Intel Comet Lake surfaces in Linux drivers - Intel going for 10 cores for desktop procs

by Hilbert Hagedoorn on: 03/14/2019 08:54 AM | source: golem.de | 31 comment(s)

New pending desktop processors from Intel under codename Comet Lake-S, seem to get a maximum of 10 cores. The decacore proc will follow the Core i9 9900K, and is a modified version of the Skylake architecture.

To avoid any confusion, these are being produced at 14 nanometers. The discovery was made as some entries surfaced in Linux drivers now another infusion of Skylake architecture is mentioned for the first time. The drivers list CML processors, which is the abbreviation for Comet Lake in Intel's nomenclature. The procs get GT1 and GT2 integrated graphics units (ninth generation of Intel's integrated graphics chips) and that indicates a fourth gen Skylake architecture.

INTEL_WHL_U_GT2_IDS(&intel_coffeelake_gt2_info),
INTEL_AML_CFL_GT2_IDS(&intel_coffeelake_gt2_info),
INTEL_WHL_U_GT3_IDS(&intel_coffeelake_gt3_info),
INTEL_CML_GT1_IDS(&intel_coffeelake_gt1_info),
INTEL_CML_GT2_IDS(&intel_coffeelake_gt2_info),
INTEL_CNL_IDS(&intel_cannonlake_info),
INTEL_ICL_11_IDS(&intel_icelake_11_info)

{ CPUID_COMETLAKE_U_A0, "Cometlake-U A0 (6+2)" },
{ CPUID_COMETLAKE_U_K0_S0, "Cometlake-U K0/S0 (6+2)/(4+2)" },
{ CPUID_COMETLAKE_H_S_6_2_P0, "Cometlake-H/S P0 (6+2)" },
{ CPUID_COMETLAKE_H_S_10_2_P0, "Cometlake-H/S P0 (10+2)" }

The indications that desktop procs will get up to ten cores and notebooks up to six cores. Interesting is the CML-S which has a design with ten cores, ie a Decacore for desktop systems. The processor would follow the eight-core Core i9-9900K (test) and, as usual, use an optimized Skylake microarchitecture.

Comet Lake seems to be a reaction to the launch of Zen 2, aka Ryzen 3000. There are expected models with eight, twelve and sixteen cores coming towards the PC mainstream segment.

Codename	Core Generation	node	Cores + graphics	iGPU	Launch
Arrandale	1st gene	32 nm	2 + GT2	Gen5.75	2010
Sandy Bridge	2nd Gen	32 nm	2 + GT2	Gen6	2011
Ivy Bridge	3rd gene	22 nm FinFet	2 + GT2	Gen7	2012
Haswell (HSW-ULT)	4th Gen	22 nm FinFet	2 + GT2, 2 + GT3	Gen7.5	2013
Broadwell (BDW-U)	5th Gen	14 nm FinFet	2 + GT2, 2 + GT3	Gen8	2014
Skylake (SKL-U)	6th gene	14 nm FinFet	2 + GT2, 2 + GT3e	Gen9	2015
Kaby Lake (KBL-U)	7th gene	14+ nm FinFet	2 + GT2, 2 + GT3e	Gen9.5	2016
Kaby Lake Refresh (KBL-U R)	8th gene	14 ++ nm FinFet	4 + GT2, 4 + GT3e	Gen9.5	2017
Cannon Lake (CNL-U)	8th gene	10 nm FinFet	2 + GT2 (deactivated)	GEN10	2018
Whiskey Lake (WHL-U)	9th gene	14 ++ nm FinFet	4 + GT2	Gen9.5	2018
Comet Lake (CML-U)	9th gene	14 ++ nm FinFet	2 + GT2, 4 + GT2, 6 + GT2	Gen9.5	2019
Ice Lake (ICL-U)	10th gene (?)	10+ nm FinFet	4 + GT2	Gen11	2019
Tiger Lake	11th gene (?)	10 ++ nm FinFet	?	Xe (?)	2020 (?)

* Golem Overview of Intel Core (Client Mobile) Generations

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NewTRUMP Order
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Joined: 2017-02-04

#5649804 Posted on: 03/14/2019 02:39 PM

Just change the name to what it should be for Intel cpu's as of late. Muddy Lake. Intel can't get out of it's own way to make 10nm wafers. And all this Muddy Lake problems will be passed on to you the consumer. The old magician trick of misdirection with rebranded cpu's and look 10 cores over here, is getting old.

JamesSneed
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#5649812 Posted on: 03/14/2019 03:02 PM

The 9900k already runs damn hot pulling over 200 watts at stock clocks, so this CPU is going to be fun to cool. I have a feeling when AMD lands Zen2 intel will sell virtually zero of these 10 core chips. AMD should be really close in IPC, have a more efficient CPU partly due to 7nm and have more cores. Until 2020 when Intel moves to 10nm+ AMD should own the desktop market. Plus Intel is having a hard time making enough CPU's so this summer AMD will lend them a helping hand with that issue.

Petr V
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#5649813 Posted on: 03/14/2019 03:06 PM

14nm+++++? I lost count.

(BroadWell)
+ (Sky Lake)
++ (Kaby Lake)
+++ (Coffee Lake)
++++ (Coffee Lake+ (9900K))
+++++ (Comet Lake)

Too many ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++.

