Intel Skylake-S Platform Specs Z170-100-Series Chipset by 2H 2015

Some new info on the pending Skylake-S chipset from Intel have surfaced on the web. The chipset will become available in 2H 2015 on many motherboards and will sport a series 100 Intel chipset chip. So yeah, that would make the lifetime/ timespan in-between Broadwell and Skylake rather small.

Skylake processors would be compatible with the latest LGA 1151 socketed boards and Z170 chipset which is part of the new 100-Series chipset replacing the 9-Series “Wild Cat” PCH. The second most interesting thing covered is that Skylake processors would have both DDR3 and DDR4 memory controllers so they will support both types of memory. We showed you several enthusiast grade DDR4 memory yesterday from various companies, ADATA, Corsair, Crucial to name a few. However, the initial cost of the DDR4 memory while suitable for the HEDT Haswell-E platform won’t be that good for the mainstream Z170 platformhence users will have the choice to stick with cheaper DDR3 sticks till DDR4 prices fall down or upgrade if they have the cash to afford a DDR4 memory kit on the mainstream platform.

Now these are interesting considering that Skylake will feature GT4e graphics in addition to support for DDR4 memory. Intel Skylake processors will boast a totally new architecture considering they are a Tock when it comes to the Intel Tick-Tock model. The GT4e graphics will feature graphics improvement with more execution units compared to Broadwell which from leaked details is said to mention 48 EUs on GT3e and 24 EUs on GT2 level processors. Broadwell will also be the first processor to introduce GT3e graphics with on-die eDRAM cache on desktop level. Haswell refresh series will also come in different variants such as H/Y/U/S series but will not have many improvements since its based on the same Haswell architecture which launched last year.

The most notable thing is that Intel will actually feature support for DDR3 memory on the Y and U series Skylake chips while the others including desktop processors will support DDR4 memory as confirmed several times before.

We will also get several new Wireless technology on the 100-Series chipset such as Snowfield Peak (WiFi + Blue-tooth) replacing Wilkins Peak, Douglas Peak (WiGig+ WiFi + BT) replacing Stone Peak and Maple Peak and the Pine Peak plus WWAN LTE chips (XMM 726x) replacing the WWAN XMM7160) for wireless connectivity. Intel is also introducing the latest Alpine Ridge thunderbolt controller with Skylake pushing speeds of 40Gb/s, double that of last generation. For LAN, Intel will introduce Jacksonville to replace Clarksville.