Intel Sandy Bridge-E (LGA2011) and X79 Chipset Discussion

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 30th March 2011, 5:42 PM

Intel Sandy Bridge-E (LGA2011) Review Listing

Anandtech: http://www.anandtech.com/show/5091/i...high-end-alive
Benchmark Review: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.ph...=826&Itemid=63
Bjorn3D: http://www.bjorn3d.com/articles/Inte...oard/2146.html
ExtremeTech: http://www.extremetech.com/computing...e-3960x-review
Guru3D: http://www.guru3d.com/news/core-i7-3...9agd65-review/
HardOCP: http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/...ocessor_review
HardwareCanucks: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum...pu-review.html
HCHardware: http://www.hardcore-hardware.com/201...e-arrives.html
Hexus: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/cpu/32...e-edition-cpu/
HotHardware: http://hothardware.com/Reviews/Intel...ridgeE-Review/
Inpai.cn: http://en.inpai.com.cn/doc/enshowcont.asp?id=7984
LegionHardware: http://www.legionhardware.com/articl...dition_,1.html
LegitReviews: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1773/1/
NeoSeeker: http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...Core_i7_3960X/
Overclock3d: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/c...3960x_review/1
OverclockersClub: http://www.overclockersclub.com/revi..._core_i7_3960/
PCPerspective: http://www.pcper.com/reviews/Process...Chipset-Tested
PCWorld: http://www.pcworld.com/article/24374....html#tk.hp_fv
SilentPC: http://www.silentpcreview.com/intel-sandybridge-extreme
TechReport: http://techreport.com/articles.x/21987
Tom's Hardware: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...ge-e,3071.html
TweakTown: http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/cpu/32...e-edition-cpu/
Vortez: http://www.vortez.net/articles_pages...ridge_e,1.html
VR-Zone: http://vr-zone.com/articles/asus-rog...60x/13950.html
Xbit Labs: http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...60x-3930k.html

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Sandy Bridge-E CPU Feature Overview

Up to 6 cores and 12 threads
32-KB instruction and 32-KB data L1 cache per core
256-KB shared instruction/data L2 cache per core
Up to 15 MB L3 cache (up to 2.5 MB per core) shared among all cores
Up to 40 PCIe Gen 3 Lanes (2x16 & 1x8)
4 lanes of DMI2/PCI Express 2.0 interface
4 Channels DDR3-1600 (1 DIMM per Channel)
Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 (thermal control is the only limiter)
130W TDP
LGA2011 Socket

Sandy Bridge-E comes in 3 SKUs :

Sandy Bridge Extreme Edition : 6 cores / 12 threads, 3.3GHz clock, 15MB L3 cache (2.5MB per core), Max. OC
Sandy Bridge E : 6 cores / 12 threads, 3.2GHz clock, 12MB L3 cache (2MB per core), Max. OC
Sandy Bridge E : 4 cores / 8 threads, 3.6GHz clock, 10MB L3 cache (2.5MB per core), Limited OC

Intel X79 Express Chipset (Patsburg-HEDT) Overview

10 SATA 6Gbps ports with SAS capability
4 SATA 3Gps ports
PCIe 3.0 x4 uplink for dedicated storage bandwidth
8 PCIe 2.0 lanes
14 USB 2.0 ports
Integrated Gigabit Ethernet MAC (Lewisville PHY)
Intel Rapid Storage Technology enterprise 3.0
- SAS RAID support (0/1/10)
- SAS Expander support
- SATA RAID support (0/1/10/5)
- Write Journaling
- Open Source Linux support
100MHz BCLK
Supports processor, memory and chipset overclocking
Supports Intel Extreme Tuning Utility 3.0 (XTU)
8-layer PCB, 2oz copper recommended

Read more: http://vr-zone.com/articles/makers-t...#ixzz1L8tbMSAH

UPDATE 27/5

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Quote:

Intel's next platform for enthusiasts (successor to LGA1366, X58), will consist of a 2011-pin LGA socket, the Sandy Bridge-E (enthusiast) processor that features a massive quad-channel DDR3 memory controller and 32+ lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub, and the X79 chipset. Intel is looking to skip the 6-series chipset family with its next high-end platform chipset, and perhaps it makes sense since the platform is slated for Q4 2011. The X79 is a PCH (platform controller hub), like P55 and P67, since Intel has reorganized the platform. The beefy PCI-E hub housed in the X58 northbridge is relocated to the processor die, and the southbridge is given a much needed overhaul in terms of connectivity.

