What do we know about the Z67 chipset yet?

[TheStigma]

Hey,

I am curious what information is known about the Z67 chipset yet. Apparently its not too far off from launch, yet the tech news sites have not been discussing it much aside from a comment here and there. Considering there are TONS of people buying their SB rigs right now, and the Z67 chipset basically offers something that you can't currently get from either the H67 or the P67 - its a little weird that there hasn't been more focus on it.

It strikes me as especially useful for 2 things - letting you overclock the cpu on a work/server type computer (hey, an extra 4x1Ghz++ is a lot!) and for a gaming rig it seems like there would be a potential for some kind of switching between the IGP and the discrete GPU - which would basically save you a ton of power and heat in graphics-monster systems. I don't know if anything like that is actually planned or possible to do - but I've heard some rumors abut it and it seems like it would be the obvious thing to do really...

If anyone is sitting on info - or some rumors atleast - regarding the launchdate and the pricing of the Z67 (compared to the H67 and P67) then I would be very interrested in hearing that

I might consider waiting another month or whatever it is to get a Z67 - atleast if they don't cost a ton more than the P67s...

-Stigma

 

[jackstar7]

Firstly, I believe it's Z68. That should help you out a bit.

 

[TheStigma]

Firstly, I believe it's Z68. That should help you out a bit.

Oh really?

Well, lol, maybye THATS why I cant find any info on it =P
I will go google a bit more than I guess - although of course I still welcome all anyone has to share here too.

-Stigma

 

[paperwastage]

It strikes me as especially useful for 2 things - letting you overclock the cpu on a work/server type computer (hey, an extra 4x1Ghz++ is a lot!) and for a gaming rig it seems like there would be a potential for some kind of switching between the IGP and the discrete GPU - which would basically save you a ton of power and heat in graphics-monster systems. I don't know if anything like that is actually planned or possible to do - but I've heard some rumors abut it and it seems like it would be the obvious thing to do really...

for now, there isn't any info on how the switching GPU graphics work. It may work like the laptop discrete+IGP switching, but so far there isn't any info on that... it might just be H67 with OC option, and when you put a discrete card in, the onboard IGP and QuickSync disables(which is what many H67 boards do)

anyways, my 5770 GPU idles at 20W which isn't bad

plainly, the only reason you want to wait for Z68 right now is
a) you need OC and Quicksync together
b) SSD cache

 

[IntelUser2000]

plainly, the only reason you want to wait for Z68 right now is
a) you need OC and Quicksync together
b) SSD cache

Also add base clock adjustment.

 

[Chaoticlusts]

for now, there isn't any info on how the switching GPU graphics work.

My understanding of it is at least on desktops switching won't be possible unless you want to physically change where your monitor is plugged into (ie move it from the discreet card to the port on the motherboard..)...I suppose you might be able to trick it by plugging in your monitor via say display port into the discreet card and dvi to the onboard and just tell it to switch when your not gaming.....maybe (thats a big maybe)

There was the Virtu tech that somewhat combined the two but it sounded like the only way that would be able to actively completely switch off the discreet card is if it was running through the onboard which creates a decent performance hit :/ so if your willing to sacrifice the performance it should be possible (I could be remembering this all wrong >_<) My understanding is that if your plugged in through the discreet card there is *no* way it can be switched off so you'll always have a bit of consumption....trade off for having the power of a discreet card sadly if I'm wrong on all this I'd love someone to correct me cause reducing my 'browsing' power consumption would be awesome

*edit* warning this was written as soon as I got out of bed in the morning after a saturday night no less.....I take no responsibility for anything incredibly stupid I may or may not have said

 

[paperwastage]

Also add base clock adjustment.

uh, my BCLK can be adjusted from 100 mhz to 103

My understanding of it is at least on desktops switching won't be possible unless you want to physically change where your monitor is plugged into (ie move it from the discreet card to the port on the motherboard..)...I suppose you might be able to trick it by plugging in your monitor via say display port into the discreet card and dvi to the onboard and just tell it to switch when your not gaming.....maybe (thats a big maybe)

I guess people might not mind switching cable, better than turning off the entire machine to switch between IGP and discrete

