Intel HEDT Platform to be Forked into Z399 and X599

[btarunr]

Intel could very soon fork its high-end desktop platform into two, with the introduction of the new Z399 socket LGA2066 chipset later this quarter; and the fabled X599 chipset powering LGA3647 processors. The move is probably triggered by AMD's introduction of new 24-core and 32-core Ryzen Threadripper processors that wipe out competitiveness of its existing "Basin Falls" X299 platform. The X599 could essentially be a C629 with the addition of some client-segment features (and the subtraction of some enterprise-segment ones), whereas the Z399 is a whole different beast.

With the introduction X599 and LGA3647, Intel could restore competitiveness at the >$1,500 market segment with new 24-core, 26-core, and 28-core "Skylake-X" XCC (extended/extreme core count) processors; whereas the introduction of Z399 could be necessitated with a that of a new 22-core chip for the LGA2066 socket, from which Intel can carve out new 20-core and 22-core SKUs. Existing Skylake-X LCC and HCC chips could be forwards-compatible with Z399, and X299 motherboards could still be eligible for supporting new 20-core and 22-core processors via BIOS updates. The Z399 could introduce a handful of new client-segment features Intel is introducing with the Z390.



Since the LGA2066 platform won't be "extreme" anymore as that distinction gets reserved for LGA3647, the "X" in the chipset name gets replaced by "Z." This could also help consumers tell Intel's platform apart from AMD X399, which powers two generations of Ryzen Threadripper processors. Intel could hence use Z399 and the new 22-core die to compete with 2nd generation Threadripper X-series processors, while the X599 and 28-core processor could deal with Threadripper WX-series.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Prima.Vera]

Wait....What??
So Intel is going to release both Z390 and Z399??? What gives?? Except supported CPUs by cores, what are the main differences between the two? Does the Z399 receive more PCI-E Lines?? Any other extra features?
More details please.

 

[StrayKAT]

You could still expect backwards-compatibility with X299 for these chips

Err.. so can I use X299/2066 CPUs in this? Just curious. I don't really plan on upgrading my board.

 

[btarunr]

Wait....What??
So Intel is going to release both Z390 and Z399??? What gives?? Except supported CPUs by cores, what are the main differences between the two? Does the Z399 receive more PCI-E Lines?? Any other extra features?
More details please.

Z390 is for LGA1151, and Z399 is for LGA2066. Just as Z390 is being "recommended" for 8-core LGA1151 chips, Z399 will be recommended for 22-core LGA2066.

Err.. so can I use X299/2066 CPUs in this? Just curious. I don't really plan on upgrading my board. Just confused what their roadmap here is.

I expect seamless forwards/backwards compatibility between Basin Falls and Basin Falls Refresh (i.e., you can use existing SKL-X LCC/HCC chips on Z399, and existing X299 boards could support 20-core/22-core LGA2066 chips via BIOS updates).

 

[hat]

But... why? So now there's this weirdo in between chipset we didn't need... when X299 has CPUs with as few cores as 4 and as many as... 28?

Although, with this x599 being LGA3647... that means currently existing 3647 Xeon chips might be compatible? Overclocking possible?

 

[madness777]

I bet 50% people will confuse both platforms now. Z399, X399 what's next? Same processor names?

 

[dwade]

X599 looks like the only true HEDT platform on the market. Six channel memory, fast cores, extreme VRM, and best of all it is actually an "overclockers dream."

Kingp1n is going to monopolize world records even more.

 

[R0H1T]

Err.. so can I use X299/2066 CPUs in this? Just curious. I don't really plan on upgrading my board.

You shouldn't expect socket compatibility with Intel, it's a luxury at best.

But... why? So now there's this weirdo in between chipset we didn't need... when X299 has CPUs with as few cores as 4 and as many as... 28?

Although, with this x599 being LGA3647... that means currently existing 3647 Xeon chips might be compatible? Overclocking possible?

Nope, Xeon will always be locked down, the days of SB or IB are long gone.

 

[StrayKAT]

You shouldn't expect socket compatibility with Intel, it's a luxury at best.Nope, Xeon will always be locked down, the days of SB or IB are long gone.

Yeah.. That sentence confused me. Maybe they meant these chips could work on a x299 board (running with less cores), rather than the other way around.

 

[SRB151]

X599 looks like the only true HEDT platform on the market. Six channel memory, fast cores, extreme VRM, and best of all it is actually an "overclockers dream."

Kingp1n is going to monopolize world records even more.

