P55 to Succeed P45 as Mainstream Core Logic

[btarunr]

In the weeks to come Intel and its partners, would be buzzing with activity, in the form of product launches. Three models of the Core i7 series processors, accompanied by supportive motherboards, and possibly tri-channel DDR3 memory kits, would hit shelves. The LGA-1366 socket would serve as an extreme and performance segment offering, on the whole. The mainstream segment would continue in the form of the newer LGA-1160 socket, and the Ibex Peak platform. Processors would essentially use the same architecture as the upcoming i7 processors, but feature dual-channel memory interfaces, and continue using the DMI front-side bus as the system interface.

As for its supportive chipset, Intel plans to label them under the P5x series. Chipsets without IGPs, would have so little machinery, with the memory controller shifted to the CPU, that even high-performance chipsets could be monolithic. A single chip would handle the system's peripherals, storage, and connect it to the CPU. There are indications that the CPU could house PCI-Express switches on-die. This would provide direct connections between PCI-E devices such as graphics cards, and the CPU. The P5x series chipsets could include a confirmed P55 chipset that rules its roost, with P53 and P51 chipsets that fabricate the lineup.



The P55 chipset could feature:

• Socket LGA 1160, supporting Lynnfield (quad-core) and Havendale (dual-core) processors.
• PCI-E 2.0 (on the CPU): Supports one graphics card in x16 or two in x8, x8 mode.
• Six SATA II ports, with support for RAID 0/1/5/10 modes.
• 14 USB 2.0 ports.
• Gigabit PHY onboard, HD audio interface.

The P55, along with the newer mainstream platform, is slated for later next year. A lot depends on the reception of the flagship Nehalem platform, and of how Intel is able to manage its sales with existing technologies.

Source: Expreview

[truehighroller1]

I can't wait for all these things to start getting benched so I can see what they can do..

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by btarunr

There are indications that the CPU could house PCI-Express switches on-die. This would provide direct connections between PCI-E devices such as graphics cards, and the CPU.

Wow - I wonder what bandwidth that'll provide.

Seems like the Northbridge is completely going bye-bye and who knows, perhaps the southbridge eventually?

[oli_ramsay]

Originally Posted by Sasqui

Wow - I wonder what bandwidth that'll provide.

Seems like the Northbridge is completely going bye-bye and who knows, perhaps the southbridge eventually?

I think that one day the RAM, GPU, NB/SB will all be on one die. Imagine if the L2 cache was 8GB and we never needed RAM and the CPU was a GPGPU , the bandwidth would be crazy. Doubt it's possible though.

[Mussels]

The integrated PCI-E lanes do indeed sound intruiging.

[alexp999]

FFS, I was really hoping P55 would be on LGA 1366 . Oh well, its not like I have the money atm anyway. Be interesting to see where we are with nehalem in 6 - 12 months

[Sasqui]

Originally Posted by oli_ramsay

I think that one day the RAM, GPU, NB/SB will all be on one die. Imagine if the L2 cache was 8GB and we never needed RAM and the CPU was a GPGPU , the bandwidth would be crazy. Doubt it's possible though.

It seems that's the way things are heading - the only drawback is is losing the advantages of a modular design.

[wahdangun]

Originally Posted by oli_ramsay

I think that one day the RAM, GPU, NB/SB will all be on one die. Imagine if the L2 cache was 8GB and we never needed RAM and the CPU was a GPGPU , the bandwidth would be crazy. Doubt it's possible though.

if that happen it will no longger cpu but it will become microcontroler just like calculator.

[Apocolypse007]

I didn't know there were 2 new sockets. I knew about LGA-1366, but 1160 is new to me. Does this mean nehalem high performance chips and mainstream chips wont be compatible on the same board? If so, this seems like a bad move on Intel's part.

[KBD]

no northbridge, am i reading this correctly? What about 1366, i've seen they have northbridges on those boards, why not on socket 1160?

[Morgoth]

1366 has no nortbridge its just a connection ship

[KBD]

Originally Posted by Morgoth

1366 has no nortbridge its just a connection ship

ahh, thanx. i was looking at those elaborate heatpipes on X58 mobos so i figured that such cooling was for the NB, i guess i was wrong.

I'm wondering if AMD will follow with NB elimination for AM3, afterall Intel now has an IMC and they got rid of the NB.

[alexp999]

afaik, nehalem still has a northbridge. It just the memory controller is now in the CPU instead of the northbridge. The mobo still needs something to control all the devices and communicate between your all important gfx card and CPU

[Morgoth]

that wil be probaly be gone in the next architecture all in 1 die

[zithe]

Originally Posted by Morgoth

that wil be probaly be gone in the next architecture all in 1 die

I doubt it. As long as there's a market in video cards and other separate components, there will always be a similar form factor to what we have today.

[Morgoth]

i was talking abouth sb and nb function

[btarunr]

Originally Posted by KBD

ahh, thanx. i was looking at those elaborate heatpipes on X58 mobos so i figured that such cooling was for the NB, i guess i was wrong.

1366 systems do indeed have NB chips. X58?....connected to ICH10R SB chips.

[swaaye]

All you need to do is look at where AMD chipsets went when Athlon64 came out. That's basically the same thing that is going on with Intel. Nothing particularly new.

For example, nForce3 was single chip years ago. VIA, however, stuck with separate north/southbridges. Separate chips lets you mix and match, such as taking a K8T890 northbridge and then picking the southbridge that matches what you want/need. I doubt either way is "best".

[PCpraiser100]

My head is still spinning between Intel and AMD's upcoming joys for 2009. I'm still asking myself over which upcoming socket will actually survive since I thought the F sockets from AMD will be the successor for AM2. 1160 or 1366? I'm terribly confused.