There was the Virtu tech that somewhat combined the two but it sounded like the only way that would be able to actively completely switch off the discreet card is if it was running through the onboard which creates a decent performance hit :/ so if your willing to sacrifice the performance it should be possible (I could be remembering this all wrong >_<) My understanding is that if your plugged in through the discreet card there is *no* way it can be switched off so you'll always have a bit of consumption....trade off for having the power of a discreet card sadly if I'm wrong on all this I'd love someone to correct me cause reducing my 'browsing' power consumption would be awesome

well, wasn't there a youtube video of nvidia optimus switching, and they could remove the actual discrete chip when switching over to IGP(full power off for discrete)... so if we can cable-switch, i;m fine with it

 

[TheStigma]

for now, there isn't any info on how the switching GPU graphics work. It may work like the laptop discrete+IGP switching, but so far there isn't any info on that... it might just be H67 with OC option, and when you put a discrete card in, the onboard IGP and QuickSync disables(which is what many H67 boards do)

anyways, my 5770 GPU idles at 20W which isn't bad

plainly, the only reason you want to wait for Z68 right now is
a) you need OC and Quicksync together
b) SSD cache

Well for my part its neither. its the combo of overclocking + IGP that most interests me. Ie. actually getting to use the full capacity of the CPU on a powerful server/HTPC combo. a discrete graphics card eating power 24/7 and and adding extra noise and heat to boot - not to mention not being free - would be a step backwards. I'd rather (reluctantly) give up overclocking before I'd go with a discrete card for a 24/7 server I think.

-Stigma

 

[Hogan773]

uh, my BCLK can be adjusted from 100 mhz to 103

uh but you're not really s'posed to deviate from 100. And with a K chip unlocked multiplier why would you care about adjusting to 103 from 100? Its peanuts and it might introduce instability to something else in the system

 

[TheStigma]

uh but you're not really s'posed to deviate from 100. And with a K chip unlocked multiplier why would you care about adjusting to 103 from 100? Its peanuts and it might introduce instability to something else in the system

Well it does allow you to OC other components than just the CPU. All sorts of bus speeds get a boost with a higher BLCK, and even just upping it a few percent actually gives measurable results. I've even seen several motherboards that come with BLCK at one tiny notch over 100 as standard, probably to give an edge in performance reviews. That said - as you point out - the BLCK is really really sensitive now since its tied into so much else so you can't usually go up to even 105 before you start having (serious) stability issues.

So there is a reason you would overclock the BLCK, but its hardly risk-free or for everyone. Personally I would never recommend it. Too much effort ant potential for trouble for very limited gains.

-Stigma

 

[IntelUser2000]

uh, my BCLK can be adjusted from 100 mhz to 103

Supposedly they took the clock generator external again. That would increase prices somewhat, but nothing big. External clock generator means you'd be able to increase bclk without affecting things like SATA/USB, significantly increasing the bclk increase potential.

 

[aphelion02]

Supposedly they took the clock generator external again. That would increase prices somewhat, but nothing big. External clock generator means you'd be able to increase bclk without affecting things like SATA/USB, significantly increasing the bclk increase potential.

Why would this provide superior OC capabilities compared to just changing the multiplier? Aren't you limited in the end by your voltage and cooling? Also, does this mean that these Z68 boards would make faster RAM an important component in OCing once more?

On a separate note, do you see the Z68 chipset as to carry a significant price premium compared to P67?

 

[TheStigma]

Why would this provide superior OC capabilities compared to just changing the multiplier? Aren't you limited in the end by your voltage and cooling? Also, does this mean that these Z68 boards would make faster RAM an important component in OCing once more?

On a separate note, do you see the Z68 chipset as to carry a significant price premium compared to P67?

Well obviously a higher internal bus is benefitial - but its probably not worth it anyway in practice since the difference is usually small (the internal bus is not a bottleneck). I base that one what results on previous intel platforms have been comparing multiplier OC to bus OC.

I never heard anything about them putting BACK an external clockgen. I thought that was out the window with sandy bridge! So dosnt that mean you could then also overclock the otherwise "unclockable" models? I mean, it would be just like the old overclocking basically. If thats true thats certainly a thing to consider as obviously you cant get any cheaper chip than a 2500K to OC with.

I'd really love to hear some confimation on this if anyone knows more.

-Stigma

 

[StinkyPinky]

I'm still waiting on something official from Intel if the P67's will support Ivy Bridge or not. Tech companies never seem to reveal much.

 

[Hogan773]

I'm still waiting on something official from Intel if the P67's will support Ivy Bridge or not. Tech companies never seem to reveal much.

Where's that Christian dude that hangs around here....he always seems to know all the Intel answers since he works for them