Intel 6 series chipset to come in Q1 2011 (FUD)

[-Sweeper_]

With Westmere CPUs

Intel's next generation chipset simply codenamed Intel 6 series Express chipset should launch in Q1 2011. This chipset will be necessary for Sandy Bridge generation of 32nm processor and it will finally get SATA 6GB/s in Intel chipsets.

Since CPU has a memory controller, display and some audio features integrated, there is not much for Intel to do in Northbridge, but we still don’t know if Intel 6 series can make it in one chip, we still expect two chips.

The codename of the chipset is Cougar Point and we can only hope that USB 3.0 support is also there.

www.fudzilla.com/content/view/17554/1

Anyone hoping we'll have LGA 1366 Sandy Bridge derivatives?

[Chrono Detector]

I wonder if this new chipset will require a different socket, but that won't really bother me anyway because I usually change platforms once every year anyway. Hoping to see native USB3 and SATA3 support along with PCI 3.0, and hopefully quad channel support on X68 will make my day.

[zalbard]

Well, only makes sense! Since SB is scheduled for Q1 2011 as well.
And doubt SB will be available for s1366, nope.

[mindfury]

I wonder if this new chipset will require a different socket, but that won't really bother me anyway because I usually change platforms once every year anyway. Hoping to see native USB3 and SATA3 support along with PCI 3.0, and hopefully quad channel support on X68 will make my day.

6 series chipset interface upgrade to DMI2,only has SATA3,no usb3,no PCIE 3.0.

X68 is still tri channel.

[-Sweeper_]

I wonder if this new chipset will require a different socket, but that won't really bother me anyway because I usually change platforms once every year anyway. Hoping to see native USB3 and SATA3 support along with PCI 3.0, and hopefully quad channel support on X68 will make my day.

It may also support Light Peak.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Peak

''Light Peak is Intel's code-name for a new high-speed optical cable technology designed to connect electronic devices to each other in a peripheral bus. It has the capability to deliver high bandwidth, starting at 10 Gbps, with the potential ability to scale to 100 Gbps. It is intended as a single universal replacement for current buses such as SCSI, SATA, USB, FireWire, and HDMI. In comparison to these buses, Light Peak is much faster, longer ranged, smaller, and more flexible in terms of protocol support.''

[zalbard]

Mmmm, Light Peak sounds delicious! Bring it on!
Somehow I doubt it will be included, though.

[Bolas]

6 series chipset interface upgrade to DMI2,only has SATA3,no usb3,no PCIE 3.0.

X68 is still tri channel.

No USB 3.0? What are they thinking?!? Seriously. What are they thinking.

[zalbard]

No USB 3.0? What are they thinking?!? Seriously. What are they thinking.

I don't think that's set in stone.

[mindfury]

Intel internal PDF said no support for USB3 before 2012.

[saaya]

Anyone hoping we'll have LGA 1366 Sandy Bridge derivatives?

not possible since SB uses a different vcore protocol.
it IS however possible to have X58 based sandy bridge boards... and depending on pricing and availability of x68 that might actually happen

X68 is still tri channel.

x68 and x58 are both 0 channel :P

i dont understand what x68 is even meant for... i doubt its a new chipset at all, its probably x58 shrunken to a smaller process to make it cheaper and less power hungry. this is a highend workstation and desktop and server chipset, so who cares about igp support?

it would be cool if there would be more pciE lanes... maybe tripple 16x... then this chipset would at least make SOME sense for the highend workstation/gaming market... but i wouldnt hold my breath, this new chipset will be intels way of taxing the new cpu socket i think..

tax1 = cpu socket
tax2 = chipset

maybe they will come up with a third new tax...
its great to have your own platform that you locked out any and all competition from

[saaya]

No USB 3.0? What are they thinking?!? Seriously. What are they thinking.

light peak maybe?
its funny since intel is the biggest player in the usb consortium, but they might actually skip usb3 and go for lightpeak... and tbh... if they would do that, id be all in favor of it...

[duploxxx]

it is just a new x58 rev c2 that will launch mid march, together with the 6 core.

Weather or not Intel marketing will call it x68 to increase sales and fool customers or if it is really required to support the 6 core, i don't know yet.

[saaya]

it is just a new x58 rev c2 that will launch mid march, together with the 6 core.

Weather or not Intel marketing will call it x68 to increase sales and fool customers or if it is really required to support the 6 core, i don't know yet.

not even a die shrink? not even 4 extra pciE links? :o
man, intel is really getting cheaper and cheaper...

[BababooeyHTJ]

not even a die shrink? not even 4 extra pciE links? :o
man, intel is really getting cheaper and cheaper...

Doesn't sound much different than x38>x48 thb.

[god_43]

light peak maybe?
its funny since intel is the biggest player in the usb consortium, but they might actually skip usb3 and go for lightpeak... and tbh... if they would do that, id be all in favor of it...

you know, i think that light peek and other standard advancements are being put on hold; pending the ftc trial. because i dont think that intel could release light peek, and have it not work with amd/other chips?

[sholvaco]

it is just a new x58 rev c2 that will launch mid march, together with the 6 core.

Weather or not Intel marketing will call it x68 to increase sales and fool customers or if it is really required to support the 6 core, i don't know yet.

The 6 series discussed in the article is due in 2011 not march. Given the use of the currently established QPI interface (on Sandy Bridge) there is no reason it couldn't be adapted for both socket 1366 and whatever socket high end Sandy Bridge derivatives use.

Upgraded DMI is a given (it was semi hinted by Francois here if memory serves me right), also an accompanying SATA 6Gb capable southbridge. It'd be nice if they boosted PCIe capacity to at least 48 or more links; given the number of slots on upcoming AMD boards, the 890FX is almost guaranteed to offer more than Intel's X58...