(bad news) Intel’s Haswell Could Be Last Interchangeable Desktop Microprocessors

[darkangel0504]

I don't know where to post. Forgive me ! if i post on wrong place

Post-Haswell Chips to Feature BGA Packaging, Set to Be Sold with Mainboards
[11/22/2012 02:22 AM]
by Anton Shilov
As personal computers become smaller, their flexibility is decreasing. According to a media report starting from code-named Broadwell generation of processors, Intel Corp. will only offer mainstream desktop chips in BGA packaging, which will eliminate upgrade options as well as increase risks for PC makers.

Both Intel and Advanced Micro Devices supply two different desktop platforms these days, making a very clear difference between mainstream and high-end desktop. Still, mainstream PCs with simplistic processors may easily be upgraded with very fast processors thanks to the fact that the chips are interchangeable and come in the same LGA1155 form-factor. Unfortunately, the ease of upgrade may come to an end in two years as starting from Broadwell generation of central processing units (CPUs) mainstream chips will cease to use land grid array (LGA) and micro pin grid array (µPGA) packages and will only be available in in ball grid array (BGA) form-factors, just like Intel Atom processors.

According to Japanese PC Watch web-site, code-named Haswell microprocessors may be the last desktop chips in LGA packaging, which enabled easy switch of CPUs on mainboards. Starting from Broadwell chips, which are due in 2014, all mainstream desktop processors will be available in BGA packaging, which means that they will have to be soldered to mainboards, something that can be done in relatively sophisticated manufacturing facilities.



Due to the market trends towards low-power microprocessors, Intel will offer various Broadwell multi-chip modules – which will contain Broadwell CPUs with integrated memory controller, graphics core, etc. and Wildcat Point input/output controllers – with various thermal design power envelopes, e.g., 10W, 15W and 47W/57W, according to the report.

The BGA MCMs should provide advantages to makers of high-performance tablets, ultra-thin notebooks as well as all-in-one desktops as ball grid array packaging ensure small footprint. However, when it comes to fully-fledged desktops, BGA means that system makers will have to keep a large amount of different mainboards with various features and dissimilar microprocessors in order to provide the right choices for their clients. Such stockpiling increases business risks to smaller makers and decreases abilities to differentiate for mainboard makers.

While mainstream chips will reportedly be only supplied in BGA form-factors soldered to mainboards, which eliminates upgrade possibility, it is likely that high-end desktop (HEDT) platforms will still be supplied in LGA packaging. What remains to be seen is how expensive will such chips be. For example, at present the most affordable LGA2011 HEDT chip costs $294, whereas the most expensive performance-mainstream LGA1155 processor costs $332. In case upgradeable platforms remain on the HEDT’s price levels of today, that will essentially mean the end of upgrades of the mainstream PCs.

Intel did not comment on the news-story.

Source: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/dis...rs_Report.html

[Frick]

Hardcore gamers and power users have to move away from mainstream, sooner or later, and have to move to workstations.

[FordGT90Concept]

It figures. The way Intel has been adding pins to packages, Intel will eventually reach a point where disconnecting electrical contacts aren't feasible.

This will be a huge boon to AMD.

[catnipkiller]

Sad sad news for budget gamers.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

This will be a huge boon to AMD.

I'm not so sure. The market for people who build systems themselves isn't very big anyway.

[darkangel0504]

Originally Posted by catnipkiller

Sad sad news for budget gamers.

yeah

i think they will use integrated RAM in future.

i hate tablets.......

[FordGT90Concept]

Originally Posted by Frick

I'm not so sure. The market for people who build systems themselves isn't very big anyway.

It's not that, it's more motherboard failures. Instead of just replacing a failed motherboard, you'll have to replace the CPU too. This vastly increases the cost of servicing which is not going to be appealing to businesses with large IT departments. AMD platforms are cheaper anyway and this makes Intel lifetime costs higher so AMD becomes a no-brainer.

Originally Posted by catnipkiller

Sad sad news for budget gamers.

It's good for budget gamers because there should cost less because CPU + HSF + motherboard all have to be sold as one unit instead of three. It cuts costs in packaging and potentially manufacturing.

The people that will be displeased are those who choose IBM-PC compatible because "compatible" means something.

[NC37]

But it is big enough they still make stuff for it. Plus there is also people who want upgrades for prebuilt machines. This sounds like something modern day Apple would do. Classic Apple, no way.

A move to completely appliance the PC. Course that is how Apple is making money now. Always buying new hardware. Figures others would want to catch onto that. Force consumers into a closed garden environment. There will be those who resist it. But it'll all depend on who supports and doesn't support it. If AMD continues to make traditionally...I don't think it'll topple Intel but it will put a dent. Professional markets won't be swayed easily. You'd have to completely kill desktop PCs to make something like this work. When people get tired of buying new all the time, specially with rising ewaste...may see some big changes.

