X-bit labs

Intel’s Next-Generation Enthusiast Platform Begins to Take Shape.

Category: Chipsets

by Anton Shilov

[ 05/12/2008 | 08:47 AM ]

While basic features of Intel’s next-generation desktop platform based on code-named Bloomfield processors are commonly known, more precise, but still rather general, specifications were kept under wraps. Apparently, the chipset that will enable Intel’s forth-coming high-end platform is called Intel X58 and will support one physical central processing unit (CPUs) as well as up to four graphics processing units (GPUs).

According to slides, which resemble those that come from Intel Corp., published by Expreview web-site, Intel’s next-gen high-end desktop Intel X58 chipset will consist of X58 PCI Express bridge as well as ICH10 input/output controller hub. The X58 is projected to feature four PCI Express 2.0 memory controllers to support two graphics cards with two PCIe 2.0 x16 slots or four graphics cards with four PCIe 2.0 x8 slots.

Support for up to four graphics cards emphasizes that graphics processing units continue to play a huge role in today’s gaming machines and that this would hardly change in the coming quarters.

Basic features of Intel X58 Platform. Slide published by Expreview web-site

The quad-core code-named Bloomfield chip based on Intel Nehalem micro-architecture will feature simultaneous multi-threading technology, 8MB of L3 cache, triple-channel integrated DDR3 memory controller that supports  up to1333MHz clock-speeds as well as Intel QuickPath interconnect (QPI). The chip will be able to execute eight threads at once, the same number as today’s ultra expensive “Skulltrail” systems that carry two quad-core processors.

The first public demonstration of Intel’s quad-core Nehalem/Bloomfield processors at Intel Developer Forum in April ‘08 revealed that the chip can work stably at 3.20GHz