Intel kills off the desktop, PCs go with it

Semiaccurate ^ | Nov 26, 2012; | CDemerjian

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

"Intel is killing the desktop, but not quite as soon as people expect it to, there will be one last gasp, but that is irrelevant."

In a story that SemiAccurate has been following for several months, Broadwell will not come in an LGA package, so no removable CPU. The news was first publicly broken by the ever sharp PC Watch, english version here, but the news has been floating in the backchannel for a bit now. The problem? This information wasn’t floating around the OEMs or the majority of the PC ecosystem, they had no clue. What does all of this mean? Quite a bit.

The most direct effect is that of Broadwell, the 14nm successor to next year’s Haswell CPU, will essentially shut out the enthusiast. Motherboards will still be available, but the CPUs that come with them will be soldered down. In addition to being a inventory management nightmare, OEMs won’t buy CPUs any more, the few remaining mobo vendors and ODMs will. As a side effect, it also cuts the enthusiast out of the picture for good, but more on that later.

Normally, you would expect Intel to tell the companies that are affected, the Asuses, Gigabytes, MSIs, and maybe Asrocks if they are still around, well ahead of time. This time Intel didn’t, and that should tell you a great deal about their intentions. At least a few key PC players found out from SemiAccurate a few months ago, and they were rather incredulous about the news. This state of mind has probably changed to a state a bit past peeved by now, their entire business is about to be gutted. Intel didn’t just do a bad job of messaging this one, they didn’t do any job of it.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Article linked at post #40is dated :

November 29th, 2011, 22:46 GMT · By Sorin Nita

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Article linked at post #40:

*************************************************************

In 2014, Intel is expected to launch the successor of the yet unveiled Haswell CPU architecture, which will go by the name of Broadwell and will reportedly become the chip maker’s first true system-on-a-chip (SoC) design.

The Broadwell CPU comes as a "tick" on Intel’s roadmap, meaning that this is actually a 14nm die shrink of the Haswell architecture which is expected to arrive sometime in 2013.

Compared to its predecessor, Broadwell will however feature a more integrated design and according to the Bright Side of News website will become Intel’s first true SoC design as it includes features such as Ethernet, Thunderbolt or USB 3.0 right on the chip’s die.

Right now, there is little else known about Broadwell, but since it will come as a die shrink of Haswell, many of the architecture changes and features introduced by Intel in the latter will make their transition towards this 2014 CPU.

Some of the most important changes will target the processor’s IPC performance, but Intel is also expected to introduce support for the AVX2 instruction set with the release of Haswell.

The graphics core of the chip will also be carries over from Haswell, which means that it will feature DirectX 11.1 support to become a native-Windows 8 design.

Three displays and support for 4K resolution are being inherited and Broadwell chips should be able to deliver decent graphics performance.

Just like Haswell, the 2014 Intel CPUs will use the same mobile 947 pin and desktop LGA 1150 sockets, which means Intel is now going for a two generations cadence with its platforms.

Most specific specs are not available at this point in time since Intel is most probably still working on its silicon as well as on the new 14nm fabrication technology that it has to introduce together with the Broadwell CPUs.

[tomkat]

             

[GeronL]

Intel also dissed the Boy Scouts

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Currently running this on an FX 8120:

Kororaa Linux

Fedora based from Aussie land....currently 8 Gbyte RAM and at the moment....over 20 Firefox windows with over 100 taps going....

But more processors would even be better.

Recently upgraded monitor to 27" ASUS Monitor.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Well.,....that clinchs that....never an Intel in this Leanto....

[tomkat]

White man build big fire, sit far away .. Indian build small fire, sit close

Currently, me Indian w/ 19" monitor .. hope to be White man next year w/ 24"+ !

Then, if I can find a nice combo desk chair/recliner,
any time not spent in my shop or the bathroom, I can pretty much just live right here !

