Intel readying Core i7-3970X Extreme Edition for Q4

Intel is preparing a new flagship processor for Q4 2012, according to report by DonanimHaber. The upcoming Core i7-3970X is based on the 32nm Sandy Bridge-E architecture and will pick up where the current i7-3960X left off, offering the same six cores with a dozen threads but with slightly higher clock speeds at 3.5GHz stock and 4.0GHz turbo.

Being an Extreme Edition processor it will also ship with an unlocked base-clock multiplier for easy overclocking. The rest of its feature set is consistent with the 3960X, including the LGA2011 package, 15MB shared L3 cache, and quad-channel DDR3 controller supporting up to 64 GB of DDR3-1600 MHz memory. The new chip will likely replace the current 3960X flagship at the $1,000 price point.

Intel launched LGA 2011 as a replacement for LGA 1366 for the performance segment in November 2011. There are currently three Sandy Bridge-E processors available for the platform: an entry-level quad-core Core i7-3820, a mainstream Core i7-3930K with six cores and the top-of-the-line Core i7 Extreme 3960X.

Although Intel’s Ivy Bridge architecture was launched earlier this year, enthusiast-level Ivy Bridge-E parts are not expected to arrive until sometime in the first half of 2013. At that point they’ll likely overlap with new Haswell desktop parts, just like 22nm Ivy Bridge and Sandy Bridge-E platforms coexist right now.

New motherboard layout for the new X79 LGA2011 Sandy Bridge-E

X79 LGA2011 Sandy Bridge-E motherboards are showcased last Computex 2011. The LGA2011′s layout is quite different from it’s predecessors and for some enthusiast the design may look odd.

As you will notice there are four DIMM slots but two DIMM slots are placed in the right side of the CPU socket and the other 2 is in the left side of the socket.

Most of these new X79 LGA2011 motherboards have 10 or more SATA 6Gbps connectors and have 3 or more PCI-Express slots. The CPU socket looks bigger and it has a new type of locking system.

Below are 5 new Sandy Bridge-E motherboards with socket LGA2011 based on x79 chipset.

ASRock x79 Extreme4

ASRock X79 Extreme4

Specifications of ASrock x79 Extreme4:
Platform: Sandy Bridge-E
Socket: LGA2011
Chipset: X79
8-phase VRM
Memory: 4x DDR3 DIMM (supporting quad channel DDR3-2133MHz)
Formfactor: ATX
PCI-Express 3.0 40-lane hub (x16/x16/NC or x16/x8/x8)
10x SATA 6 Gbps
2x SATA 3 Gbps
8-Channel HD Audio
Dual gigabit Ethernet
4x USB 3.0
Supports 3-way NVIDIA SLI and AMD CrossfireX

MSI X79A-GD80

MSI X79A-GD80 LGA2011 Sandy Bridge-E

Specifications of MSI X79A-GD80:
Platform: Sandy Bridge-E
Socket: LGA2011
Chipset: X79
Memory: 4x DDR3 DIMM (quad channel)
PCI-Express 3.0 (x16/x8/x16)
10x SATA 6 Gbps
8+2 channel HD audio
dual gigabit Ethernet
USB 3.0

As you have observed on the picture above, the MSI X79A-GD80 makes use of a 40mm fan-heatsink to cool the VRM above the CPU socket, which is not present in other X79 LGA2011 motherboards.

Gigabyte X79 UD3 LGA2011

Gigabyte GA-X79A-UD3

GA-X79A-UD3

Specifications of Gigabyte GA-X79-UD3:
Platform: Sandy Bridge-E
Socket: LGA2011 (2,011 pins in total)
Chipset: X79
Memory: 4x DDR3 DIMM (quad channel)
6-phase design
Formfactor: ATX
5x PCI-Express 3.0 x16 (40-lane )
10x SATA 6 Gbps
2x SATA 3 Gbps
8+2 Channel HD audio
USB 3.0 and USB 2.0
Single Gigabit Ethernet

Foxconn Quantum Force X79

Foxconn Quantum Force X79 LGA2011

Foxconn X79 Socket LGA2011

Specifications of Foxconn Quantum Force X79 LGA2011:
Platform: Sandy Bridge-E
Socket: LGA2011
Chipset: X79
Memory: 4x DDR3 DIMM (quad channel)
dual gigabit Ethernet
14 SATA ports
12 Phases PWM for CPU
Extreme OC Total solution
Quantum Force Bios (OC)
Ferrite Choke PWM Solution for total solution
Nvidia SLI support

So far information about this motherboard is limited but you can guess it’s pretty much the same as other LGA2011 motherboard. So far, the Foxconn’s X79 LGA2011 motherboard looks better than its competitors.

Intel X79 – ECS X79R-A

ECS X79R-A

Specifications of ECS X79R-A:
Platform: Sandy Bridge-E
Socket: LGA2011
Chipset: X79
Memory: 4x DDR3 DIMM (quad channel)
10x SATA 6 Gbps
4x PCI-Express 3.0
8-channel Audio
Dual Giga LAN
eSATA 6 Gbps
USB 3.0

There you have it. The full information about these motherboards are not yet revealed. But based on the pictures and design, you will have an idea what these new LGA2011 motherboards are capable of.

Also, these are not the high-end X79 LGA2011. Maybe these are entry to mainstream level but definitely not the high end ones. Sure enough, motherboard manufacturers will design and make a better looking Sandy Bridge-E X79 LGA2011 motherboards for the enthusiasts.

Leaked Intel slides reveal Sandy Bridge-E, Ivy Bridge details

A new Intel roadmap has recently appeared online, bringing new details on the upcoming enthusiast oriented Sandy Bridge-E along with Ivy Bridge based processors which Intel plans to release during the first half of 2012.

According to the roadmap, the high end Sandy Bridge-E will be launched in Q4 2011 and besides targeting the super expensive $999+ segment, apparently it will also include models in premium performance P1 and P2 ranges, which are currently headed by Core i7 970 and 2600 models. Coinciding with a previous leak detailing the X79 platform, the slides mention full support for two PCI-Express x16 graphics cards, the new quad-channel DDR3 interface, larger cache sizes and flexible storage options -- the X79 chipset will purportedly include a 10-port SATA 6Gbps controller.

The roadmap also describes Intel's 22nm die shrink of Sandy Bridge, codenamed Ivy Bridge. Planned for the first half of 2012, the chips will be seamlessly compatible with existing LGA1155 platforms and "Cougar Point" P67, H67, H61, Z68, chipsets, although boards based on a newer 7-Series "Panther Point" chipset will also be available, with a newer FDI interface supporting up to three displays running simultaneously and an integrated USB 3.0 controller.

Intel's 22nm Ivy Bridge chips will feature a new dual-channel DDR3 memory controller with official support for DRAM speeds of up to DDR3-1600 MHz, the usual PCI-Express 2.0 x16 hub, Turbo 2.0 support, a new graphics core with DirectX 11 support, and TDP ratings ranging between 35W and 95W.

Naturally there's no mention of pricing since these chips are still one year away from their launch. That said, we know they are intended as successors to Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 chips in the mainstream and performance markets, which currently range from around $185 up to $320 at online retailers.