Thursday, November 1st 2012
Top Intel Ivy Bridge-E Core Processors To Still Pack Six Cores
Intel's 2011-launched Core i7 "Sandy Bridge-E" HEDT platform is based on a 32 nm silicon that's common with Xeon E5 series processors. While the silicon physically packs eight CPU cores and 20 MB last-level cache (LLC, or L3 cache), client Core i7 processors are configured with only a maximum of six cores, and up to 15 MB L3 cache. According to a MyDrivers.com report, the maximum core count won't change with next-generation 22 nm Ivy Bridge-E Core i7 processors.
Ivy Bridge-E will be an upscale of Ivy Bridge. Similar to Sandy Bridge-E, the silicon will feature up to eight cores and 20 MB L3 cache. In its Core i7 avatar, however, the chip will be configured with no more than six cores, and no more than 15 MB L3 cache. The new chip will introduce IPC improvements, PCI-Express Gen 3.0 certified root complex (one which NVIDIA will approve of), higher CPU core clock speeds, and support for faster memory.
TDP could be the only reason Intel isn't willing to unlock cores 7 and 8 on client processors. Eight core, 20 MB LLC-laden Xeon E5 models based on today's 32 nm silicon, with 130W TDP, barely manage to scrape the 3.00 GHz mark. Given that, the prospects for Ivy Bridge-E client CPUs to run with all cores and LLC enabled, and yet deliver higher clock speeds than predecessors were always going to be low.
Intel Core i7 "Ivy Bridge-E" HEDT processors are compatible with existing socket LGA2011 motherboards (subject to BIOS update), and are slated for Q3-2013.
Source:
MyDrivers
Ivy Bridge-E will be an upscale of Ivy Bridge. Similar to Sandy Bridge-E, the silicon will feature up to eight cores and 20 MB L3 cache. In its Core i7 avatar, however, the chip will be configured with no more than six cores, and no more than 15 MB L3 cache. The new chip will introduce IPC improvements, PCI-Express Gen 3.0 certified root complex (one which NVIDIA will approve of), higher CPU core clock speeds, and support for faster memory.
TDP could be the only reason Intel isn't willing to unlock cores 7 and 8 on client processors. Eight core, 20 MB LLC-laden Xeon E5 models based on today's 32 nm silicon, with 130W TDP, barely manage to scrape the 3.00 GHz mark. Given that, the prospects for Ivy Bridge-E client CPUs to run with all cores and LLC enabled, and yet deliver higher clock speeds than predecessors were always going to be low.
Intel Core i7 "Ivy Bridge-E" HEDT processors are compatible with existing socket LGA2011 motherboards (subject to BIOS update), and are slated for Q3-2013.
111 Comments on Top Intel Ivy Bridge-E Core Processors To Still Pack Six Cores
Haswell-E will be something LGA20xx for sure.technewspedia.com/futurology-haswell-ep-will-have-14-cores-and-35mb-l3/
Ya sure about that LGA20XX, try socket R3. Rumor has it LGA2011 will be replaced so your for sure thing is not for sure as stated in your quote.
Ok, I'll stop dreaming now. :p
I'd probably buy a 2687w if it was unlocked.
LGA 2011, also called Socket R, is a CPU socket by Intel.
From wiki, thus this new Haswell-E is still LGA20xx ;)
My intention is to eventually replace the SB-E chip with an IB-E later on, so that I don't need to replace the mobo. Given that the primary use for my PC is gaming, 4 cores are quite sufficient for my needs, so the fact that the IB-E chips will ship with 6 isn't a problem for me. Until games start taking advantage of more than 6 cores, there's no point me worrying about Intel disabling the extra 2.
I'm also not too bothered about the longevity of the Socket 2011, if I can swap out the 3820 and drop an IB-E in there later on, I'll be happy. I've never upgraded just the CPU in any machine I've built - I've always replaced the mobo as well, so actually getting 2 CPU upgrades without having to swap out the rest of the system will be good for me.
My question to you clever chaps is this: am I barking up the wrong tree with my plans above? I want a mobo that will give me the best possible performance from my graphics hardware (currently a pair of GTX680s) and I want a CPU that favours raw clock speed over lots of cores, since that's what's going to give me the smoothest framerates. Are there better ways to do this (or cheaper ways?), would I benefit from looking at a different platform?
Interested to know your thoughts. Thanks.