Wednesday, July 28th 2021
Intel Alder Lake-S to See Limited Launch of Enthusiast SKUs in 2021, Other Models Arrive 2022
Intel's 12th Generation Core "Alder Lake-S" desktop processor will see a limited launch in 2021, according to an Igor's Lab report. This will be restricted to PC enthusiast-relevant SKUs bearing the -K and -KF brand extensions, and compatible Socket LGA1700 motherboards based only on the top Z690 (Z590-successor) chipset. The series will ramp up to other (locked) models, along with more affordable chipset models (B560-successor), only by Q1-2022, on the sidelines of the 2022 International CES. Sources tell Igor's Lab that these select few models could be launched between October 25 and November 19.
Intel is expected to make several technological leaps over AMD with "Alder Lake-S." To begin with, it has the first hybrid core technology that combines high-performance "Golden Cove" cores with high-efficiency "Gracemont" cores, in a heterogenous multi-core setup comparable to Arm big.LITTLE. Next up, it is expected to debut the PCI-Express Gen 5 I/O, and DDR5 memory support. While PCIe 5.0 GPUs remain under development, the first devices to take advantage of it are expected to be NVMe SSDs, benefiting from 128 Gbps bandwidth (Gen 5 x4). It is also learned that the next-gen motherboards will retain the current ATX 24-pin + EPS power interface, and Intel won't force adoption of ATX12VO. The new ATX12VO standard increases motherboard costs as it essentially transfers DC-to-DC switching components from the PSU to the motherboard (12 V to 5 V; 12 V to 3.3 V, etc), and adds output connectors.
Source:
Igor's Lab
Intel is expected to make several technological leaps over AMD with "Alder Lake-S." To begin with, it has the first hybrid core technology that combines high-performance "Golden Cove" cores with high-efficiency "Gracemont" cores, in a heterogenous multi-core setup comparable to Arm big.LITTLE. Next up, it is expected to debut the PCI-Express Gen 5 I/O, and DDR5 memory support. While PCIe 5.0 GPUs remain under development, the first devices to take advantage of it are expected to be NVMe SSDs, benefiting from 128 Gbps bandwidth (Gen 5 x4). It is also learned that the next-gen motherboards will retain the current ATX 24-pin + EPS power interface, and Intel won't force adoption of ATX12VO. The new ATX12VO standard increases motherboard costs as it essentially transfers DC-to-DC switching components from the PSU to the motherboard (12 V to 5 V; 12 V to 3.3 V, etc), and adds output connectors.
37 Comments on Intel Alder Lake-S to See Limited Launch of Enthusiast SKUs in 2021, Other Models Arrive 2022
So if someone buys a 12th gen
He also needs to
1. Buy a new MB with a new chipset and new socket
2. Buy a new cooler , since no cooler is bundled with "Enthusiast SKUs" , and the Z height has changed with LGA1700.
3. Buy New (Expensive) DDR5 RAM
4. Buy New (Expensive) ATX12VO only PSU
5. Must Install Windows 11 otherwise the BIG. Little core scheduling does not work
Good Luck Intel !
Edit: Misunderstood the ATX12VO thing, it is not forced.
But so far, we can safely assume we can keep our current PSU for Zen4, and keep our current windows 10 installation.
And if we are lucky, the AMD new socket might retain AM4 cooler compatibility.
That already takes 3 out of the 5 things on my list.
Edit: My bad, it seems ATX12VO is not forced to have on 12th gen MB.
Only the highest end SKUs are likely to get DDR5 support, at least until costs come down.
The new mobo thing has been endlessly discussed, AM4 wasn't the miracle everyone seems to have it in mind as. Also, who says manufactuers won't come out with mounting brackets if possible?
Always the same, first K Sku. this is a 10 year purchase, so double the price means nothing as it just spreads over the years. But it's worth waiting for the intel 20A node for that kind of deal.
Wow already whacked z590 boards too
Guess intel just doesn't understand all this new board stuff is crazy as microsoft carrot on a stick versions nonsense lol
And how many months do we have to give AMD this time around to get their firmware working? At least when Intel ships their they actually work (or at least within a few days).Because having long-lasting standards is way more valuable than having the perfect solution for every use case.
Most people today don't grasp the usefulness of standards and wide compatibility. If it were not for the "IBM PC clones" in the 80s, we would have mostly proprietary hardware and software today, and the revolution we saw in the 90s where "every household" could afford a computer would have taken much longer. Good solid standards both helps innovation, brings down cost, and also helps for compatibility/spare parts (which reduces electronic waste).
There are good examples like PCIe, RJ45/Ethernet, etc. and bad ones like SATA power (why did we need this one?) and the ever-changing USB.
videocardz.com/newz/renders-of-amd-am5-socket-for-ryzen-zen4-raphael-cpus-have-been-leaked
Something that holds the CPU firm. I'm not exactly a butterfingers but I've had a freshly repasted CPU (had to reinsert for troubleshooting) pop out with the cooler... one hour after installation. Despite the twists.
1151. 2015-2019 (not too shabby... from first Sky to last Coffee Re with a mod, and now let's see what AM4's lifespan is going to be), v1 may become v2 with a mod, none of the issues listed above (do tell if I'm clueless), same mounting as other 115s and 1200.
But if you are to criticize Intel for "just" supporting 2 iterations, you have to take a critical look at what the competition does too. AMD has with AM4 promised more than they could deliver. In practice, most boards and chips are compatible 2-3 iterations/refreshes, but you need at big matrix of chipsets and CPUs to check compatibility, and even check the individual motherboards. AMD has unfortunately done a poor job on their firmware too, with Zen 1 and 2 it took ~3 months until they were fairly stable, and Zen 3 was "usable" after 4-5 months but still had some stability issues that was patched recently. These are two major issues with spoils otherwise good products.
So you got to choose between 2 iterations of good support, or 2-3 iterations of questionable support, with iffy memory support and firmware issues for months after release.
IME ryzen 1000 was an unstable disaster, 2000 was better, but it wasnt until 3000 that AMD was on intel's level.And let us not forget, for all the "muh AMD 4 years of support" coming from the community, that the 300 series chipsets technically only fully supports 2 geneerations, that AMD had to be forced to support ryzen 3000 on the 300 chipsets, and the outrage that forced them to backtrack on the 5000 series ONLY being suported on the 500 series chipsets. Remember how the 400 series didnt support the ryzen 5000s? I 'member.
It's not 4 years of support, its 2 years, maybe 3 if the community gets outraged enough. But somehow this is better then intel's cleear cut 2 chips per generation.