Intel X299 Platform For Skylake-X Processors Launching Soon
Intel has been has been working on the X299 platform for the high-end desktop enthusiast market for some time and it appears that the platform is only about a month away from being announced. This platform will replace the Intel X99 boards using the LGA 2011 socket that debuted back in August 2014 and is expected to to have a lifespan of the same length. This is going to be an important release for Intel due to the recent pressure AMD put on them with the Ryzen 7 (8-core/16-thread) processor release and rumored Ryzen 9 (12-core/24-thread) processors that are expected to debut later this year.
The Intel X299 platform will bring the new LGA 2066 socket to market for Skylake-X processors and Kaby Lake-X processors lunch. The upcoming Intel Skylake-X processor series is expected to have 6, 8, and 10-core parts with 140W TDPs. We’ve heard rumors of a 12-core Skylake-X processor, but it appears that might be launching at a later date with most insiders saying August 2017. Intel isn’t going to release Skylake-X processors and call that good enough though. It also appears that Intel will be releasing the Kaby Lake-X quad-core processor series for those that just need a quad-core solution with 112W TDPs around the same time.
Since IDF 2017 was recently canceled, we expect that Intel will be showing off the new HEDT platform at Computex 2017 in Taiwan as all the Taiwan-based board makers will be there and can show off their flashy new high-end Intel X299 chipset powered boards. Computex 2017 will begin on Tuesday, May 30th and is one of the largest computer trade shows in the world that takes place for five days. We can see Intel Skylake-X and X299 being the headline for high-end desktops at Computex 2017. The folks over at WCCFTech have reported that the X299 platform will be announced on May 30th, reviewers will be able to publish reviews on June 16th and then customers will be able to buy retail products on June 26th.
In other news there are also rumors of Intel moving up the launch of its 14nm Coffee Lake processors into August 2017 rather than holding them until January 2018 due to increased competition from AMD Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors. That means we’ll have Intel Z370 chipset based boards coming in August along with new Core i3, i5, i7 processors and of course a handful of new unlocked K-Skus for overclockers and enthusiasts.
Thank you AMD for the increased competition as it appears to have woken up Intel and got the fire lit again! Competition is good!