Intel X79 Enthusiast Chipset Sketched in Roadmap

[HanzoHattori]

---

Intel's next platform for enthusiasts ( successor to LGA1366, X58 ), will consist of a 2011-pin LGA socket, the Sandy Bridge-E (enthusiast) processor that features a massive quad-channel DDR3 memory controller and 32+ lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub, and the X79 chipset. Intel is looking to skip the 6-series chipset family with its next high-end platform chipset, and perhaps it makes sense since the platform is slated for Q4 2011. The X79 is a PCH (platform controller hub), like P55 and P67, since Intel has reorganized the platform. The beefy PCI-E hub housed in the X58 northbridge is relocated to the processor die, and the southbridge is given a much needed overhaul in terms of connectivity.

The X79 is much bigger than P67 in terms of connectivity and features. Differences start right at the interconnect. While P67 connects to the processor over DMI (physical PCI-Express 2.0 x4), X79 supplements this link with an additional PCI-Express 2.0 x4 link to the processor's PCI-E hub if the user chooses so, in the EFI setup program. The chipset bus hence ends up with 8 GB/s of bandwidth, and wait till you hear what will make use of it: a 10-port SATA 6 Gb/s RAID controller integrated to the PCH! That is a huge improvement in terms of storage connectivity, which is limping with 2-port SATA 6 Gb/s (next to four 3 Gb/s ports) on 6-series chipsets.

Out of the 10 SATA 6 Gb/s ports, eight can be configured as SAS (serial-attached SCSI) by motherboard manufacturers. In RAID mode, the controller supports RAID 0/1/5/10 modes. Unfortunately, there's no talk of an integrated USB 3.0 controller, the PCH still features 14 USB 2.0 ports. Perhaps Intel is pushing Thunderbolt, but there's no evidence of that integrated with the chipset, either. The PCH itself features an 8-lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub to drive the x1, x4 slots on the motherboard and onboard PCI-E devices. It features an Intel GbE interface (physically PCI-E 2.0 x1 at 50 MHz), to drive a Lewisville gigabit Ethernet PHY chip. Lastly, X79 is geared for extreme overclocking of the processor and memory. That's expected of this platform.

Source: Intel X79 Enthusiast Chipset Sketched in Roadmap | techPowerUp

[personalmgt]

ON YOUR KNEES DIRTY PEASANTS

hmm the memory and processor prices will be interesting

[elrond333]

droool XD..... i wonder wen i can get my hands on those ~

[EarlZ]

Any info on the LGA 1356, the lower end for LGA2011..

[prettylime]

Any info on the LGA 1356, the lower end for LGA2011..

mao sad ni akong gi pa abot..mao sad wala pa ko nag upgrade to SB

[P0w3rM0v3]

Nice info. Sad that the original lightpeak design wasn't realized and we had to settle for the copper based thunderbolt.

[Morcego]

hahaiz...kagasto bya gyud aning bisyoha...nana sad bag-o..

[glide 1]

waiting for some info on the processors that will be available at launch. quad channel mems - 6core-12threads, 8core-16threads, or 10core-20threads?? - 3.6ghz- 4ghz stock speeds?? - $400-450 price range, and we have a win win platform. cant wait....

[fish]

hulat nalang ta sa ivy bridge... murag dungan-dungan ra man tingali ani ang release date.

[EarlZ]

I thought Ivy was supposed to be out Q4 2011 pud, with this coming out at Q4 2011, Ivy will be 2012?