Intel to segregate Mainstream and Enthusiast Platforms even more with Sandy Bridge

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DrMrLordX

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
22,751
12,753
136
Interesting, I wasn't expecting LGA2011 (rather, I had heard the next "enthusiast" socket would be LGA 1365). Quad-channel memory? Good grief.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
Yeah, Intel is still selling a large majority of socket 775 processors, along with 1156 and 1366. With Intel you basically choose a processor socket and upgrade path based on your budget, and next year seems all new sockets will be out to accompany their current sockets which are bound to still be available in retail channels for some time. I can just imagine 2011, users posting on forums for new Intel processors when the egg and other locations are carrying parts for 5 different Intel sockets spanning 3 different architectures. lol

Kind of makes me glad I went cheap when I upgraded and got some 775 stuff (last January).

I bet a lot of AMD users are happy with their choices too.
Seems like those who bought Socket 1366 around the time of launch made the best Intel choice.
Almost reminds me of the Socket 754/940 days, only worse.
 

AzN

Banned
Nov 26, 2001
4,112
2
0
There's no point upgrading to 1156 if you already have a 1156/1366 setup.

AMD seems more attractive now even for a die-hard intel user like me.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
21,938
6
81
There's no point upgrading to 1156 if you already have a 1156/1366 setup.

AMD seems more attractive now even for a die-hard intel user like me.

Yup. I was hoping I might be able to upgrade come October this year, but now I either buy a dead (and more expensive) platform from Intel, or I get AMD which should (based on current trends) offer a much more future proof option. Or I don't upgrade until Sandy Bridge mainstream comes out and be locked into whatever they let trickle down to the mainstream platform.

It really is a bit like the socket 754/940 -> 939, only Intel is being worse and keeping segregation but with out of sync releases.
I bet people who went with 1366 are really smiling about all this.
 

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
765
126
Wait,what?

By native, it means that the next round of Intel chipsets will not support USB 3.0. Instead the market for USB 3.0 will be mainly serviced by discrete chips (Intel may even release one: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/...y_to_Release_Discrete_USB_3_0_Controller.html). However, no integrated functionality from P67, etc, chipsets is expected for USB 3.0.

Intel is betting on Light Peak instead and is in no rush to adopt USB 3.0 it seems: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/exclusive-apple-dictated-light-peak-creation-to-intel-could-be/

Therefore, USB 3.0 support will be provided by 3rd parties like NEC.
 
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Golgatha

Lifer
Jul 18, 2003
12,395
1,067
126
Kind of makes me glad I went cheap when I upgraded and got some 775 stuff (last January).

I bet a lot of AMD users are happy with their choices too.
Seems like those who bought Socket 1366 around the time of launch made the best Intel choice.
Almost reminds me of the Socket 754/940 days, only worse.

Yeap, I switched over to 1366 around this time last year. Not only will my CPU last me quite awhile, but I paid less than $200 for 12GB of OCZ Platinum PC3-1600 DDR3 around that time as well. Been able to switch between Crossfire and SLI at will as well.

As far as USB3 goes, ASUS has their U3S6 PCIe 4x card, which will fit nicely in my 4x slot on my P6T motherboard. I think I'll save my pennies and bide my time for a Crucial C300 256GB SSD for my next upgrade once I get the U3S6 installed. Already ordered a USB3 passively cooled enclosure for my external HDD too. It's actually quite nice not to feel any "need" to upgrade until Q3 2011 or later.
 

Golgatha

Lifer
Jul 18, 2003
12,395
1,067
126
By native, it means that the next round of Intel chipsets will not support USB 3.0. Instead the market for USB 3.0 will be mainly serviced by discrete chips (Intel may even release one: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/...y_to_Release_Discrete_USB_3_0_Controller.html). However, no integrated functionality from P67, etc, chipsets is expected for USB 3.0.

Intel is betting on Light Peak instead and is in no rush to adopt USB 3.0 it seems: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/exclusive-apple-dictated-light-peak-creation-to-intel-could-be/

Therefore, USB 3.0 support will be provided by 3rd parties like NEC.

Intel is destined to fail if they think Lightpeak can compete. People are familiar with USB 2.0 and it is included on every modern computer out there. It is ubiquitous. USB 3.0 is backwards compatible and makes the HDD the bottleneck as far as transfer speeds are concerned. Heck even SSDs can't currently saturate the 5Gbps bandwidth USB 3.0 provides.
 

ZimZum

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2001
1,281
0
76
Intel is destined to fail if they think Lightpeak can compete. People are familiar with USB 2.0 and it is included on every modern computer out there. It is ubiquitous. USB 3.0 is backwards compatible and makes the HDD the bottleneck as far as transfer speeds are concerned. Heck even SSDs can't currently saturate the 5Gbps bandwidth USB 3.0 provides.

