Intel's 8th Gen Core-B Processors Are BGA Solutions for AIOs

[Raevenlord]

Intel has announced, in-between the flurry of announcement sin the past week, that they're introducing a line of BGA (Ball-Grid Array) microprocessors to their 8th Gen line-up with the Core-B branding. The new CPUs look to deliver easily installed, scalable, premium processor options for all sorts of limited Z-height computing packages, such as the ones found in AIOs, without sacrificing performance in order to keep TDPs in check.

This means that these processors ship with a 65W TDP - higher than Intel's top-performing mobile H solutions. This move may come in handy for some users that wonder regarding upgradeability of a given AIO they're eyeing - if it comes with a Core-B processor, you know it won't be user-serviceable, much less upgradeable. The line-up will start with the Core i7-8700B, i5-8500B, and i5-8400 (yes, there's an absence of a B there) processors, all shipping with a 65 W TDP, and equivalent to their desktop counterparts - core counts, base frequencies, turbo frequencies, memory support, Optane support, and integrated graphics are all the same. The only difference is that these CPUs are likely - and should be expected - to be placed into TDP-limited scenarios enabled through firmware.



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[BadFrog]

so now we not only have to deal with + on the lineup, but add in B cpu's as well? What's up Intel? Ur shits getting more confusing as the days go...

 

[TheGuruStud]

so now we not only have to deal with + on the lineup, but add in B cpu's as well? What's up Intel? Ur shits getting more confusing as the days go...

They want everything to be BGA.

 

[Manu_PT]

They want everything to be BGA.

Bingo, this is just the beggining

 

[dj-electric]

Eh, intel knows that BGA only would kill so many potential users they won't do it. Not now when AMD can answer

 

[TheGuruStud]

Eh, intel knows that BGA only would kill so many potential users they won't do it. Not now when AMD can answer

They're still arrogant and the market won't punish them. Just look at spectre/meltdown perf hit and servers. They weren't a good product before the fix and dummies are still buying them.

 

[lexluthermiester]

They want everything to be BGA.

Screw that! They go all BGA and they will lose a crap-ton of business worldwide. I will never build a desktop system I can't upgrade at-will.

 

[TheGuruStud]

Screw that! They go all BGA and they will lose a crap-ton of business worldwide. I will never build a desktop system I can't upgrade at-will.

Intel doesn't care, they have Dell in their pocket.
In fact, how much you wanna bet Dell is the first OEM to adopt it when Intel rolls this out for normal form factors?

 

[lexluthermiester]

Intel doesn't care, they have Dell in their pocket.
In fact, how much you wanna bet Dell is the first OEM to adopt it when Intel rolls this out for normal form factors?

Never gonna happen.

 

[TheGuruStud]

Never gonna happen.

If you believe the "leaked" roadmap from 2012, then intel planned BGA from broadwell on. They will attempt it when they see fit. Crappy TIM is just the beginning LOL

 

[Vayra86]

They're still arrogant and the market won't punish them. Just look at spectre/meltdown perf hit and servers. They weren't a good product before the fix and dummies are still buying them.

Its not like it is easy or painless switching over to a whole new server park that is littered with question marks and untested behavior/situations. The cost alone of re-testing every basic interaction is enough to keep that at bay. Any company that would make this transition would at least start with a pilot, taking a very small number or running Zen on a single rack for a prolonged period of time. So there is always going to be a significant delay anyway.

AMD needs to consistently show Zen is here to stay and nets a sizeable cost reduction / reliability/performance win and preferably all three of them, before companies switch. Beyond that, the only way you'll see Zen gain traction in this space is with start-ups and new business units that deploy new environments. Legacy? No chance.

About BGA... it was never the plan to make everything BGA. Not sure where you got that from - this is specifically for the AIO and prebuilt segment, for an efficiency and cost reduction bump.