Friday, March 28th 2014
Intel Finalizes Feature-sets of the First Wave of 9-series Chipsets
Here's what the first wave of Intel 9-series chipsets will look like. It will consist of upper-mainstream chipsets for the LGA1150 platform, and the sole chipset for the LGA2011-3 HEDT platform. LGA1150 will get two new chipsets based on a common silicon, the Z97 Express, and the H97 Express. The Z97 will be the next top-end chipset for the platform, supporting current Core "Haswell" and upcoming "Haswell refresh" and "Devil's Canyon" processors. Motherboards based on the Z97 chipset, like the ones based on the Z87 and Z77, will feature up to three PCI-Express 3.0 slots wired to the CPU, in configurations of x16/NC/NC, x8/x8/NC, and x8/x4/x4. It will support overclocking, something its sibling the H97 Express will lack. The H97 will also lack the PCIe configurations that the Z97 supports.
Both Z97 and H97 will introduce support for PCI-Express M.2 storage, which offers 66.6% higher bandwidth than SATA 6 Gb/s, and the same bandwidth as SATA-Express. Its introduction will spur up development and launches of a new generation of high-performance client SSDs in 2014-15. Apart from M.2, the two chipsets offer six SATA 6 Gb/s ports with AHCI and RAID support. Rapid Storage Technology (RST) and Smart Response Technology (SRT) are common for both chips, however, the Z97 also features Dynamic Storage Accelerator (DST), something the H97 will lack. H97 will exclusively offer Small Business Advantage (SBA), instead. Both chips will feature 8-lane PCI-Express gen 2.0 root complexes to drive onboard devices, and 14 USB ports, including six USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports.
The X99 Express is a different beast altogether. Designed for the upcoming "Haswell-E" HEDT platform, and the next-generation LGA2011-3 socket (incompatible with current LGA2011), the X99 platform is designed for high-end multi-GPU builds. It will let motherboard designers build boards with up to five PCI-Express 3.0 x16 slots wired to the CPU, in either x16/NC/x16/NC/x8, or x16/NC/x8/x8/x8, or even x8/x8/x8/x8/x8. Letting you toss in a screamingly fast PCIe SSD along with your 4-way multi-GPU setup. Intel appears to have gotten over the SATA+SAS mess it built with the previous X79/C608 common silicon, and gave the X99 a monolithic 10-port SATA 6 Gb/s storage controller, with RST and SRT support. SSD TRIM will be supported on RAID 0 configurations. An 8-lane PCI-Express gen 2.0 root complex drives onboard devices, just like the on the Z97/H97, and a 14-port USB controller, with 6 USB 3.0 ports completes its main feature-set. Intel plans to launch the three around Q2-Q3, 2014.
Source:
Hermitage Akihabara
Both Z97 and H97 will introduce support for PCI-Express M.2 storage, which offers 66.6% higher bandwidth than SATA 6 Gb/s, and the same bandwidth as SATA-Express. Its introduction will spur up development and launches of a new generation of high-performance client SSDs in 2014-15. Apart from M.2, the two chipsets offer six SATA 6 Gb/s ports with AHCI and RAID support. Rapid Storage Technology (RST) and Smart Response Technology (SRT) are common for both chips, however, the Z97 also features Dynamic Storage Accelerator (DST), something the H97 will lack. H97 will exclusively offer Small Business Advantage (SBA), instead. Both chips will feature 8-lane PCI-Express gen 2.0 root complexes to drive onboard devices, and 14 USB ports, including six USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports.
55 Comments on Intel Finalizes Feature-sets of the First Wave of 9-series Chipsets
I'm pretty happy with how the SB-e silicon turned out. No matter how you view the PCH, a CPU that could easily overclock to an extra GHz frequency without even breaking a sweat is impressive.
At the same time, SB-Haswell hasn't produced any substantial performance gains in the mainstream. 10-15% increases amount to improvement, but nothing worth buying another system over. X99 is a great proposition if you're coming from something in the X58 or prior generations. If you're already running SB-e there's nothing there to justify that kind of expenditure. As much as I hate to say it, a $200 RAID card is way cheaper than a decent new motherboard.
