I'm confused!

[stuff311]

I've tried to research and make sense of nehalem as much as I can, but I need some help from someone on what all this QPI stuff means exactly.

In my research, I've found sources state that Nehalem will feature QPI links across the board. Now, I've read that the more mainstream procs, like Lynnfield and Clarkfield will have the QPI link "replaced by a PCI-Express2.0 x16 slot as well as a DMI link to the southbridge."

I'm lost now. I thought that QPI was going to replace the FSB. Now they are saying that the lower nehalem procs basically won't have the QPI interface, right? Will these procs still use the old FSB? Also, is this saying that SLI/crossifre will only work with bloomfield? Will anyone take a stab at clearing this up for me?

This is article i was looking at...

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2...ll_through_the_tubes/1

BTW, if this was supposed to go in the motherboards section, my apologies. I figured I would put it here because it concerned the nehalem architecture.

 

[dmens]

socket 1160 (lynnfield/clarksfield) will have a QPI link inside the package only so it is not customer visible. the package will talk to the outside world using only PCI-E and DDR3.

there should be no conflict with SLI/xfire whatever the setup... it is up to the motherboard to provide the slots.

 

[stuff311]

I think I get it now, you're saying that on LF/CF it's all one consolidated deal, whereas with BF, it connects to everything through its single QPI link.

 

[dmens]

Originally posted by: stuff311
I think I get it now, you're saying that on LF/CF it's all one consolidated deal, whereas with BF, it connects to everything through its single QPI link.

you got it. im not sure if bloomfield will be single socket/single QPI yet. that depends if intel is going to resurrect skulltrail or something similar.

 

[bryanW1995]

I think that they won't have any reason to resurrect skulltrail. Bloomfield should be able to clobber a dual quadcore phenom setup anyway...

 

[lopri]

QuickPath is the same thing as HyperTransport. Apparently Intel intends to integrate PCIe lanes into the package as well, in the case of mid-range CPUs. I am guessing there will no longer be a 'north bridge' in mid-range motherboards (in theory, but I won't hold my breadth).