Petr V
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Posts: 230
Joined: 2018-08-04

#5649816 Posted on: 03/14/2019 03:08 PM

So this is how Intel fights with AMD 7nm Zen2? Hah.

Intel is dead.

nizzen
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#5649881 Posted on: 03/14/2019 04:59 PM

Intel is dead.

...and pigs can fly...

warlord
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Posts: 2176
Joined: 2012-10-22

#5649887 Posted on: 03/14/2019 05:06 PM

...and pigs can fly...

Intel can make pigs fly.

AMDead is the butcher!

H83
Senior Member

Posts: 2680
Joined: 2009-09-08

#5649912 Posted on: 03/14/2019 06:16 PM

Le me guess, it needs a "new" socket with the same number of pins but with one of them in a different position...

Koniakki
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#5649914 Posted on: 03/14/2019 06:19 PM

user1
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#5650077 Posted on: 03/15/2019 03:14 AM

Hey buddy u just proved my point. That "plenty of people " arent gonna be customer of this processor.
So, yes i still think an iGpu in a 10core cpu is a waste of die space to its user for most cases

Intel has limited fab capacity, Making a die with no igpu limits what you can use it for.
Ie intel can sell this silicon as mobile parts instead, if they can't sell them as desktop parts.

The mobile market is both larger and more profitable than desktop, so no its not a waste of die space.
(This chip will probably end up being used for ultrabooks, more than anything else)

If they were to do what you said, they would be left with a pile of parts that nobody will use in a year when icelake is on the market, and have wasted fab time on it that could have been used for something else.

anticupidon
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#5650118 Posted on: 03/15/2019 09:04 AM

Intel is dead.

Careful with this statement.
Remember the time when Sandy Bridge launched? Yes, everyone stated that AMD is dead.
Yet, they struggled and did their homework and Ryzen is the winning ticket. My next rig will be Matisse, thanks to them. But that doesn't make Intel dead or irrelevant.

Understand, the vast majority of people will buy Intel just for the name alone singing the Intel tune from 99's commercial. They don't have a clue what a CPU is and don't want to know. And for the same demographic, AMD runs hot and is slower, right?
Intel has enough money and brand trust still to withstand this vawe.
The main issue is how they will adapt, how well they will respond.

For clarification: I buy whatever brand gives best price/performance ratio. I own AMD and Intel and love them both. No brand loyalty, just being frank with my own pocket.

fantaskarsef
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#5650143 Posted on: 03/15/2019 10:24 AM

Take previously offered HEDT performance with slight improvements in MT/ST, sell for the same amount or more and stuck it in mainstream consumers throats as the holy grail.

Mainstream highend cpus cost the same as HEDT X299 or more(9900k vs 7820x) and same goes as the highend z390 motherboards. Why is still called "mainstream" again, is beyond me.

Talking about for the European market since the 9900k is going for ~€525+shipping on my end + €250-300 for a "good" board.

I know, I know. I'm ranting a bit and plenty can argue all the above but I will just wait to see the price of this "new" 10-core mainstream desktop cpu.

I share that thought, that price is about what I paid for the enthusiast platform when I bought my current rig, 5930K and Rampage 5 mainboard.
By that time, "mainstream" CPUs like the 4790K and a matching mainboard was significantly cheaper than right now, and it's merely two or three years difference. So while they want to give the impression that with their new, hexa and octa cores in CPUs at the top end of the "mainstream" segment, you actually get what the enthusiast platform was, at the enthusiast platform's price. They merely changed the naming scheme to bring low end enthusiast hardware to name it high end mainstream, the price is the same.

Petr V
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#5650150 Posted on: 03/15/2019 10:51 AM

...and pigs can fly...

If you throw them from the roof yes.
And how your 2080ti sli works? :p

Petr V
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Posts: 230
Joined: 2018-08-04

#5650155 Posted on: 03/15/2019 11:05 AM

mohiuddin
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Joined: 2010-11-06

#5650325 Posted on: 03/15/2019 06:14 PM

Intel has limited fab capacity, Making a die with no igpu limits what you can use it for.
Ie intel can sell this silicon as mobile parts instead, if they can't sell them as desktop parts.

The mobile market is both larger and more profitable than desktop, so no its not a waste of die space.
(This chip will probably end up being used for ultrabooks, more than anything else)

If they were to do what you said, they would be left with a pile of parts that nobody will use in a year when icelake is on the market, and have wasted fab time on it that could have been used for something else.
Dont they have multiple production line? Dies of different type coming out of those lines?

user1
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#5650542 Posted on: 03/16/2019 02:33 AM

Dont they have multiple production line? Dies of different type coming out of those lines?

They have no extra capacity. If you were to have a choice. Produce a chip with graphics on two lines that can be sold as either mobile or desktop , or produce 2 different chips on different lines. The option with graphics on both still ends being better in this case, since the chips arent that different in size , and you can sell left overs more easily.

This is better than producing a 10 core with slightly better yields(or a chip with more cores) that you cant sell.

Edit: what is more likely however ,is that intel is replacing an existing chip with graphics , and cannot sacrifice that capacity for something without graphics.

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