I'm interested that Intel is actually bringing the mainstream I/O to the HEDT platform. I'm not happy, thrilled, or surprised. Wake me when I can buy a new platform that justifies another $1000 or more expense.
To those who use the car analogy, it is flawed. Please consider the following replacement. I own an old sports car. I can remove its engine, but to get the extra 200 hp I want stock I need to buy a new car and a new motor. Alternatively, I could install a new engine that fits for a mild performance boost, and couple it with a super charger (expansion device) to get the same functional hp increase. No matter what, my sports car beats out a Honda Civic released at the same time, and even most new Civics. It may not be new, but there's plenty of life still left in it.
I'd love to have the same views. Given the less than warm reception of SB-e, the initial issues with IB (SATA connectivity), and the relatively trivial progress that Haswell has made I'm ready for something great. I have high hopes for Skylake, tempered with rather low expectations.
My Core i7 3930K / Asus P9X79 Deluxe setup has severed me well for years and is still performing admirably. If I were buying a new platform id probably go with X99 / LGA2011-3 but I see no need to upgrade yet and I don't need to add another system at the moment.
I have tried multiple SSD units (up to 4) in a RAID 0 configuration on my Core i7 3930K / Asus P9X79 Deluxe system and on my Core i5 2500K / Asus P8P67 Pro system. This was to increase the single logical capacity more then anything else (up to ~1TB of pure SSD capacity) but it performed well in Both cases. If I recall correctly, Intel promised TRIM support for the X79 platform in RAID 0 but I'm unsure if they ever delivered on that promise. Anyway, TRIM support on X79 and X99 platforms is a reason (however uncommon or special case It might be) to run 2, 3, 4 or more SSD off of the motherboard rather then a RAID card (until Such time as RAID cards start providing TRIM support in RAID 0).
Honestly I'm very curious to see of X99 boards will ever receive Thunderbolt II support. I know a lot of people don’t care about Thunderbolt but that is in no small way due to its cost and availability. However, the X99 platform won't be cheap any more then X79 so it will already command a premium price. I probably wouldn't use Thunderbolt even If I had it but I am curious if Intel will allow Thunderbolt II on another platform without an Intel IGP besides the new Mac Pro,....
I still have an old Gigabyte LGA775 board that I installed a Core 2 Quad Q6600 on. The board eventually developed problems but it supported both DDR2 and DDR3. There is no doubt in my mind that Intel could have included DDR4 support and DDR3 support but it would have increased the complexity and likely the price of the hardware. So I guess I am playing devil's advocate here a bit,.....
The way I see it is that people typically want backward compatibility in cases like this because they want a cheap upgrade path but the Intel HEDT platform is usually anything but cheap so its a conflict of interest.
Is It that Intel is being greedy or is it that some upgraders are being cheap?
I'd say its a bit of both.
In a modern CPU you'd have to increase die size dramatically to include an extra memory controller. That rather significantly increases silicon size, increases failure points, and would wind up making that $600 CPU closer to $800 (ballpark estimation) Not sure about you, but that sounds insane from where I sit.
I don't like Intel introducing LGA 2011-3, but it isn't unreasonable. We look at the same number of connectors, and see a pretty "obvious" cash grab. What we don't see is the electrical schematics reworking which pins do what, and where they do it. We don't see the reworking of the memory controller for DDR4. Despite not seeing this, people are calling foul. I may not like the new socket, but crying foul is not a reasonable response.
For those interested, here are what the three LGA2011's (LGA 2011-0 "Socket R", LGA 2011-1 "Socket R1", and LGA 2011-3 "Socket R3") look like
Still I'm not the one complaining about backward compatibility and I don't mind buying a new CPU+Motherboard (and in this case DDR4 RAM). Nor am I the one complaining about the likely price (probably similar to X79 / LGA2011 pricing on CPUs and board pricing).