Uh, yeah. If I recall 5ghz on all cores. All you need is an overbuilt mainboard, 2500w power supply, and a 2000+w chilled water cooler with a golden sample chip. All for $10k.

 

[dwade]

Uh, yeah. If I recall 5ghz on all cores. All you need is an overbuilt mainboard, 2500w power supply, and a 2000+w chilled water cooler with a golden sample chip. All for $10k.

Something that real enthusiasts like Kingp1n would use. Intel was right to target the right audience.

 

[Fouquin]

Something that real enthusiasts like Kingp1n would use. Intel was right to target the right audience.

I'm glad Intel has a sturdy plan in place to target an audience of a dozen or so people. AMD was so silly and decided to target the thousands of others with their products. They really missed out on that niche of a niche's niche.

 

[bigbrave]

Wait, what?!?!?!??! Remember when these platforms used to be easy to understand? I just want an 8 core/16 thread cpu, would prefer 44 PCIe lanes (or more), but I guess will settle for the 16 lanes with the Z390 platform and the 9900k. At least I understand what's going on with that one. smh

 

[StrayKAT]

I'm glad Intel has a sturdy plan in place to target an audience of a dozen or so people. AMD was so silly and decided to target the thousands of others with their products. They really missed out on that niche of a niche's niche.

It's probably bigger than that. But I thought the $10k workstation market was for Xeon or something.

 

[techy1]

wake me up when 28 core xeons cost sub 3000$. that would be x3 price reductions from existing ones and it would require something revolutionary form intel side to accomplish (and no - chiller PR stunts do reduce temps by x3 not the price).

 

[Upgrayedd]

I'm so god damned confused..

So is Z399 a step down or up from X299? Same socket pin count but I mean its model numbers are higher but its missing that X we all know as XTREME!! Are we entering a new era of CPU and socket fluidity? It doesn't help either that AMD decided to use damn near the same naming scheme. Then Intel goes and tries to one step AMD and skips X499 cause AMD is just trolling with the name copying, *cough* B350.

 

[StrayKAT]

I'm so god damned confused..

So is Z399 a step down or up from X299? Same socket pin count but I mean its model numbers are higher but its missing that X we all know as XTREME!! Are we entering a new era of CPU and socket fluidity? It doesn't help either that AMD decided to use damn near the same naming scheme. Then Intel goes and tries to one step AMD and skips X499 cause AMD is just trolling with the name copying, *cough* B350.

I was under the impression they were only doing even numbering. X99 > x299 . They skipped x199. But now we have z399 and x599... so who the hell knows.

 

[btarunr]

I'm so god damned confused..

So is Z399 a step down or up from X299?

Z399 is a step up from X299, X599 is a step up from both. With X599+LGA3647 around, Z399/X299+LGA2066 won't qualify as "extreme" (because there's a more powerful platform above it) and hence Z399 doesn't have an "X" in the name.

 

[Camm]

If so, this is another case of Intel being silly.

The ultra core count market can still easily be serviced by Xeon and workstation boards, and focus on high speed + consumer features up to 16 cores to match threadripper. Splitting this into three consumer platforms is absolutely silly.

 

[ArbitraryAffection]

X599 looks like the only true HEDT platform on the market. Six channel memory, fast cores, extreme VRM, and best of all it is actually an "overclockers dream."

Kingp1n is going to monopolize world records even more.

It's a shame (for you) that intel cannot (will not) price a 28-core monolithic die anywhere near low enough to be competitive with the 2990WX.

How much is Intel paying you per comment?

 

[looniam]

the "irony?" is between X and Z is Y, which i think is more appropriate.

Y[this chipset]?

 

[R0H1T]

It's a shame (for you) that intel cannot (will not) price a 28-core monolithic die anywhere near low enough to be competitive with the 2990WX.

How much is Intel paying you per comment?

Probably some cents per hour

 

[GoldenX]

It already sounds expensive.
I hope Intel is working on a cheaper method to compete with Ryzen more directly, the Ferrari method can work just that much against a Nissan GTR.

 

[fynxer]

Intel is in a state of emergency to try to compete with AMD but they can not seam to keep up or create a solid road map since AMD keeps hitting them where it hurts.

They are just throwing out quick changes and fixes in their product line up trying to counter, without a solid plan the are confusing consumers driving them towards buying AMD.

Seams Intel is hoping AMD will lose steam and slow down so they can get on par with AMD cpu line up BUT that it is not happening anytime soon with Ryzen 2 coming within 6 months.

 

[Caring1]

Intel is just reverting back to their previous naming scheme, Z is the performance version, X is for extreme versions.
And in the end, it doesn't really matter....