Intel 500-series Chipset Models Unveiled, Company Staring at Chipset Shortage?

[btarunr]

In the run-up to its mid-January unveil of its 11th Gen Core "Rocket Lake-S" desktop processors and companion Intel 500-series chipsets, we get our first look at the three 500-series chipset models from Intel's stable for the DIY client market. This includes the top-tier Intel Z590, the mid-range B560, and the entry-level H510. Intel even made logos for the three chipsets, which could appear on the retail packaging and marketing materials of motherboards. While 11th Gen Core "Rocket Lake-S" processors are expected to be backwards-compatible with existing 400-series chipset Socket LGA1200 motherboards; there are major advantages to choosing a 500-series motherboard.

To begin with, motherboards based on the Z590 chipset feature a fatter 8-lane DMI 3.0 chipset bus between the processor and the PCH, which doubles the chipset bus bandwidth to 64 Gbps per direction. 500-series chipset motherboards also feature one CPU-attached M.2 NVMe slot, which works with "Rocket Lake-S," as the processor puts out 28 PCIe lanes. 16 of these go toward the PEG interface, 8 toward the chipset bus, and four toward this dedicated NVMe slot. In related news, Chinese tech publication MyDrivers reports that Intel is staring at a motherboard chipset shortage going into Q1-2021, with availability of the entry-mid 400-series chipsets such as the H410 and B460 being scarce. This could impact motherboard pricing.



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[Flanker]

What, scalpers targeting intel chipsets as well?

 

[RandallFlagg]

The 410 and 460 are supposedly 22nm, which is where the supply constraint exists as there is only one remaining 22nm fab and the vast majority of desktop systems sold are using those more pedestrian chipsets. This is on top of the cutover to next gen 560/510 that was reported..

Z490 and all of the mobile chipsets are on 14nm and there appears to be no constraint or supply issue there.

 

[btarunr]

Just imagine if Intel could open up chipsets back to third-parties like VIA, NVIDIA, SiS. The PCH is just a PCIe southbridge.

 

[Sabishii Hito]

Just imagine if Intel could open up chipsets back to third-parties like VIA, NVIDIA, SiS. The PCH is just a PCIe southbridge.

What would be the point though? It's not like before when the northbridge was a thing, now all that functionality is on the CPU.

DMI being 8x meansPCH-attached NVMe RAID0 should actually provide a performance benefit

 

[newtekie1]

What would be the point though?

To reduce the demand on Intel's chipsets and help alleviate the shortage in the mid-range and low-end markets.

DMI being 8x meansPCH-attached NVMe RAID0 should actually provide a performance benefit

Yeah, but not a noticeable one except in extreme edge use cases.

 

[RandallFlagg]

I don't know who could make enough chips for Intel. The foundries are already raising prices due to demand outstripping supply. On Intel's earning sheet, the portion that accounts for support chips and such for their CPUs is about 500M / Quarter, or $2B / year. That would represent ~30% of GloFlo's entire revenue stream for a year.

And despite popular belief, most of these foundries would still see 22nm equivalent to be cutting edge. GloFlo for example, appears to have 3 fabs and one of those is a 180nm fab. The other two look like they can do a mix of 12-32nm.

If they were to say, send that work to GloFlo, it would undoubtedly result in shortages elsewhere. AMD x570 for example is a GloFlo 14nm made from a Matisse IO die. Zen 3 ofc is still using GloFlo 12nm IO. Then there's PS5 / Xbox, Threadripper, and Epyc that all depend on GloFlo.

It is an interesting thought though. Intel could drop a couple billion on GloFlo and basically shut down AMD.

 

[R0H1T]

You know what'll help more? Intel disengaging their BS practice of making users upgrade their mobs every second gen!

 

[bencrutz]

If they were to say, send that work to GloFlo, it would undoubtedly result in shortages elsewhere. AMD x570 for example is a GloFlo 14nm made from a Matisse IO die. Zen 3 ofc is still using GloFlo 12nm IO. Then there's PS5 / Xbox, Threadripper, and Epyc that all depend on GloFlo.

It is an interesting thought though. Intel could drop a couple billion on GloFlo and basically shut down AMD.

it's the other way around, AMD need to buy wafers off of GF else they will need to pay some money for compensation due to WSA. Even if intel put large order on GF, GF still need to fulfill AMD order first, due to, again, WSA.