Lightpeak seems utterly pointless. Aside from driving hardware sales. "I guess I need to upgrade my PC since the new iphone/ipad/ipod only have Lightpeak ports, guess I need to upgrade my iphone/ipad/ipod since my new Mac only has lightpeak ports.
 
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VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,574
10,211
126
By native, it means that the next round of Intel chipsets will not support USB 3.0. Instead the market for USB 3.0 will be mainly serviced by discrete chips (Intel may even release one: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/other/...y_to_Release_Discrete_USB_3_0_Controller.html). However, no integrated functionality from P67, etc, chipsets is expected for USB 3.0.

Intel is betting on Light Peak instead and is in no rush to adopt USB 3.0 it seems: http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/exclusive-apple-dictated-light-peak-creation-to-intel-could-be/

Therefore, USB 3.0 support will be provided by 3rd parties like NEC.

This is pure stupid by Intel. Everyone will be touting USB3, and there will be a consumer demand for it (USB external HDs that AREN'T SLOW? Yes, Please!), so therefore mobo makers will have to use yet another chip on the motherboard, taking away from the precious PCI-E lanes needed for graphics cards. What a mess.

AMD, on the other hand, IS supporting native USB 3.0. In fact, products are out right now that support it. AMD might gain some platform marketshare for this.

Edit: LightPeak is going to be "another BTX" for Intel. An abortive standard, that the collective industry will ignore.
 
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solofly

Banned
May 25, 2003
1,421
0
0
I am an Intel Fanboy for those that don't know but Intel is pissing me off with some of the info I've been hearing lately...
 

Modelworks

Lifer
Feb 22, 2007
16,240
7
76
Lightpeak seems utterly pointless. Aside from driving hardware sales. "I guess I need to upgrade my PC since the new iphone/ipad/ipod only have Lightpeak ports, guess I need to upgrade my iphone/ipad/ipod since my new Mac only has lightpeak ports.

Lightpeak could be the most important interface for PC that has ever been created. Don't look at lightpeak as a USB replacement or alternative. That isn't the goal . Lightpeaks goal is to replace ALL connections on the pc . Wouldn't it be nice not to have to have video cable connectors, usb connectors, sata connectors, hdmi connectors to deal with ? lightpeak can already do that, they are just trying to get the cost lower. Right now lightpeak added to a motherboard would add about $39 to the cost. Still too much for OEM. The cables would cost about $9 per meter. One connector that can handle any connection the pc needs from the monitor to the ethernet without changing the connector or the cables that are needed to connect the devices. Your monitor, hard drives, mouse, video card would all have the same connections and could use the same cables.

The only downside to lightpeak is devices that use USB for power. But that isn't an obstacle. Adding power wires to the connectors is easily done and lightpeak connectors are already smaller than the usb ports on mobile devices like phones. The cables are about half the size of usb cables and very flexible so it isn't like adding a wire to it will make it bigger or cumbersome. It won't be USB or lightpeak either to make the transition as they already have USB3 to lightpeak adapters so you can use the tech in existing ports till it is more common.

I welcome the day when I use one cable plug it in any port without worrying about the type of connector or cable being used.
 
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VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,574
10,211
126
I postulated the possibility of a universal optical interconnect some time ago, so I'm happy to hear about the existance of lightpeak, don't get me wrong. But there's no reason that Intel couldn't support both LP and USB3.0 on their chipsets, is there? Ignoring USB3 in the near term is going to cost them. LP sounds nice for the future, but NOW, USB is the standard universal connectivity solution. just like modern motherboards still support PCI 32-bit slots, so will computers sport USB ports five years into the future.
 

ZimZum

Golden Member
Aug 2, 2001
1,281
0
76
Lightpeak could be the most important interface for PC that has ever been created. Don't look at lightpeak as a USB replacement or alternative. That isn't the goal . Lightpeaks goal is to replace ALL connections on the pc . Wouldn't it be nice not to have to have video cable connectors, usb connectors, sata connectors, hdmi connectors to deal with ? lightpeak can already do that, they are just trying to get the cost lower. Right now lightpeak added to a motherboard would add about $39 to the cost. Still too much for OEM. The cables would cost about $9 per meter. One connector that can handle any connection the pc needs from the monitor to the ethernet without changing the connector or the cables that are needed to connect the devices. Your monitor, hard drives, mouse, video card would all have the same connections and could use the same cables.

The only downside to lightpeak is devices that use USB for power. But that isn't an obstacle. Adding power wires to the connectors is easily done and lightpeak connectors are already smaller than the usb ports on mobile devices like phones. The cables are about half the size of usb cables and very flexible so it isn't like adding a wire to it will make it bigger or cumbersome. It won't be USB or lightpeak either to make the transition as they already have USB3 to lightpeak adapters so you can use the tech in existing ports till it is more common.

