On the 30th January 2019 the review embargo for Intel's 28 core HEDT chip, the Xeon W-3175X finally lifted, and to put it bluntly, this is the best CPU, period.
- Picture of the fully enabled XCC die used in the Xeon W-3175X - measuring in at 689mm2
---
For reference
eXtreme Core Count (XCC) die - 689mm2 and up-to 28 cores
High Core Count (HCC) die - 484mm2 and up-to 18 cores
Low Core Count (LCC) die - 322mm2 and up-to 10 cores
LCC, HCC and XCC dies all share the same number of memory channels (up-to 6) and share the same number of PCIe Gen3 lanes (up-to 48 CPU lanes)
---
We first learnt about Intel's 28 core chip all the way back at Computex 2018, not much was revealed, all we knew was it had 28 cores (duh), was overclockable, used the LGA3647 socket, had all 6 memory channels enabled and was shown running all 28 cores at 5GHz for a Cinebench run -- something that reflected poorly after it was learnt Intel used a 1770W chiller to cool it.
Later in the year during Intel's Fall Desktop event more information was revealed about the chip, it was given a name and branded as a Xeon (many were assuming it would be an i9), we were given the TDP, clock speeds, amount of cache, memory channel support and a few other details -- pricing was still a mystery, but rumours indicated we should expect it to be under $5000.
At this event Asus and Gigabyte also revealed the motherboards they'd be making for the Xeon W-3175X, as it currently stands there are only two confirmed motherboards for this single SKU, and by extension the Skylake-A platform. The Asus ROG Dominus Extreme and an unnamed Gigabyte motherboard.
- The Asus ROG Dominus Extreme
- The unnamed Gigabyte board
Much speculation persisted about the price, several European retailers and distributors had the CPU listed for around 4500 Euros, which would have placed the CPU at around the $4000 mark (once you remove VAT), but the range went all the way up to $8000, which is what Ian Cutress from AnandTech heard at CES 2019.
The chip launched and has an official MSRP of $2999, which works out to $107 per core, which is only slightly more expensive than the average price per core of the Skylake-X Refresh CPUs, which typically average around $95-$99 per core.
Here's a link to several Xeon W-3175X reviews you can read...
AnandTech
GamersNexus
- Article
- Video
Tom's Hardware
PCWorld
TweakTown
... to save yourself the time, if money isn't an issue, if power consumption isn't an issue, if one big-ass case isn't an issue and if cooling isn't an issue, this is the best CPU you can buy, period.
While much more expensive than the AMD Threadripper 2990WX, it has more memory bandwidth to feed those cores (an extra 2 channels), it can clock higher, has lower memory latency and being that this is a monolithic die solution, it doesn't suffer from the same multi-die/NUMA issues that plague the Threadripper CPUs, particularly the 4-die SKUs, that being the 2970WX (24c/48t) and the 2990WX (32c/64t)
It isn't all glory though, it's not yet confirmed whether this CPU, and the two motherboards will be sold at retail, or if they will be limited to system integrators. According to early reports by AnandTech, Intel have only made around 1500 of these Xeon W-3175X chips and Asus have made around 500 ROG Dominus Extreme motherboards (which is expected to cost around $1500), leaving Gigabyte to fill the remaining orders with their unnamed LGA3647 motherboard.
So basically that's Skylake-A, an entire platform based on a single SKU (that being the 3175X) and two motherboards that may or may-not ever reach retailers like Newegg, Amazon, Scan, Overclockers, CaseKing etc...
While this is definitely an incredible CPU, here are a few things I think Intel should do to make this platform more accessible, and the platform more competitive.
- Picture of the fully enabled XCC die used in the Xeon W-3175X - measuring in at 689mm2
---
For reference
eXtreme Core Count (XCC) die - 689mm2 and up-to 28 cores
High Core Count (HCC) die - 484mm2 and up-to 18 cores
Low Core Count (LCC) die - 322mm2 and up-to 10 cores
LCC, HCC and XCC dies all share the same number of memory channels (up-to 6) and share the same number of PCIe Gen3 lanes (up-to 48 CPU lanes)
---
Later in the year during Intel's Fall Desktop event more information was revealed about the chip, it was given a name and branded as a Xeon (many were assuming it would be an i9), we were given the TDP, clock speeds, amount of cache, memory channel support and a few other details -- pricing was still a mystery, but rumours indicated we should expect it to be under $5000.
At this event Asus and Gigabyte also revealed the motherboards they'd be making for the Xeon W-3175X, as it currently stands there are only two confirmed motherboards for this single SKU, and by extension the Skylake-A platform. The Asus ROG Dominus Extreme and an unnamed Gigabyte motherboard.