[darkangel0504]

Don't kill desktop , please !!

we love desktop !!

[3870x2]

Intel is easy to forget those who proudly tout their stickers on our desktops in lieu of those who scratch them off of their notebooks. See your way out gents, your loyalty meant nothing.

[RCoon]

Well, it's blatantly Apple style. Create a machine and do not allow any upgrades unless they buy a whole new machine - and sue anyone who buys interchangable parts and tries to resell the machine

I guess after Haswell gamers will either be buying workstations or switching over to AMD future chips ( i certainly hope they are up to the task )... provided they dont do the same.

[Fourstaff]

Lets take an example, Asus with maybe 5 boards for "new socket" (LE, "normal, pro, matx normal, matx pro), and 5 cpus from intel (i3, 5, i5 K, i7, i7 K). Suddenly we have 25 SKUs compared to 10. Somehow I feel like motherboards is going on a race to the bottom once this is implemented.

[WhiteLotus]

Lets be honest, todays top CPUs eat all modern games for breakfast and spits them out. Any future CPU by intel is just going to build on that, it'll be a while before games are pushing the CPU limits.

For those that use the CPU as a workstation, well there are workstations out there for you.


Thinking about this, it could be a good thing for pc gamers, developers might then spend more time optimising their games to really push the current cpu by intel.

[Dent1]

I call BS.

Motherboard manufacturers (Gigabyte, MSI, ASUS, Asrock) will sue Intel for putting them out of business. Intel will be fined by the Government for creating a motherboard monopoly.

Also, presuming AMD remains interchangeable it can churn out more faster CPUs per lifecycle, Intel will be left behind in performance, assuming Intel care about that.

[Frick]

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

It's not that, it's more motherboard failures. Instead of just replacing a failed motherboard, you'll have to replace the CPU too. This vastly increases the cost of servicing which is not going to be appealing to businesses with large IT departments. AMD platforms are cheaper anyway and this makes Intel lifetime costs higher so AMD becomes a no-brainer.

Good point, but since we're basically talking consumer hardware I still don't think that will be a factor. This is two years from now and by then the common desktop should not be around. And as you say these should cost less which makes them the better choice.

[Sasqui]

Haswell that ends well.

Someone had to say it, lol

[FordGT90Concept]

Originally Posted by Frick

Good point, but since we're basically talking consumer hardware I still don't think that will be a factor. This is two years from now and by then the common desktop should not be around. And as you say these should cost less which makes them the better choice.

I think the industry grossly underestimates the value of desktop computers. Better mice, better keyboards, bigger monitors, multiple monitors, quicker response time, redundancy, etc. All these things improve productivity and productivity means cash. They might be departing from homes but they will not be departing from businesses which buy most of the computers in the first place (if not not the most, by far the most expensive).

Even Apple (company obsessed with making everything tiny and on your person) saw the logic in offering a workstation (Mac Pro).

[ChristTheGreat]

I don't think this is a good idea.. if motherboard + integrated CPU is cheaper that buying an i7 3930k + motherboard ok, that might be not bad, but if it is remaning the same price, they will only make more money from us.

So upgrading computer, will not cost cheaper but more.. as you will need to buy the full stuff.. when you have small budget you buy an i3 then upgrade to an used i5/i7..

if they do that, please, make those f**king program/games more optimized...

[Easy Rhino]

the pc enthusiast is going the way of the buffalo

[Frick]

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

I think the industry grossly underestimates the value of desktop computers. Better mice, better keyboards, bigger monitors, multiple monitors, quicker response time, redundancy, etc. All these things improve productivity and productivity means cash. They might be departing from homes but they will not be departing from businesses which buy most of the computers in the first place (if not not the most, by far the most expensive).

Even Apple (company obsessed with making everything tiny and on your person) saw the logic in offering a workstation (Mac Pro).

Workstations is not the same thing. All those other things can be achieved with small systems and/or AIO's, or pretty much anything at this point. Except maybe redundancy but that is kinda pointless for most people. EDIT: I actually think terminals/thin clients are best for your avarage office.

(again, I'm not talking workstations, I'm talking your standard office here).

[FordGT90Concept]

"Desktop" is becoming synonymous with "internet access." That's why I used the word "workstation" as in used to "work"--get something done--and not casually play solitaire, read ebooks, browse the web, etc.

Thin-clients are best served by slim-desktops. They can quickly swap towers/monitors with little fuss and if it is simple, they can service it themselves.

A VM server is cost-prohibitive for small businesses. They only become viable in medium businesses and larger.

[erocker]

Please use this thread for discussion: http://www.techpowerup.com/176133/Is...rocessor-.html

Thank you.