Intel plans to make an essential disclosure about its consumer PC platform roadmap subsequent week, however some elements of the presentation have already been leaked by HXL (@9550pro (opens in new tab)). In truth, for efficiency PC lovers, Intel’s Desktop and Workstation Platforms Roadmap that covers issues like Raptor Lake-S Refresh processors for 2023 desktops in addition to Sapphire Rapids-64L/112L CPUs set to deal with high-end desktops and workstations subsequent quarter poses much more curiosity.
Raptor Lake-S Refresh: Coming in 2023
One of many greatest surprises revealed by the leaked doc is that Intel plans to retain its Raptor Lake processors for desktops for one more 12 months. Set to reach in Q3 2023, Raptor Lake-S Refresh CPUs will proceed to serve entry-level workstations and desktops for lovers, mainstream customers, and business desktop PCs.
The leaked roadmap doesn’t reveal any specs or enhancements of the Raptor Lake Refresh processors over present merchandise, however sometimes refreshes elevated clocks and typically options some minor enhancements like enhanced energy supply or totally different turbo enhance algorithms. The excerpts from the doc additionally don’t disclose whether or not Intel’s 34-core Raptor Lake-S (RPLS-34C) is part of the RPL Refresh household, however one thing tells us that this piece of silicon is reserved for workstations.
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What does strike the attention about Intel’s plans for desktops within the second half of 2023 is the shortage of its codenamed Meteor Lake processor that can depend on a multi-tile (multi-chiplet) design. Maybe, this half is reserved for cell platforms solely or will arrive at desktops someday in 2024.
Intel’s Raptor Lake-S Refresh will proceed to depend on Z790, W680, Q670, and numerous 700-series chipsets. Nevertheless, we would not have info on whether or not these new elements will likely be drop-in suitable with present motherboards (together with these powered by 600-series chipsets).
Sapphire Rapids-64L and Sapphire Rapids-112L: Xeon W-2400 and Xeon W-3400
Intel has not up to date its workstation and high-end desktop platforms for about three years now, and at this time its CPUs launched in This autumn 2019 – Q1 2020 (and primarily based on the Skylake microarchitecture from 2015) look quite pale, to place it mildly. For many who desire a high-end CPU from Intel, the brand new desktop platform roadmap brings good and dangerous information.
The great one is that the corporate plans to introduce its Xeon W-2400 (Sapphire Rapids-64L) and Xeon W-3400 (Sapphire Rapids-112L) choices for desktop workstations in Q1 2023. The dangerous information is that Intel basically abandons its HEDT product lineup and can tackle this market with Xeon-branded choices and platforms.
As revealed every week in the past, each Xeon W-2400 and Xeon W-3400-series processors will are available in LGA4677 packaging and use motherboards primarily based on the Intel W790 chipset.
So far as CPU options are involved, Intel’s Xeon W-2400 will supply as much as 24 high-performance cores, 64 PCIe 5.0 lanes, a quad-channel DDR5 reminiscence subsystem supporting as much as 2TB of DDR5 reminiscence with ECC, in addition to processor base energy (PBP) of up 225W. In contrast, Intel’s Xeon W-3400 processors will include as much as 56 high-performance cores, 112 PCIe 5.0 lanes, an octa-channel DDR5 reminiscence subsystem supporting as much as 4TB of ECC reminiscence, and a PBP of as much as 350W.
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As for frequencies, the bottom clocks of all Sapphire Rapids-WS CPUs are fairly low (from 1.90 GHz to three.20 GHz, relying on the SKU), however Turbo frequencies exceed 4 GHz normally. Precise clocks will depend on cooling techniques and energy limits, so we’ll see how briskly these CPUs are in actual life. Most of the Xeon W-2400/W-3400 fashions will include an unlocked multiplier and overclockable, so those that need to push these processors to their limits may have such a possibility. In the meantime, it doesn’t appear like reminiscence will likely be overclockable (not that one wants it with a quad or eight-channel DDR5 reminiscence subsystem).
Since we’re speaking about Xeons, these W-2400/W-3400 processors will help all of the workstation-grade reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) options in addition to capabilities like Digital RAID on CPU (VROC) 8.0 and Intel Quantity Administration Machine (VMD) 3.04.
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Along with elevated core rely, all-new CPU microarchitecture, PCIe Gen5, and DDR5 help, the brand new workstation platform from Intel will function comparatively complete and up-to-date I/O capabilities courtesy of the W790 chipset. The brand new W790 core logic will present as much as 16 PCle 4.0 lanes, as much as 12 PCle 3.0 lanes, up eight SATA ports, as much as 5 USB 3.2 Gen2x2 connections, and as much as 10 USB 3.2 Gen2 ports. The chip may even combine Wi-Fi 6E capabilities and help two 2.5GbE PHY controllers. Moreover, because the W790 is designed for desktop PCs, it can include HD Audio, MIPI SoundWare, and different options for consumer PCs.
The W790 chipset doesn’t help PCIe 5.0, Thunderbolt 3/4, or USB 4/4.1, which is a pity. However protecting in thoughts that it connects to its host CPU with eight DMI Gen4 lanes, this is perhaps a logical transfer to make sure most I/O efficiency because the chipset already packs fairly a little bit of bandwidth-hungry interfaces.
Sapphire Rapids-SP: Xeon Scalable on C741
For many who want unbeatable efficiency, Intel will supply to make use of its Eagle Stream platform, supporting as much as two server-grade 4th Technology Xeon Scalable Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze (Sapphire Rapids-SP) processors. When outfitted with two CPUs, the platform will present as much as 112 high-performance cores with Hyper-Threading, 160 PCIe Gen5 lanes, and as much as 8TB of 16-channel DDR5 reminiscence per field. As well as, after all, this platform will supply all of the RAS and distant administration capabilities within the Sapphire Rapids-WS however will naturally not supply any overclocking options.
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Whereas Eagle Stream workstations will supply unbeatable number-crunching capabilities, they may depend on the server-grade C741 chipset (opens in new tab) that doesn’t help fashionable I/O capabilities. Workstation makers like Dell and Lenovo will equip Sapphire Rapids-SP-based machines with a bunch of additional controllers to make up for a modest chipsets, after all, so this won’t be an issue for many who get full containers.
Extra Particulars About Consumer PC Platforms to Come
Whereas the desktop a part of Intel’s plans for 2023 is kind of clear, there are a number of issues that the corporate will tackle at its upcoming occasion for traders. Along with Meteor Lake, Arrow Lake, and Lunar Lake CPUs coming within the subsequent few years, Intel will probably discuss its plans for discrete graphics, next-generation Thunderbolt primarily based on USB 4.1, Wi-Fi 7, and a bunch of different issues which might be set to make its platforms extra interesting than these of its rivals. So, keep tuned.