Intel To Launch Bearlake Chipsets For Desktops

[HardOCP News]

According to DigiTimes, Intel plans to kick off CeBIT 2007 with its Bearlake family of chipsets. The new series introduces a 1333MHz fsb, support for DDR3 memory and are designed to support Intel's upcoming 45nm processors.

The main chipset on show is known as the P35 and is to be positioned as the successor to Intel's current 965 Express series for mainstream desktops, according to sources. Motherboards based on the P35 will be able to support FSB speeds up to 1333MHz which will be required for several of the CPUs Intel is planning to launch in the second half of the year.

 

[Ockie]

I can't wait for these. I really do hope they feature SLI support this time.

 

[dracop]

Im upgrading in the fall (depends on when AOC comes out) so I hope this platform (the 45nm CPUs and this chipset) are out by then.

I wonder, outside of the limitation to 2 DIMM slots per mem type, if there is any other drawback to the hybrid. Id like to pickup a 4GB (2x2048) for the two dimms in DDR2 and then if I do a CPU upgrade later, switch over to DDR3.

I dunno, DDR3 doesnt sound that much mroe powerful at just going from 800 to 1033 fsb; although the reduction in power means they would be more apt for ocing neh?

 

[Dan_D]

I can't wait for these. I really do hope they feature SLI support this time.

Intel has always had the hardware support for SLI. Keep in mind that contrary to popular belief, SLI isn't a magical proprietary NVIDIA thing. It leverages the PCI-Express standard to perform it's functions.

Basically, any PCIe 1.0/1.0a compatible motherboard with the correct slot configuration can support SLI. It is NVIDIA that choses to lock out the SLI feature unless the driver detects an NVIDIA chipset

It is not Intel that needs to release a chipset with SLI support, it's NVIDIA who needs to allow Intel chipsets to work with SLI.

 

[Ockie]

Intel has always had the hardware support for SLI. Keep in mind that contrary to popular belief, SLI isn't a magical proprietary NVIDIA thing. It leverages the PCI-Express standard to perform it's functions.

Basically, any PCIe 1.0/1.0a compatible motherboard with the correct slot configuration can support SLI. It is NVIDIA that choses to lock out the SLI feature unless the driver detects an NVIDIA chipset

It is not Intel that needs to release a chipset with SLI support, it's NVIDIA who needs to allow Intel chipsets to work with SLI.

I am aware of this, however, there are also motherboard functions that can accommodate SLI features better and make use of some SLI enabled functions. Also, it is nice to have a product that is embraced by both companies as you have less problems down the road.

 

[Dan_D]

I am aware of this, however, there are also motherboard functions that can accommodate SLI features better and make use of some SLI enabled functions. Also, it is nice to have a product that is embraced by both companies as you have less problems down the road.

The only so called advantage that the NVIDIA chipsets have over Intel chipsets is the dual x16 PCI-Express lane configuration. Which hasn't even been proven to be a significant advantage. That's it. All the communication between the cards either uses peer to peer writes or the SLI bridge. Peer to peer writes are part of the PCIe specification and the SLI bridge has nothing to do with the motherboard at all.

 

[HAF72]

Woot! I may be building a new 1337 with quad core computer this summer (for dad and will be letting me use it during weekends ) but looks like it will have to be delayed if so. Anybody has a word on the pricing?