 

[Wirko]

Just imagine if Intel could open up chipsets back to third-parties like VIA, NVIDIA, SiS. The PCH is just a PCIe southbridge.

Imagine Intel CPUs being so advanced as to allow building PCs without chipsets!

 

[Patr!ck]

Happy SALTY Year AMD fanboys https://www.hardwaretimes.com/amd-l...december-rtx-3080-share-doubles-steam-survey/

 

[RandallFlagg]

Everything except Z490 is sold out at my local MicroCenter now.

Anecdotal? I doubt it. Yesterday they had about 6 or 7 B460s/H410s and 25+ Z490s. Today they are down to 6 Z490s left.

On the up side, this might make the gen 10 drop in price for upgraders as people doing complete new builds won't have motherboards.

 

[windwhirl]

It is an interesting thought though. Intel could drop a couple billion on GloFlo and basically shut down AMD.

Might depend on what that Wafer Supply Agreement between GloFo and AMD says.

Imagine Intel CPUs being so advanced as to allow building PCs without chipsets!

AMD Epyc platform does that, doesn't it? No chipset on those boards. Then again, those server boards don't need audio functionality and network is probably better handled through specialized NICs.

 

[newtekie1]

AMD Epyc platform does that, doesn't it? No chipset on those boards. Then again, those server boards don't need audio functionality and network is probably better handled through specialized NICs.

The desktop Ryzens can be run without a chipset on the motherboard. The A300 chipset has no chipset on the motherboard, it uses the I/O is provided by the Ryzen CPU.

 

[Sabishii Hito]

Everything except Z490 is sold out at my local MicroCenter now.

Anecdotal? I doubt it. Yesterday they had about 6 or 7 B460s/H410s and 25+ Z490s. Today they are down to 6 Z490s left.

On the up side, this might make the gen 10 drop in price for upgraders as people doing complete new builds won't have motherboards.

Last time I went to my local MC most of the Z490 boards were sold out; only 5 models left, though they have plenty of Z490-A Primes.

 

[RandallFlagg]

Last time I went to my local MC most of the Z490 boards were sold out; only 5 models left, though they have plenty of Z490-A Primes.

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Well, the MicroCenter here in the Dallas metro is now out of everything except Z490s.

They did get a bunch of Z490s in but all the 410/470/460 boards are gone. That was quick.

 

[windwhirl]

Well, the MicroCenter here in the Dallas metro is now out of everything except Z490s.

They did get a bunch of Z490s in but all the 410/470/460 boards are gone. That was quick.

Is it just price difference that made people kinda leave the Z490s alone?

 

[RandallFlagg]

Is it just price difference that made people kinda leave the Z490s alone?

No, thread title, there is a shortage of Intel 460/410 and apparently 470 chipsets. I think this has to do with them being on 22nm, and there is only one fab left at 22nm. Edit: That combined with switching over to production of 510/560/570 chipsets. Keep in mind they are supplying OEMs too, so they may have all their supply going there.

Using a trick on Microcenter's site, you can select an individual model and see stock at multiple stores. This one for example, an Asus B460M-Plus Gaming Wifi, which is pretty popular, looks out of stock in like 90% of their locations.

And this one, the B460-M DS3H which is a staple super cheap motherboard, is out of stock everywhere :

 

[Wirko]

The desktop Ryzens can be run without a chipset on the motherboard. The A300 chipset has no chipset on the motherboard, it uses the I/O is provided by the Ryzen CPU.

AMD prefers selling chipsets to not selling chipsets, so zero information on A300 (or B300 or X300 or Pro 500) is available to us, but you can buy an Asrock DeskMini A300 or X300 barebones PC.

 

[R-T-B]

Happy SALTY Year AMD fanboys https://www.hardwaretimes.com/amd-l...december-rtx-3080-share-doubles-steam-survey/

On topic how?

 

[bobcom1]

You know what'll help more? Intel disengaging their BS practice of making users upgrade their mobs every second gen!

Z490 is compatible with 11th gen cpu's

 

[THU31]

Gen3 for the chipset seems like a good choice. No active cooling needed.

One Gen4 NVMe slot should be enough for most people.