[Digitimes] Xeon Roadmap, Skylake launches in Q3'15

[witeken]

Intel updates server processor plan; to release Haswell-EX/EP4S in 2Q15

Intel's next-generation server processors for 2015 including new Haswell-EX (Xeon E7 v3 series) and -EP4S (Xeon E5-4600 v3 series), are scheduled to be released in the second quarter of 2015, giving clients more time to transition to the new platform, according to industry sources.

For the entry-level workstation and server processor industries, Intel will launch its Skylake-based products including E3-1280 v5 and E3-1200 v5 series in the third quarter and will release Broadwell LGA1150 (E3-1200 v4 series) products in the same quarter, the sources said.

For its Xeon D/Atom C series SoCs, Intel plans to add the new Broadwell-DE series processors in the second quarter of 2015 to defend the micro-server industry along with processors such as the C2750 and the C2350, the sources said.

This is the first time that I've seen a date being placed on Skylake's launch, although a 3-month period is still longer that I'd like. At least Skylake won't be "almost a year" too late.

 

[mikk]

The first time was a Roadmap before the delay (Q2 2015). Q3 is no surprise really, I expected this. But there is always a risk for another delay. So we can never be sure.

 

[Ajay]

For the entry-level workstation and server processor industries, Intel will launch its Skylake-based products including E3-1280 v5 and E3-1200 v5 series in the third quarter and will release Broadwell LGA1150 (E3-1200 v4 series) products in the same quarter, the sources said

What's not clear is if a consumer LGA Skylake with be released at the same time as the server variant. I wonder what Intel's strategy is since they are releasing V4 (Broadwell) and V5 (Skylake) in the same quarter. Last I recall, Intel said that they would be talking more about the Skylake roadmap in the new year (2015) and I sure hope so - I'd like to build a new system in 2015.

 

[III-V]

The first time was a Roadmap before the delay (Q2 2015). Q3 is no surprise really, I expected this. But there is always a risk for another delay. So we can never be sure.

There was an early, leaked roadmap from some conference that had a date of Q1 2015. That was quite some time ago, though.

 

[Fjodor2001]

So a one quarter lifespan for desktop Broadwell, unless you're an overclocker. Because I assume any Skylake-K will be later?

 

[III-V]

So a one quarter lifespan for desktop Broadwell, unless you're an overclocker. Because I assume any Skylake-K will be later?

Broadwell on the desktop will only be offered in the K version for consumers.

 

[IntelUser2000]

So a one quarter lifespan for desktop Broadwell, unless you're an overclocker. Because I assume any Skylake-K will be later?

One thing to remember is that Intel will NEVER cannibalize their product lines. That's a bad business strategy and they know it. Unless they are desperate and view that phasing out the previous generation and marketing the latest is worth it.

So if it seems Intel is bringing out current generation and "next" generation together, there's very valid reason for doing so.

Like for example why they are releasing Broadwell-K and Skylake-S(Desktop) at the same time.

1. Broadwell-K is unlocked, while Skylake-S isn't
2. Broadwell-K is artifically set at much higher clock speeds
3. Broadwell-K is GT4 graphics, while Skylake-S is GT2
4. Perhaps its possible that Skylake's IPC is nowhere we want it to be. Maybe its only 10% higher

Intel will launch its Skylake-based products including E3-1280 v5 and E3-1200 v5 series in the third quarter and will release Broadwell LGA1150 (E3-1200 v4 series) products in the same quarter,

Either Skylake sucks or 1S workstation is being segmented just like on the Desktop.

 

[escrow4]

If Intel does release a locked 4.0GHz stock, 4.4GHz boost i7 in Skylake trim I'll likely buy it Day One. No, I don't overclock anymore.

 

[Fjodor2001]

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20141031VL201.html

Intel's Skylake-based processors, originally expected to launch in early third-quarter 2015 to support the release of Windows 10-based notebooks, may not become available until the end of the third quarter or early fourth-quarter 2015. The delay is expected to hurt demand for Windows 10 notebooks.

What's up with all the delays these days? First Skylake was expected to arrive in 2015Q2, then Q3, and now Q4.

Will Skylake be a repeat of the Broadwell delays after all?

 

[witeken]

I'm getting really sick and tired of those delays! I want good, new, exciting products to be released, not 100MHz clock speed bumps. This is not what I signed up for when I assigned the Intel logo as my avatar. Technology should be exciting and fast-paced. If even Intel can't pull that off, we're in for a long, boring period of time (that will never resurrect).

So far this year, we've got huge 14nm delays for Broadwell and now also affecting Skylake, in contrary to what BK said, Cherry Trail is moved to 2015, who knows when Braswell and Broxton will be released, Willow Trail seems to be deleted from the roadmap long ago, we've got no information about Morganfield, SoFIA 14nm LTE seems to have moved to 2016, EUV isn't even the only option for 7nm, a 450mm 5 year delay rumor have come up, although debatable, Broadwell-E will now be released in 2016 and TSMC will now start FinFET HVM 2-3 quarters later than planned while any information about even 20nm GPUs is lacking.

At least we got Maxwell as single exciting product, right?

