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
And by the way, Intel did that, know why? because they knew amd was very far behind and they had the performance monopoly segment, as intel dont have that monopoly anymore, we are free to choose if we want to be free or locked in the bs, I have chosen to be free and have chosen amd but if amd decided to act like intel then I will need a 3rd option because in all honesty not sure if Intel will change their policy towards that, however as I already have said, Intel don't hold the performance lead anymore and son they have much less leverage enforcing people on what to do.
It kind of has that longevity but at the same time it is a lot of pain in the ass to actually take advantage of. Or luck, which is not much better. And paying A LOT for the motherboard obviously does help. All this is from experience, with motherboards that are mostly on the higher end of things, including at least one review package motherboard.
Overall though, unless you are a true enthusiast you will upgrade a CPU every what, 3-5 years? Even in terms of AM4 this means a new motherboard.As you say, Intel has been very consistent in their CPU-socket support. Every socket since at least Sandy Bridge and S1155 lasts two generations of CPUs and chipsets and that is roughly two years. If you wonder why that is, you may want to look back to LGA775 and maybe a couple sockets before that.
The following are reasons why CPU upgrade paths across architectures are not a good idea;
- It will always be a compromise; a new CPU worth upgrading to will probably be better off with a new motherboard.
- Support beyond two architectures will be hard, and such rapid CPU upgrades are rarely worth it. Generally, it takes the third generation before the performance gains justify an upgrade, and offering good support for that long is unrealistic.
- BIOS support from motherboard makers will be flaky at best, they currently "struggle" to actively maintain motherboards for a year. If there were to be a meaningful upgrade path, they would have to commit to 4-5 years of support (even if it was just for select motherboards).
- CPUs, motherboards and RAM usually go together, and if you upgrade one or two of them, then you have leftover parts. Selling for a decent price isn't easy in all parts of the world.
- Everything comes at a price, this isn't some trivial feature they can just enable.
AMD would be much better off focusing on stable firmware and BIOSes from day 1 instead of promising cross compatibility they can't deliver on.
I know there is a large market for recycled parts in eastern Asia, to this day there are still made motherboards for Sandy Bridge and Haswell (using recycled chipsets), and this makes up the super low budget option.
But your argument is fundamentally flawed. If a buyer have a last gen machine, and can only afford a cheap CPU of the current generation, then why is this upgrade even worth while? That upgrade can't possibly be huge.
That buyer should probably save his money for a larger upgrade, or buy "last gen" on discount when a new generation launches, he is looking for value after all.
Sad you think that way you've been with Intel too long the borg has you lol
Two chips per board is just sad and this is a yearly event from Intel way too many lakes
I'm just sick of seeing AMD acolytes bashing Intel. Was different when everyone was using Intel, no one bashed them then. Can't wait to see what happens "IF" they get on top again.