LOL

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

More :

AMD Launches New Piledriver-Based Opteron 6300 Family

Monday, November 05, 2012 - by Joel Hruska

AMD's new Piledriver-based Opterons are launching today, completing a product refresh that the company began last spring with its Trinity APUs. The new 12 & 16-core Piledriver parts are debuting as the Opteron 6300 series. Originally, AMD had planned to add still more cores with this refresh and had anticipated a line of 10 and 20-core products. The company scrapped this plan last year, stating instead that Piledriver was enough of an improvement that they saw no need to widen existing parts still further.

Now that the next generation of Opteron CPUs is here, what can we expect? In SPECjbb2005, at least, significant performance gains.

This graph isn't as informative as we'd like; SPECpower_ssj2008 is a power efficiency metric, not a straight benchmark score. The other two data points are more enlightening, as they predict increases of 8% and 7% in integer and floating-point operations. The problem is, even this isn't an apples-and-oranges comparison. The 6278 is a 2.4GHz chip with a 3.3GHz Turbo; the 6380 is a 2.5GHz CPU with a 3.4GHz Turbo. AMD, in other words, is only hitting 7-8% performance differentials by increasing clock speed by 4%.

The impact these new chips will have on pricing is less clear. AMD's own presentation states that "AMD Opteron 6300 Series Pricing will be approximately 10% higher than AMD's Opteron 6200 Series." Compare the company's listed price for the already-released Opteron 6276 against the Opteron 6376, however, and there's a small improvement. The 6276 is currently $849 at Newegg, with a clock speed of 2.3GHz. The 6376 is a 2.3GHz part with a higher Turbo frequency and a 1KU price of $703.

Here's the full set of product SKUs and launch prices:

The power consumption improvements are more noteworthy than clockspeed gains. AMD's fastest 115W Bulldozer/Interlagos part was the 6278, a chip with a 2.4GHz base speed and a 3.3GHz Turbo. AMD has since split its Turbo range into "Max" and "Max All Cores." The 6380 hits an "All Core" Turbo speed of 2.8GHz, which is a bit faster than the Interlagos chip when CPU speeds are averaged for each core. Keeping power consumption to 115W is a definite gain -- but it's not going to single-handedly reinvent AMD's server business.

AMD has begun putting more effort into the software side of the equation across its products, as evidenced by the company's recent partnerships with game developers and updated iterations of server and programming tools.

What does this ultimately mean for AMD's larger server business? That's unclear. The price increase actually hurts the value of the new chips; a 7-8% performance boost combined with a 10% cost adder doesn't exactly work out to a net positive. Power consumption may trend slightly lower, but not enough to give AMD a lot of wiggle room on price factors.

Currently, it's estimated that AMD only has 4-5% of the server market. The Opteron 6300 series advances the company's standing, but may not shift that figure very much.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I have a 19" around here.

My eyes said that was too small.

[Notary Sojac]

It seems as if Intel goes to a new socket design (new CPU requires new mobo) about every eighteen months. So for any homebuilder who builds a new PC less frequently than that, new CPU=new mobo is practically a reality right now.

[Still Thinking]

Woo hoo! AMD (and who the hell knows, maybe even Cypress) arises from the ashes like the Phoenix!

[Crusher138]

I know we’ve seen stuff like this already, but I have been told that a major player is putting together a modular system built around a tablet computer.

Desktop configuration has tablet being placed in a stand. Monitor connects to the stand. Keyboard is wireless. Tablet in stand on desk acts like a track pad. Programs can change the function of the tablet/track pad - can instantly change from just a track pad to a combination track pay/numeric key pad when using a spreadsheet, for instance.

Laptop configuration is adding a cover that is also a keyboard (like the Surface). Keyboard also has ports for connecting external storage, printer, mouse, etc.

Main feature is that the tablet is the computer, so you can take your work, programs, etc., with you on the go - no syncing necessary.

