The Slumbering Giant Wakes: Intel to Introduce 18-core X-Series Processors?

[Raevenlord]

Videocardz is advancing an exclusive in that Intel seems to be about to introduce even more cores in a single package than previously thought. Intel's X299 platform, which we've just started officially started seeing some motherboards for (just scroll down on our news feed), looks to be the awakening of a slumbering giant. But you don't have to believe me on this: before we ever knew of AMD's Ryzen line of processors (much less about their Threadripper line), leaks on Intel's Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors only showed core counts up to 10-cores - in line with previous Intel HEDT platforms (see below image.) Cue more recent leaks, and it would seem that Intel is increasing the core-counts on its upcoming platform on a daily basis - especially if the most recent leak referencing 14, 16 and 18-core parts pans out. (I am reminded of a "moar cores" meme that used to float around the web. Maybe one of you in the comments can find it for me?)

A new, leaked slide on Intel's X-series processors shows 18, 16, 14, and 12-core configurations as being available on the upcoming X299 platform, leveraging Intel's turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 (which is apparently only available on Intel's Core i9-7820X, 7900X, 7920X (which we know to be a 12-core part), 7940X (probably the 14-core), 7960X (16-core) and the punchline 7980XE 18-core processor, which should see a price as eye-watering as that name tumbles around on the tip of the tongue. There is also mention of a "Rebalanced Intel Smart Cache hierarchy". But you don't want me to be rambling on about this. You want to comment about this story. Feel free to partake in a joyous conversation over these news (I'll also leave you with a bonus picture of some purported, upcoming Intel X-series packaging efforts. They're certainly colorful.)



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[Cr4zy]

Thanks AMD

 

[SKD007]

Thanks AMD

Yup thanks to AMD now intel is forced to bring out more cores. Hope this continues and we get 100cores in no time

 

[mcraygsx]

Looks like someone was holding onto good stuff on purpose.

 

[chaosmassive]

Looks like someone was holding onto good stuff on purpose.

not just someone, its very common on giant tech company

 

[SKD007]

not just someone, its very common on giant tech company

But we won't know what AMD is going to do. 20c/40T may be or 22/44 ? Let's hope so... then intel will push even harder and price will drop faster

 

[dj-electric]

Thanks AMD

Absolutely. We owe AMD a big thanks for making our next HEDT more powerful

 

[efikkan]

Thanks AMD

Incredible!
AMD is not only responsible for their own products, but they are also designing products for their compeitors, and even before they have their own ready!

 

[TheLostSwede]

Incredible!
AMD is not only responsible for their own products, but they are also designing products for their compeitors, and even before they have their own ready!

No, that's not what this is about. It's about Intel finally having some competition and responding to it. Why are all the Intel fan boys making this out to be a bad thing?

 

[RejZoR]

Thanks to AMD, both are now going for more cores. I think the time of true multi core gaming and apps has just begun. More game devs will adopt higher core counts now that both are chasing more cores even with lower end models. Well, AMD at least (Core i3 dual cores...).

 

[iO]

PCGH claims that the heat spreader is no longer soldered...

 

[rtwjunkie]

Incredible!
AMD is not only responsible for their own products, but they are also designing products for their compeitors, and even before they have their own ready!

He thanked AMD because without the Ryzen competition, Intel would not have seen the need to quickly announce what has obviously been long researched.

 

[xkm1948]

The 18core one probably gonna cost $2500. It is Intel after all, they don't give a damn about their competitor's pricing.


On a bright note, I will be expecting loads of used 5960X/6950X for sale in forums soon. Those rich folks will definitely wanna upgrade to X299 now Intel is offering way moar cores.

 

[Nokiron]

PCGH claims that the heat spreader is no longer soldered...

I have some serious doubt about that since the die is so big.

 

[efikkan]

He thanked AMD because without the Ryzen competition, Intel would not have seen the need to quickly announce what has obviously been long researched.

Crediting AMD for this is just as silly as those who credited AMD for the release of GTX 1080 Ti, despite Vega is still MIA.

