Notebook Makers Integrate Intel Extreme "Sandy Bridge-E" Chips into Laptops.

Notebook Makers Integrate Intel Extreme "Sandy Bridge-E" Chips into Laptops.
Several suppliers of high-end laptops have unveiled new desktop replacement (DTR) notebooks that are powered by Intel Corp.'s latest Core i7-series microprocessors in LGA2011 form-factor with up to six x86 cores that power top-of-the-range desktops. At present the systems are available from AvaDirect and Eurocom.
The new DTR systems from AvaDirect and Eurocom powered by Core i7 "Sandy Bridge-E" central processing units (CPUs) and Intel X79 are based on Clevo P270WM chassis. The platform enables to install up to Intel Core i7-3960X Extreme processor, up to two MXM 3.0b graphics cards (up to AMD Radeon HD 6990M, Nvidia GeForce GTX 580M or Quadro 4000M), up to 64GB of quad-channel DDR3 memory, up to three 2.5" hard drives with RAID 0/1/5/10 support, 17.3" display with 1920*1080 resolution and so on.
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Intel Core i7-3960X Review: Sandy Bridge-E And X79 Express : Say Hello To The PC Hardware Trophy Wife

Intel's Sandy Bridge design impressed us nearly a year ago, but it was intended for mainstream customers. The company took its time readying the enthusiast version, Sandy Bridge-E. Now, the LGA 2011-based platform and its accompanying CPUs are ready.

According to Mick Jagger, it’s lonely at the top. Intel might agree. After all, for the past five years, the company has put an increasingly large gap between its fastest desktop processors and AMD’s own best efforts. Enthusiasts tend to lament the fact that a lack of intense competition means they pay more for high-end hardware. But, if you’ve been around long enough, you know that Intel’s Extreme Edition CPUs were always thousand-dollar affairs and, once upon a time, AMD’s vaunted FX-series chips used to be worth their $700+ asking prices.

The fact that the $1000 price point persists today, eight years later, means Intel recognizes the extremely limited market for these flagship desktop processors and isn’t about to push one of its crown jewels even further out of reach.

The prior generation of flagship parts based on Gulftown came armed with six physical cores and up to 12 MB of shared L3 cache. They boasted LGA 1366 compatibility, extending the useful lives of pricey X58 Express motherboards, helping soften the blow of $500+ processor upgrades. No such luck this time; you’re facing a pricier investment.

Sandy Bridge-E, Gulftown’s successor, employs an LGA 2011 interface, requiring new motherboards based on Intel’s X79 Express Platform Controller Hub. It also comes armed with an integrated quad-channel memory controller, necessitating four-module memory kits. Oh, and then there’s the fact that Intel isn’t planning to bundle its new chips with coolers, requiring a separate purchase there, too.

More: @Tom's Hardware

Intel's Next-Generation High-End Chipset May Possibly Support Current and Future Enthusiast Chips - X-bit labs

Intel's Next-Generation High-End Chipset May Possibly Support Current and Future Enthusiast Chips - X-bit labs

Intel Corp.'s next-generation high-end core-logic known as X79 may support both current enthusiast-class chips in LGA1366 form-factor as well as next-generation microprocessors in LGA2011 packaging. In fact, according to a document seen by X-bit labs, Intel itself prepares to release two mainboards based on X79 chipset for both its present and future chips.

At present Intel X58 chipset supports only microprocessors in LGA1366 form-factor and it is unlikely that the core-logic will support future Sandy Bridge E central processing units (CPUs). The yet-to-be announced X79 chipset (Waimea Bay enthusiast platform) will support both types of "extreme" chips: code-named Bloomfield in LGA1366 form-factor as well as code-named Sandy Bridge-E in LGA2011 packaging, a document seen by us claims.

The DX79SI mainboard is designed for extreme enthusiasts with no limits in mind. The mainboard will support LGA2011 microprocessors with up to eight DIMMs and up to 64GB of memory. The motherboard will feature three PCI Express 3.0 slots (which is a kind of breakthrough by itself) to support three-way multi GPU configurations, 12 Serial ATA ports (6 with Serial ATA-600 ports), 4 USB 3.0 ports, 14 USB 2.0 ports, 8-channel audio, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi module, two GbE ports and so on.

The DX79TO mainboard is aimed at more conservative users. The platform will support LGA1366 microprocessors, high-speed DDR3 memory as well as two PCI Express 2.0 x16 slots. The motherboard will feature 8 SATA connectors, 2 USB 3.0 ports, 6-channel audio, GbE and so on.

For more: X-bit Labs