 

[frozentundra123456]

Well, we did get haswell E with 8 cores and a more affordable 6 core, along with 4790k which was a nice speed bump without overclocking. I do see your point though. I am actually quite surprised that Intel stock has performed as well as it has with all the delays.
Even Maxwell though, just think what it would have been on 20nm.

 

[jpiniero]

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20141031VL201.html

What's up with all the delays these days? First Skylake was expected to arrive in 2015Q2, then Q3, and now Q4.

Will Skylake be a repeat of the Broadwell delays after all?

I have a hard time believing Intel was really planning on releasing Skylake laptops in Q3 after the Broadwell delays. That would be too short of a lifespan for Broadwell. And no I don't think the delay will really alter sales.

 

[III-V]

At least we got Maxwell as single exciting product, right?

Well Devil's Canyon was really nice, but there's no doubt this year has just been one big disappointment.

 

[TechFan1]

That article specifically mentioned laptops, desktop chips may still come earlier.

 

[Ajay]

That article specifically mentioned laptops, desktop chips may still come earlier.

If we are lucky, they'll be around the same time. We haven't been so lucky lately - plus older rumors point to LGA Skylake in 2016 :'(

 

[mikk]

http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20141031VL201.html

What's up with all the delays these days? First Skylake was expected to arrive in 2015Q2, then Q3, and now Q4.

Will Skylake be a repeat of the Broadwell delays after all?

This is referred to notebook and did really anyone expect notebook Skylake to be available before Q4 2015 realistically? There is at least 1 year between two generations of CPUs, mostly ~5 quarters in the past. I would say week 37-47 (SKL-Y? SKL-ULT?) looks promising if they can hold it. The only surprise here is that Intel planned a 3 quarter gap from Broadwell to Skylake. Business wise it makes no sense to me.

 

[Fjodor2001]

But previously Intel has said that the Broadwell delays should not affect the Skylake time plans. So are we now saying Intel is artificially delaying Skylake after all to make sure Broadwell gets a sufficiently large sales window to make money from it (applies to both Intel and OEMs I assume)?

 

[mikk]

Maybe it was the plan at that time or it was referred to desktop/Xeon. And no we don't say Intel is delaying it artificially because we don't know the reason. But from the past it's hard to believe a 3 quarter gap was the plan for mobile.

 

[Maxima1]

But previously Intel has said that the Broadwell delays should not affect the Skylake time plans. So are we now saying Intel is artificially delaying Skylake after all to make sure Broadwell gets a sufficiently large sales window to make money from it (applies to both Intel and OEMs I assume)?

Yes, because Intel found out that Carrizo is such a turd.

 

[IntelUser2000]

But previously Intel has said that the Broadwell delays should not affect the Skylake time plans. So are we now saying Intel is artificially delaying Skylake after all to make sure Broadwell gets a sufficiently large sales window to make money from it (applies to both Intel and OEMs I assume)?

Overall they are right. Individually anything can change. So looking at the 1st Skylake parts, which are the Desktop non-K S chips, they might be according to plan. But rest of them will surely be affected because there are Broadwell predecessors. Like the U series Skylake might have to be delayed because U series Broadwell is at Q1.

I have a hard time believing Intel was really planning on releasing Skylake laptops in Q3 after the Broadwell delays.

I don't think we'll see Skylake mobile chips in Q3 either. What we will likely see that early is Desktop Skylake chips that are not-K. Since Haswell has been practically available for 2 years at that time, they can release it whenever they want.

 

[Fjodor2001]

http://www.itworld.com/article/2842...release-of-skylake-generation-processors.html

Intel may delay the release of Skylake generation processors

The company reportedly doesn't want to cannibalize sales of one generation of processor with another.
[...]
Intel was supposed to ship Broadwell in volume starting early next year, and ship the first Skylake processors at the same time. This was unheard of, because Skylake was the replacement for Broadwell/Haswell. There has always been about a one-year gap between the tick/tock releases. To release Skylake at the same time as Broadwell, the processor generation Skylake was supposed to replace, made no sense and left people confused.
[...]
DigiTimes Research, the market research arm of the DigiTimes tech publication, says the delay is purely a business decision so as not to have Skylake kill the sales of Broadwell-based laptops, which makes sense.

So as I understand this, Intel decided to artificially delay Skylake after all?

 

[Phynaz]

It's delayed. I'm not sure why you would call it artificial. Delaying a product launch for business reasons is just as "real" as any other reason.

 

[kimmel]

It's delayed. I'm not sure why you would call it artificial. Delaying a product launch for business reasons is just as "real" as any other reason.

It makes it sound like Intel is doing it for evil reasons instead of normal business practice of any company anywhere. That's why.

 

[mrmt]

It makes it sound like Intel is doing it for evil reasons instead of normal business practice of any company anywhere. That's why.

What is an evil reason?

 

[witeken]

It's delayed. I'm not sure why you would call it artificial. Delaying a product launch for business reasons is just as "real" as any other reason.

But is it a real reason? Consumers don't know what Broadwell or Skylake means, so there can't be such a thing as cannibalizing.