Broadwell chipsets extend life to 2015

Integrating functional modules into the processor (commonly known as SoC) can greatly improve the overall performance of the system. In particular, Intel’s Haswell began to use dual-core single-chip packages on ultra-low-voltage mobile platforms. Intel even stated that A single chip will be implemented on the Broadwell platform, which is also a boost to the development of the SoC. However, according to the latest news, Intel's single-chip plan seems to be delayed, at least the last two years of the product will still use the processor + chipset platform design.

Broadwell as Intel's 14nm product was originally planned to be released in 2014, but due to limitations such as processor technology and high-end memory, it has been delayed by Intel until 2015, and will be Haswell Refresh next year.

In addition, according to foreign reports, the industry previously generally believed that Skylake will become Broadwell's successor. But in fact, Skylake is just the code for the platform where Broadwell's processors are located (both are identical students).

From the current news, the Skylake chipset is still FCBGA package size larger than the Haswell 8 series (45nm process?), but the ball pitch, thickness, pad size will be reduced.

Although it is still unclear what changes will be made to the specification of the Skylake chipset, the space available for the chipset is now pitifully small (Haswell took away digital output, DDI audio and removed LVDS), two years later. It is estimated that the rest of this value will also be drained. In fact, Intel's official name for the chipset is the platform controller (PCH), which is only responsible for input and output and more like a simple digital path.

Not enough, it is unclear why Broadwell/Skylake gave up its SoC design. It may be because it will introduce 14nm new technology, the structure is not suitable for further changes, does not meet the Tick-Tock strategy; or chipset to differentiate the product, after all, can not run the motherboard manufacturers to kill it. But everything, we must wait until 2016 to see.