Threadripper is just multiple Zens slapped together, we basically know how it's going to perform. Intel already have faster cores than AMD, and if Skylake-X is any improvement at all, AMD will be the ones shaking in fear.

 

[buggalugs]

Crediting AMD for this is just as silly as those who credited AMD for the release of GTX 1080 Ti, despite Vega is still MIA.

Threadripper is just multiple Zens slapped together, we basically know how it's going to perform. Intel already have faster cores than AMD, and if Skylake-X is any improvement at all, AMD will be the ones shaking in fear.

Nope , you're wrong, and the CPU situation is completely different to the GPU situation. The 1080Ti was always going to come, Nvidia have had a Ti version for years.

More CPU cores was only going to come when there was a need, and AMD forced that need.

 

[[XC] Oj101]

PCGH claims that the heat spreader is no longer soldered...

Indeed, I said that a while ago. It has nothing to do with die size and everything to do with costs.

 

[R-T-B]

Indeed, I said that a while ago. It has nothing to do with die size and everything to do with costs.

Die size is relevant as heat dissapation on a large die part via paste is going to severely constrain clocks, and thus competition.

 

[evernessince]

Even if these Rumors prove to be true AMD has a HUGE advantage: Infinity fabric. While Intel has to have all their cores on a single die, AMD can simply stitch dies together. The yields are higher this way and it's cheaper.

Remember a year ago when Intel said that developing new CPUs was slowing down because they were hitting roadblocks? Yeah, I think we all knew that was complete BS and their recent moves proves it. Intel screwed themselves so much by failing to innovate. They let AMD mount a comeback, let ARM mature, and they let Nvidia steal upcoming markets from them.

 

[Grings]

I am mega dubious how AMD's Quad channel ram will perform

If there is latency apparent working between the 2 quad cores on a single die, i cant see 2 memory conrtollers on seperate dies working seamlessly at all

 

[Bansaku]

Two things immediately come to mind: Temperature/power draw, and the MASSIVE cost! Reminds me of the old Core Extremes.

 

[notb]

No, that's not what this is about. It's about Intel finally having some competition and responding to it. Why are all the Intel fan boys making this out to be a bad thing?

Are you at least considering the possibility that both companies have been developing these CPUs for a long time and AMD simply released their earlier?

Nope , you're wrong, and the CPU situation is completely different to the GPU situation. The 1080Ti was always going to come, Nvidia have had a Ti version for years.
More CPU cores was only going to come when there was a need, and AMD forced that need.

I'm getting slightly tired of this, really. Why don't we start praising Intel, because they forced AMD to make something serious? I mean, if it wasn't for Intel, AMD would still make mid-2000s Phenoms, wouldn't it?

Even if these Rumors prove to be true AMD has a HUGE advantage: Infinity fabric. While Intel has to have all their cores on a single die, AMD can simply stitch dies together. The yields are higher this way and it's cheaper.

Until now Infinity Fabric has been nothing but a huge letdown - especially in the memory latency department.
They're marketing it as a feature of the platform (i.e. giving some advantages), but it is in fact a compromise they needed to make the whole Zen idea work (that is: joining multiple CCX segments).
And it could become even worse. Some rumors suggested that in 2-CPU solutions Zen cores will be able to access the whole RAM in the system - also the DIMMs connected to the other CPU. This sounds like an incoming disaster.

 

[Deleted member 172152]

The bigger, the better, except for the price tag!

 

[Gasaraki]

Yup thanks to AMD now intel is forced to bring out more cores. Hope this continues and we get 100cores in no time

Yay, AMD's plan to push more cores on us is finally working. Too bad a 8 core part is no different than a 12 core part at the same speed in most applications and games.

 

[Gasaraki]

The 18core one probably gonna cost $2500. It is Intel after all, they don't give a damn about their competitor's pricing.


On a bright note, I will be expecting loads of used 5960X/6950X for sale in forums soon. Those rich folks will definitely wanna upgrade to X299 now Intel is offering way moar cores.

AMD HEDT is not going to be cheap. Think. The Ryzen 1800X is $500. Prices for the Ryzen HEDT is going to be way north of that.