I was only pointing out to those that were complaining about the lack of backward compatibility that what they were asking for could easily increase the price of the hardware in question significantly. In addition, they should also keep in mind that an Intel HEDT platform would be expensive to begin with without the unnecessary backward compatibility so requesting it is just adding more expense to an already expensive platform.
And lastly (and this is the real kicker) some people may be asking for backward compatibility for a previous platform (LGA2011) that they may not even own for a future platform (LGA2011-3) that they may never own. I'm not saying anyone here did it but I have seen it happen before in other threads.
As a Core i7 3930K / Asus P9X79 Deluxe LGA2011 platform owner I'm OK, with having to buy a new CPU and motherboard if I buy into the new upcoming Haswell-E LGA2011-3 platform. I think ill probably just stick with my current Sandy Bridge-E platform but when Haswell-E is released I just know I'll feel the itch.
Remember when DDR3 first came out? It was hardly faster than DDR2 initially and I don't think we'll see amazing numbers out of it until they figure out how to improve their first version of DDR4 IMCs and in my own estimation, the PCH is not enough to make me think jumping ship is worth while, even if I had the money to spend and were seeking an upgrade.
So I have been down a system for some time now. I've been able to deal without it though. Still I had tentative plans to build a new system about the time Haswell-E will likely launch. That wouldn't be a replacement to my Core i7 3930K / Asus P9X79 Deluxe based system but rather an addition.
Still, since I've gone this long without it,....I could go even longer. I guess that's why I've been on the fence a bit and have gone back and forth,......
I remember the first infraction I got was for calling someone an idiot for running a skt2011 CPU without a cooler because he thought it didn't need one because it didn't come with one. You get what you deserve I suppose. I wonder if Intel's overclocking plan covers stupid as well. :laugh:
If not I think that outcome is unlikely,..... for the most part.
The X79 /C600 / LGA2011 platform was far less popular and far less pervasive in no small way due to its added cost and the same will likely be true of Haswell-E / X99 / LGA2011-3
If I were guessing, I would expect Haswell-E /X99 / LGA2011-3 motherboards to start at about ~$300 to ~$350 USD when they are released if not more. Haswell-E processors will likely be released in the same performance / price trifecta of ~$1000 (EE / Extreme), ~$550 to ~$600 (K suffix) and ~$300 (entry level). History suggest the entry level processor may be delayed due to various reasons and likely will not have the same feature set as its more expensive alternatives. So for example, the entry level may be months delayed and have only 4 or 6 cores with Less comprehensive overclocking features. and so on,......making them less desirable in almost all respects other then price.
Add to that the extra cost of DDR4,....
Bottom-line is that most people will be unwilling or unable to buy into the more expensive X99 LGA2011-3 platform and instead opt for the cheaper yet still very capable Z97 or Z87 LGA1150 platform.
Still, "you cant fix stupid" so if someone is going jam the wrong CPU into the wrong socket then that will likely happen on any platform they get a hold of.
Also, it stands to reason that LGA2011-3 CPUs / Sockets will be keyed differently then LGA2011 CPUs / Sockets,...
But seriously, basing on all experience starting from ancient edoram times... first chipsets with new generation of RAM always were drownable puppies... it will be a stillborn... large scale beta test.
On the other hand... I cannot still see any reason to upgrade from X79, if one(moneybag) needs bunch of sata3 drives there are always entry level pci-e cards from LSI or 3ware and etc for 200-300$. And it will perform like hell good.
X58 / LGA1366 and DDR3 was and still is IMO a fairly formidable combo. It was a great platform when it was first launched and still is today.
First one really was the BAD AXE 975X, but in terms of DDR3 it was the X38...
But I'm really looking forward to Skylake.
6 to 8 cores suggests to me that the entry level 5000 series Haswell-E processor may have 6 cores. That's better then Sandy Bridge-E and Ivy Bridge-E entry level processors at 4 cores. Also if the pricing for entry level is the same as in the past then ~$300 would be a great price for a 6 core i7 processor.
55% IPC improvement over quad cores with Haswell-E,.......that sounds lofty.