OC it will blow your freaking mind

[CDdude55]

Don't think I'll have money to keep upgrading like this. I'll probably be sticking with my i7 for a long time, i just hope this isn't a huge leap in performance over it (all i really do is gaming anyways). Because then, i know i won't feel the impulse to upgrade.

[adriantrances]

What about 2011 socket?

[ebolamonkey3]

Sorry if it's gonna be a noob post, but are these 32nm or 28nm?

[majestic12]

Originally Posted by ebolamonkey3

Sorry if it's gonna be a noob post, but are these 32nm or 28nm?

Sandy Bridge is 32nm, with a transition to Ivy Bridge that supposedly will be 22nm later on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_B...roarchitecture)

[Yellow&Nerdy?]

Seems pretty pointless to me. I atleast am not expecting a big jump in performance, like when Intel went from C2D and C2Q to Core i7, i5 and i3. Just a slightly better "GPU", since as we all know how much Intel sucks on graphics. The TDP seems to be in the same category as LGA1156 processors.

Both LGA1155 and LGA2011 is just to milk more money from the buyers. LGA1155 doesn't have that many advantages over LGA1156, and LGA2011 is pointless just because the fact is, that modern software can't even utilize the full potential of the platforms we have now. Home users and gamers don't need 8-cores and quad-channel memory, especially if it costs a fortune.

BTW, I know this is totally unrelated, but I can't get over the fact, that they named the platform "Cougar Point".

[CDdude55]

Originally Posted by Yellow&Nerdy?

Both LGA1155 and LGA2011 is just to milk more money from the buyers. LGA1155 doesn't have that many advantages over LGA1156, and LGA2011 is pointless just because the fact is, that modern software can't even utilize the full potential of the platforms we have now. Home users and gamers don't need 8-cores and quad-channel memory, especially if it costs a fortune..

+1

Very true.

edit: Though the enthusiasts/people who want the latest and greatest will be all over this.

[Delta6326]

sweet maybe some day i will up grade to a new quad.

im finally back from like a 9day vaca

[happita]

This sounds like the perfect upgrade for me. New MB/CPU/RAM to fuel the fire! Looking to jump on the Quad-Core bandwagon finally. Those TDP numbers look pretty good considering first generation i7 Quads were at a steady 130. I definitely wouldn't say that this new gen doesn't have any advantages over current i7, to say that would be....well.....a little ignorant.

[D4S4]

Fuck yeah!!!1! seems like the good ol s479 times are coming back

[driver66]

Originally Posted by D4S4

Fuck yeah!!!1! seems like the good ol s478 times are coming back

fixed

[overclocking101]

frome the sounds of it they wont overclock like mad well at least 1155 wont. i wont be doing this lineup ill wait for the 1156 chips to hit rock bottom and milk them. lwets hope intel dont sky775 us 1156 and 1366 guys. meaning lets hope they actually keep new cpu's for these sockets.

[CDdude55]

Ya i'm still waiting for a cheap six core for 1366.

[Flanker]

interested to see what the price premium of the S and T models will be, hopefully they won't be as ridiculous as i5-750S

[newtekie1]

Originally Posted by btarunr

At this point we're not entirely sure what differentiates Core i5 24xx from Core i5 25xx, frequencies don't seem to be it. Perhaps there's an instruction set or a feature that's enabled on the 25xx.

Looking at the table, doesn't the i5 2400 have a clock speed of 3.1GHz/3.4Ghz Turbo, while the i5 2500 seems to have a clock speed of 3.3GHz/3.7GHz Turbo, unless I'm reading the chart wrong.

Originally Posted by Yellow&Nerdy?

Both LGA1155 and LGA2011 is just to milk more money from the buyers. LGA1155 doesn't have that many advantages over LGA1156, and LGA2011 is pointless just because the fact is, that modern software can't even utilize the full potential of the platforms we have now. Home users and gamers don't need 8-cores and quad-channel memory, especially if it costs a fortune.

Agreed. If it wasn't for the fact that I got insane deals on the i7 mobo and processor I currently run, I'd still be running a 775 rig.

[Octopuss]

I wonder if it's possible to have a CPU with both unlocked bclk AND lower TDP

I know I will be upgrading, still using my P45-based PC with E8400. This will rock for me. I'm happy I didn't buy a new AMD stuff (was in fact because of lack of 32nm CPUs).

[NeSeNVi]

Core i5-2400S, this is exactly what I want, but it depends on $ too...

[Yellow&Nerdy?]

Originally Posted by CDdude55

Ya i'm still waiting for a cheap six core for 1366.

Not coming. The last CPU Intel releases/has released for 1366 is the i7-970, which is a hexa-core, but it's nothing but cheap. Retails for about 800€ here in Europe.