The X79 is much bigger than P67 in terms of connectivity and features. Differences start right at the interconnect. While P67 connects to the processor over DMI (physical PCI-Express 2.0 x4), X79 supplements this link with an additional PCI-Express 2.0 x4 link to the processor's PCI-E hub if the user chooses so, in the EFI setup program. The chipset bus hence ends up with 8 GB/s of bandwidth, and wait till you hear what will make use of it: a 10-port SATA 6 Gb/s RAID controller integrated to the PCH! That is a huge improvement in terms of storage connectivity, which is limping with 2-port SATA 6 Gb/s (next to four 3 Gb/s ports) on 6-series chipsets.....

http://www.techpowerup.com/143179/In...n-Roadmap.html

http://www.techspot.com/news/43261-l...e-details.html

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Info on Sandy Bridge-E Pricing

When it comes to pricing, Intel is a very predictable company and although we're not quite sure why the company is sticking to the exact same prices over and over again, it's just how it is. One of our very reliable sources have come through with the pricing for Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge-E processor and although there were whispers of a price point over US$1,000, well, let's just say that there aren't any big surprises in store.

In fact, Intel has stuck with its regular tiered pricing, so in other words, the Core i7-3960X will be priced at US$999, just as pretty much every other Extreme Edition desktop CPU since back in the Pentium 4 days. That said, as you're not getting a CPU cooler thrown in this time around, you're actually paying a bit more than you do for the current Core i7-990X, at least if you use the stock cooler.

The Core i7-3930K will end up replacing the Core i7-980 and it'll also end up with the same price, US$583. Finally the Core i7-3820 should be replacing the lower-end Core i7's and as such we're looking at US$294 price point. As such the Core i7-3820 will be cheaper than the Core i7-2600K, the question is how it will perform in comparison to Intel's top of the line LGA-1155 CPU.

Bolter01 · 30th March 2011, 6:06 PM

Wow! what a monster!
8 PCIe & 14 Sata
Thanks for the "heads up" Monkey, very interesting

Autti · 30th March 2011, 6:43 PM

i thought it gets PCIe 3.0?

Also, no USB3?

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 30th March 2011, 6:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autti

i thought it gets PCIe 3.0?

Also, no USB3?

PCI-E 3.0 and USB 3.0 is meant to come with the 22nm Sandy Bridge die shrink...Panther Point chipset...coming 1H 2012.

Which is a pain in itself as it's after this enthusiast launch...and while we should get 6 and 8 core products with this X79 platform, with the die shrink to 22nm somewhere in the 1H of 2012 with the "Panther Point" chipset, performance differences may be a concern.

http://semiaccurate.com/2011/03/28/l...or-ivy-bridge/

jtir · 30th March 2011, 7:09 PM

This will be a 2011 X'mas/boxing day upgrade for me.

Although if Ivy Bridge is around the corner, will it hamper X79 sales?

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 30th March 2011, 7:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtir

This will be a 2011 X'mas/boxing day upgrade for me.

Although if Ivy Bridge is around the corner, will it hamper X79 sales?

If i'm not mistaken we'll have 6 and 8 core parts limited to the X79 platform, anything with less cores will go into the initial mainstream Ivy Bridge. So it should keep them somewhat apart.

[MDR] · 30th March 2011, 7:54 PM

Very nice! I will still buy Sandy Bridge and then upgrade to this when it's released. Should provide me with plenty of entertainment.

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 30th March 2011, 8:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [MDR]

Very nice! I will still buy Sandy Bridge and then upgrade to this when it's released. Should provide me with plenty of entertainment.

Yup, still plenty of time to enjoy the current Sandy Bridge processors. These enthusiast class part are still more than half a year away.

Autti · 30th March 2011, 10:01 PM

Am i the only one who thinks Intel is cannibalising its own market?

The only pitch for X79 seems to be core count, ram and storage (Ivy Bridge will only have 2 6gbps ports)

N.B i don't count overclocking because sandy bridge hits 4.8Ghz anyway

It just seems strange, especially when you consider it will have an "enthusiast" price tag attached.

Pianist · 30th March 2011, 10:59 PM

but wont ivy bridge smash sandy bridge if there similar clock for clock? (wiki says intel estimate 15-20% icp performance increase).

Still dont get the point of releasing the 2 together.

Skramit · 31st March 2011, 8:29 AM

A year is a long time in football... I mean computers. It's not like SB is releasing a month ahead of IB. SB arrived in Jan 2011. IB is slated for Q4 2011 which could mean Oct 2011 or even early 2012. A year and even 9 months is a long enough time between releases.

And given recent history with X58 to go on, the IB motherboards and CPUs will cost you an arm, a leg and a testicle to purchase. (I hope I'm wrong on that point). But if you think back to the X58 release date, it was friggen expensive to get a CPU/MB/RAM combo on X58. As time went on it got cheaper...but compared to SB initial release, they have been affordable from Day 1, even the flagship 2600K.

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 31st March 2011, 8:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianist

but wont ivy bridge smash sandy bridge if there similar clock for clock? (wiki says intel estimate 15-20% icp performance increase).