- The Asus ROG Dominus Extreme
- The unnamed Gigabyte board
Much speculation persisted about the price, several European retailers and distributors had the CPU listed for around 4500 Euros, which would have placed the CPU at around the $4000 mark (once you remove VAT), but the range went all the way up to $8000, which is what Ian Cutress from AnandTech heard at CES 2019.
The chip launched and has an official MSRP of $2999, which works out to $107 per core, which is only slightly more expensive than the average price per core of the Skylake-X Refresh CPUs, which typically average around $95-$99 per core.
Here's a link to several Xeon W-3175X reviews you can read...
AnandTech
GamersNexus
- Article
- Video
Tom's Hardware
PCWorld
TweakTown
... to save yourself the time, if money isn't an issue, if power consumption isn't an issue, if one big-ass case isn't an issue and if cooling isn't an issue, this is the best CPU you can buy, period.
While much more expensive than the AMD Threadripper 2990WX, it has more memory bandwidth to feed those cores (an extra 2 channels), it can clock higher, has lower memory latency and being that this is a monolithic die solution, it doesn't suffer from the same multi-die/NUMA issues that plague the Threadripper CPUs, particularly the 4-die SKUs, that being the 2970WX (24c/48t) and the 2990WX (32c/64t)
It isn't all glory though, it's not yet confirmed whether this CPU, and the two motherboards will be sold at retail, or if they will be limited to system integrators. According to early reports by AnandTech, Intel have only made around 1500 of these Xeon W-3175X chips and Asus have made around 500 ROG Dominus Extreme motherboards (which is expected to cost around $1500), leaving Gigabyte to fill the remaining orders with their unnamed LGA3647 motherboard.
So basically that's Skylake-A, an entire platform based on a single SKU (that being the 3175X) and two motherboards that may or may-not ever reach retailers like Newegg, Amazon, Scan, Overclockers, CaseKing etc...
While this is definitely an incredible CPU, here are a few things I think Intel should do to make this platform more accessible, and the platform more competitive.
#1 - Make these CPUs and Motherboards available at retail.
Assuming the rumours are true that this CPU and these two motherboards will be limited to system integrators only, this is an awful idea and will make attaining these parts difficult. Intel need to make sure there is an adequate supply of these chips and they're available through regular retailers and distributors.#2 - Make more than a single SKU
It goes without saying that an entire platform based on a single SKU might not be the best strategy, while there are reports that Intel is planning a 24 core part later down the line, I feel like this would be a more appropriate lineup.
Xeon W-3175X - 28c/56t & $2999
Xeon W-3165X - 26c/52t & $2779*
Xeon W-3155X - 24c/48t & $2559*
Xeon W-3145X - 22c/44t & $2349*
Xeon W-3135X - 20c/40t & $2139*
Average $107 per core.
Such a lineup would encompass the entire XCC die, while making the platform more accessible and allowing Intel to salvage failed 28 core dies and binning them as lower end parts (if cores/cache don't work). Intel could also offer HCC and LCC if they wanted to, but with the full 6 memory channels, 48 PCIe Gen3 lanes and ECC support, which X299/Skylake-X parts lack.
#3 - Encourage OEMs to make ATX/EATX sized boards
While motherboards with 12 DIMM slots and more phases than there are cores certainly looks cool, it comes at an added cost, not just in terms of manufacturing and the end price the motherboard is sold for, but also the practicality of such a design.
Most cases are designed to house up-to ATX/EATX form factors, and while these WTX/EEB style motherboards (not sure if they're based on an official standard) are cool, they're completely impractical for most users, InWin even had to design a case specifically designed for this motherboard, which should come in at the low-low price of $900.
Intel should encourage OEMs to make ATX and EATX sized motherboards, the socket will certainly fit and while you won't be able to cram as many phases or DIMM slots, you'll still be able to have a total of 6 DIMM slots (3 on either side of the socket) to maintain up-to 6 channel support, and with 32GB per DIMM you can still have up-to 192GB of RAM.
So that about sums it up, if Intel do release more SKUs at varying price points and we see more standard ATX/EATX boards with more practical designs at cheaper price points I believe this platform will be a success.
If Intel keep this limited to a single SKU that is only available through system integrators and the only two motherboards for it being completely impractical for the majority of users, it will be disappointing, cool, but disappointing.
Intel plan on supporting Skylake-A throughout the entirety of 2019, so there is plenty of time to release more SKUs and encourage OEMs to make more motherboards.
For my next article I will be focusing on how AMD might respond to the 3175X and the Skylake-A platform with Threadripper Gen3 parts based on the Zen 2 #Rome' architecture.
Thanks for reading.
Comments
Post a Comment