I welcome the day when I use one cable plug it in any port without worrying about the type of connector or cable being used.

Isnt that exactly what USB, Firewire, et al set out to do? Become the new all in one standard interconnect. Lightpeak will never be as cheap as the other solutions that dont require optical transmitters.
 

AdamK47

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,691
3,534
136
Anything to elevate myself higher than the rest of you plebs sounds good to me.
 

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
Super Moderator
Sep 28, 2005
21,063
3,558
126
I'm having a hard time believing this.

im having a hard time believing all of it.

1156 -> 1155 was i heard on laptops.
And the reason of no usb3.0 was the power draw issuses.. (i could be wrong on the usb part... this is what i heard.)

I also find it hard that intel would swap sockets from 1567 on beckton to 2011.
(would piss off a TON of enterprise holders).

Also beckton is flopping hard... they didnt put enough cache into the cpu's or the 4 way qpi is borked.. so its not doing so well, and sometimes loses to gulftown which has 2 cores less.

Also i was told we were getting a X68 once the 5520 has had a revision.
And the 5520 is still going strong.

You guys on LGA1366... intel just X'd us out of the consumer group which isnt a bad thing.
They bump'd us up on enterprise, which is better, but at the same time a lot more expensive.

I wouldnt take consumer reports heavily.. u want to listen to server reports, because thats where intel has thrown us in now.

Wouldn't it be nice not to have to have video cable connectors, usb connectors, sata connectors, hdmi connectors to deal with ?

actually id rather deal with usb + esata + hdmi.

And no.. i prefer things to be separated.
Noticed the more stuff u try to cram in a feature, the more things that can go wrong with it.
 
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Alienwho

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
6,766
0
76
I'm starting to believe that my 1366 will be my last involvement in the desktop era. I might actually completely bail on desktops altogether except for a media server machine.
 

Alienwho

Diamond Member
Apr 22, 2001
6,766
0
76
No gaming? Or just consoles?
I'm a casual gamer, but after getting the Envy 15 and having a nice 1080p display built in and connecting two more monitors and having the ability to play games nearly as well as my i7+4870 at decent settings the urge for having the bulky desktop around is really fading :( .
 

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
37
91
I remember all of the faux Zoner outrage right before Nehalem came out, and it sounded just like this. I think there were articles out that said Intel was going to prevent overclocking, etc. People were mad that Intel split the two sockets.

My prediction is that life will go on, and people will buy the best performer.
 

Gannef

Junior Member
Feb 26, 2010
14
0
0
Usually I don't even hit 100% on my Yorkfield, where would I need 6 or even 8 cores for? I'd rather stick to my 775 platform until the very last minute, till there's an absolute must to upgrade to a new platform+cpu, gpu's and a new ssd seems to be a much better upgrades these days..
 
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rahvin

Elite Member
Oct 10, 1999
8,475
1
0
Isnt that exactly what USB, Firewire, et al set out to do? Become the new all in one standard interconnect. LightPeak will never be as cheap as the other solutions that dont require optical transmitters.

USB and Firewire sought to replace the Parallel, Serial and PS2 ports and some other specialized ports that were on niche products. LightPeak could replace EVERY port. This means no DVI, no Video, no ESATA, no RJ45, no SPDIF, no analog audio, no IDE, no SATA, no PCI. LightPeak could literally replace nearly every single connector on your MB.

Personally I don't think USB will go away and I think USB3 will be a smashing success, but the beauty of LightPeak is that USB and USB3 can run on top of LightPeak. It's a beautiful optical standard for replacing every port on the PC. Fiber Optic is the future for everything, the reason it hasn't taken off is that there hasn't been a standard and up until the last 3 years the cost was prohibitive.

Board mounted lasers are now as cheap as copper connections, fiber optic cables are now as cheap or cheaper than copper in most cases. Not only that but copper is increasing in price about 10-30% per year. It's already more than $3 a pound in salvage. Combine that with fiber optic prices in free fall and the development of the new plastic fiber cables that can bend 360 at a radius of less than .5" and there is simply no need for copper connectors anymore for anything other than power.

If Intel can develop and produce a LightPeak processor for less than $10 they are going to reduce the PC to a single connection from which all your other connectors will originate. Imagine a MB with a one or two mini-TOS connectors and think about how much that could change the PC. Consider that right now MiniITX is about as small as MB's can go because of the connectors (PicoITX never took off because you don't have room for enough connections) That's the future, Intel recognizes it and realized that USB3 and everything else will run on top of LightPeak if they can get the processor that runs it cheap enough. LightPeak allows all the current USB and other connections to move to the case with a single fiber connection to the motherboard. This allows you to move the MB or reorient the board at will with almost no repercussions.