Still dont get the point of releasing the 2 together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skramit

A year is a long time in football... I mean computers. It's not like SB is releasing a month ahead of IB. SB arrived in Jan 2011. IB is slated for Q4 2011 which could mean Oct 2011 or even early 2012. A year and even 9 months is a long enough time between releases.

And given recent history with X58 to go on, the IB motherboards and CPUs will cost you an arm, a leg and a testicle to purchase. (I hope I'm wrong on that point). But if you think back to the X58 release date, it was friggen expensive to get a CPU/MB/RAM combo on X58. As time went on it got cheaper...but compared to SB initial release, they have been affordable from Day 1, even the flagship 2600K.

As above, plus If i'm not mistaken we'll have 6 and 8 core parts limited to the X79 platform, anything with less cores will go into the new mainstream products. So it should keep them somewhat apart.

lowdog · 31st March 2011, 3:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL MoNkEY

PCI-E 3.0 and USB 3.0 is meant to come with the 22nm Sandy Bridge die shrink...Panther Point chipset...coming 1H 2012.

Blah, no point upgrading X58 untill then eh!!!

DiGiTaL MoNkEY · 31st March 2011, 3:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowdog

Blah, no point upgrading X58 untill then eh!!!

Not sure if you will be able to resist a 6-core or 8-core processor, that is if they are released right out the gate.

sanousie · 31st March 2011, 3:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL MoNkEY

Not sure if you will be able to resist a 6-core or 8-core processor, that is if they are released right out the gate.

8core processor in the x58 1366 socket?

30th March 2011, 6:06 PM	#2
Bolter01 Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NSW Posts: 380	Wow! what a monster! 8 PCIe & 14 Sata Thanks for the "heads up" Monkey, very interesting __________________ i72600k \| ASUS Maximus 4 Extreme \| 16GB AVEXIR 1600CL9 \| OCZ Vetrex2 120Gb \| Samsung 850 EVO 500Gb \| WD Black 1TB FEAX \| Seagate Barracuda 2GB \| EVGA 980Ti EK Block \| DELL WFP 3008 \| ASUS Xonar D2X \| Win10 64 \| Toughpower 1200w \| Custom watercooling

30th March 2011, 7:09 PM	#5
jtir Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,170	This will be a 2011 X'mas/boxing day upgrade for me. Although if Ivy Bridge is around the corner, will it hamper X79 sales? __________________ Q6600 (3.24GHz @ 1.40v)\| 8GB HyperX-8500C5 @ 2.2v \| Gigabyte EP35-DS3P \| Palit 8800GT 512MB \| Strider ST60F \| TR Ultra 120 Ex \| TR Tsunami Dream \| 3 x SFF21F

31st March 2011, 8:29 AM	#11
Skramit Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne Posts: 1,994	A year is a long time in football... I mean computers. It's not like SB is releasing a month ahead of IB. SB arrived in Jan 2011. IB is slated for Q4 2011 which could mean Oct 2011 or even early 2012. A year and even 9 months is a long enough time between releases. And given recent history with X58 to go on, the IB motherboards and CPUs will cost you an arm, a leg and a testicle to purchase. (I hope I'm wrong on that point). But if you think back to the X58 release date, it was friggen expensive to get a CPU/MB/RAM combo on X58. As time went on it got cheaper...but compared to SB initial release, they have been affordable from Day 1, even the flagship 2600K. __________________ MAIN: Intel Core i7 2600K @ 4.4GHz \| ASRock P67 Extreme6 B3 \| Fractal Design R3 \| Thermaltake 750w \| Prolimatech Megahalems \| 8GB DDR3 1600 \| EVGA GTX1070 SC \| Sandisk Ultra II 480GB \| Crucial M4 256GB \| 3 HDD (5TB) \| Win 10 Pro

30th March 2011, 6:43 PM	#3
Autti Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6,570	i thought it gets PCIe 3.0? Also, no USB3?

30th March 2011, 7:54 PM	#7
[MDR] (Banned or Deleted) Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Up to my nuts in PC guts! Posts: 122	Very nice! I will still buy Sandy Bridge and then upgrade to this when it's released. Should provide me with plenty of entertainment.

30th March 2011, 10:01 PM	#9
Autti Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 6,570	Am i the only one who thinks Intel is cannibalising its own market? The only pitch for X79 seems to be core count, ram and storage (Ivy Bridge will only have 2 6gbps ports) N.B i don't count overclocking because sandy bridge hits 4.8Ghz anyway It just seems strange, especially when you consider it will have an "enthusiast" price tag attached.

30th March 2011, 10:59 PM	#10
Pianist Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 727	but wont ivy bridge smash sandy bridge if there similar clock for clock? (wiki says intel estimate 15-20% icp performance increase). Still dont get the point of releasing the 2 together.