This has sort of been done with a cell phone, but it was so under powered that it wasn’t practical. Laptops have sort of done this with docking stations, but this will be seamless and with the “instant on” of tablets, using it will quickly become second nature. The new system will also be compatible with your current home HDTV and will really add some surprising functionality to a new oversized “monitor” soon to be released by this same company.

For those who guess who this player is (I promised I wouldn’t say) and think that their current tablets aren’t powerful enough, this is planned for no sooner than the next generation tablet, possibly the one after, and may (just may) have an Intel chip inside.

What about the heat? The tablet case is a heat sink. Metal feels kind of weird.

Battery life? Newly developed tech that intelligently uses power only when needed coupled with next-gen Li-imide technology which far outlasts current lithium ion batteries.

[Still Thinking]

IF they ever come up with a decent keyboard on a laptop, I’ll buy one...but all I can find is those mushy, rubbery, “soft touch” keyboards.

I used the same Monterey (M-Tek) K104 (Cherry switches I think) for a couple decades till it finally died, and like you, I detest the current crap, er crop, of keyboards. I got the clicky version of the Das Keyboard, and I'm completely happy with the key feel. Really nice LOOKING keyboard too.

It comes in a silent version as well as the clicky one, and I don't know if there is a difference in the tactile feedback. They're about $100.

The only problem is that overall it's just a bit narrower than the M-Tek, so it doesn't fit may hands perfectly and I make more typos. Maybe in a year or so, my fingers will get re-calibrated to the dimensions of this one.

[The Cajun]

Bookmark.

[Still Thinking]

Oh, I’d love to use a laptop, but like I said, the keyboards suck.

Just like you don't have to use the built-in monitor, you also don't have to use the built-in keyboard or pointing device either. You can leave it closed and plug in an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, and it becomes essentially a micro-desktop. Cheesed me off when the morons forgot about this and started putting the power switch inside where you have to open it up to turn it on. It WAS perfect for micro-desktop use; now it's merely almost perfect because they're idiots. D'oh! They were probably trying to force you to buy their docking stations.

[Still Thinking]

^^ and a 24’ monitor ^^

Wow, I had no idea they were available that big. I guess there are some folks with eyes weaker than mine.

Turns pr0n into a truly "immersive" (gag) experience!

[Still Thinking]

Then, if I can find a nice combo desk chair/recliner, any time not spent in my shop or the bathroom, I can pretty much just live right here!

Well, so long as there's a fridge in reach without getting up!

[tomkat]

Yup, new glasses would be cheaper, but a bigger screen will be prettier .. LOL

Actually, tho the info is appreciated, I'm perfectly content to stay a couple/few steps behind the bleeding edge boys.

Cost really isn't the only factor.
Other than Solitaire on a rare occasion, gaming has never interested me in the least.
For my computing/entertainment needs, and for prolly 80% of pc users, last week's tech is perfectly satisfactory.

[tomkat]

LOL !

[daniel1212]

The fact that Intel thinks men with men are compatible in marriage and thus stopped funding the Scouts - Intel being the largest funder - should be impetus to go with AMD.

Here is a good site to compare: http://pcpartpicker.com/parts/cpu/

Here is a system i looked at recently:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/oMGI
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/oMGI/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/oMGI/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-6100 3.3GHz 6-Core Processor ($109.99 @ Microcenter)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master DK9-7E52A-0L-GP CPU Cooler ($9.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($59.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Patriot Viper 3 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($19.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5” 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($49.99 @ NCIX US)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 5450 1GB Video Card ($15.99 @ Microcenter)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 311 (Blue) ATX Mid Tower Case ($34.98 @ NCIX US)
Power Supply: Antec Basiq 430W 80 PLUS Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($42.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) ($89.98 @ Outlet PC)
Keyboard: Gear Head KB2500U Wired Slim Keyboard ($8.09 @ Amazon)
Mouse: Adesso HC-3003US Wired Optical Mouse ($5.77 @ Amazon)
Total: $447.75
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-11-26 20:49 EST-0500)