What things can Intel and AMD do to make the desktop a better value?

[cbn]

I want a smaller, lighter gaming pc that still has competitive performance and graphics, while still maintaining my ability to upgrade select pieces as necessary. It would be nice if it fit in my duffel bag with mouse and keyboard when going to LAN with friends.

I like that idea also, but I would like to see a future where the Mini-ITX APU boards do not cost substantially more than the the Micro-ATX boards.

Hopefully some of the integration I have read AMD is planning will help bring price parity between the two form factors.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I like that idea also, but I would like to see a future where the Mini-ITX APU boards do not cost substantially more than the the Micro-ATX boards.

Hopefully some of the integration I have read AMD is planning will help bring price parity between the two form factors.

Its not in AMDs control unfortunately. Its up to the mobo makers. And if the volume is low it reflects the price.

 

[cbn]

Its not in AMDs control unfortunately. Its up to the mobo makers. And if the volume is low it reflects the price.

If Carrizo is an SOC, that should at least reduce some engineering necessary for Mini-ITX.

But then I wonder what the cost of the SOC will be compared to having APU and PCH separate?

 

[ShintaiDK]

If Carrizo is an SOC, that should at least reduce some engineering necessary for Mini-ITX.

But then I wonder what the cost of the SOC will be compared to having APU and PCH separate?

Carrizo on the desktop is an FM2+ chip using the same "Bolton" PCH as previous versions.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I see the future desktop as MiniITX and down, M.2 storage devices and so on.

The desktop will actually gain a better value if the size decreases. Most dont want a silly huge tower standing next to their desk. You even see people selecting a laptop for staionary usage, simply because the regular desktop size turns them off.

This.

I'd like to see miniITX become the norm for desktops.

Beyond that, better quality onboard audio would be my number one request.

 

[cbn]

Carrizo on the desktop is an FM2+ chip using the same "Bolton" PCH as previous versions.

Ok, then I would want to see Carrizo also as BGA Mini-ITX.

But only if it was inexpensive and had normal desktop TDP.

 

[monstercameron]

Ok, then I would want to see Carrizo also as BGA Mini-ITX.

But only if it was inexpensive and had normal desktop TDP.

roadmaps had Carrizo at 65w...

 

[cbn]

roadmaps had Carrizo at 65w...

That is good enough....but the price really matters a lot.

P.S. I am not sure what is going on with HBM, but if that doesn't come in time I wouldn't be against seeing some fast DDR3 soldered on the Carrizo BGA Mini-ITX motherboards. Again, it depends on the total price and value they can give us. A nice balanced affordable package would be great to have as an option. But can AMD and the motherboard manufacturers make it affordable enough? (Remember Pentium G3258/motherboard combo sales are everywhere these days. And relatively fast Radeon R7 discrete cards have been going for steep discounts at times--> http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2391710 )

 

[NostaSeronx]

Carrizo on the desktop is an FM2+ chip using the same "Bolton" PCH as previous versions.

Actually, there will be desktop versions using the FP4 chipset.

http://www.asrock.com/mb/index.asp?s=AMD%20CPU
^-- Like these.

Apparently, the FM2+ versions will be using real high end models. Like Centurion FX for AM3+, in comparison.

 

[Zodiark1593]

This performance profile is closer to Workstations or servers than of ordinary desktops.

In a way, this is sort of what a hobbyist needs. A pc that is much stronger than what is typically needed by most people, but not cost a kidney for said hobbyist. The desktop will probably live on to serve as that middle ground between low power, low performance devices, and expensive professional workstations.

 

[blackened23]

This.

I'd like to see miniITX become the norm for desktops.

Beyond that, better quality onboard audio would be my number one request.

Personally I think onboard has become leaps and bounds better over the years. I still prefer discrete, as high end discrete audio is better (don't feel like arguing this point, not the forum for it), but mobo audio is definitely in a good place these days. Particularly with the realtek 1150 codec.

 

[dud]

Please write down your requests.

Here are two three of mine:

1.) More options for more affordable primary storage included on the chipset (eMMC 5.0, UFS 2.0, BGA SSD, etc)

2.) More video outputs for processors with iGPU. (Display Port, HDMI and at least two DVI-I would be a big improvement IMO over the current state of affairs: HDMI, DVI-D, VGA)

3.) ECC Capability on the APU AMD motherboards. (Some of the AM3+ boards had ECC Ram capability, so I would like this on other AMD platforms as well.)


(These requests, in addition to those found in this thread and this thread.)

The most obvious answer would be to lower prices. If it were not for the prices of some of Intel's i5 and i7 chips I would have already contributed to their bottom-line by making a purchase.

 

[Homeles]

The most obvious answer would be to lower prices. If it were not for the prices of some of Intel's i5 and i7 chips I would have already contributed to their bottom-line by making a purchase.

I'm fairly certain that we'll be seeing noticeable improvements by the end of the decade.

 

[cbn]

Multiseat computers are totally possible currently with virtualization. Nearly all shortcomings are related to the GPU. While it can be used inside a VM with passthrough, in that way only one VM can make use of it. Is still very hard to actually virtualize the GPU so all VMs can use it in the same fashion as the CPU. nVidia had their GRID line which was supposed to be used for this purpose, and AMD had a line called Radeon Sky which I don't recall that anyone mentioned again after the initial articles.
Yes, if you have one guy doing heavy horsework with the computer, chances are that other feels it. While you can add another GPU, were mainstream LGA 1150 Processors not enough CPU for peak usage, you will be forced to switch to the much more expensive LGA 2011 platform. Add in Dual Processors too, heh.

That is too bad about the lack of virtualizing the GPU.

Without knowing too much about this (at the moment) I would hope we could eventually have a processor with an iGPU that could be virtualized.

Being able to set-up a basic use multiseat cheaply (without the need for extra video cards) just sounds so useful to me.

 

[DrMrLordX]

That is too bad about the lack of virtualizing the GPU.

Without knowing too much about this (at the moment) I would hope we could eventually have a processor with an iGPU that could be virtualized.

Being able to set-up a basic use multiseat cheaply (without the need for extra video cards) just sounds so useful to me.

Apparently one can do just that with Iris Pro. One wonders why this feature is absent from Kaveri.

 

[zir_blazer]

There has been a recent Thread about that here.

Apparently one can do just that with Iris Pro. One wonders why this feature is absent from Kaveri.

According to the source of that link...

Intel has been developing GVT-g under the code name “XenGT”

XenGT earlier docs said it works on Haswell GPUs, nowhere it says that only Iris Pro.

 

[Blitzvogel]

Another worthwhile feature that would benefit all realms of personal computing would be a wireless display system that could be built into TVs and monitors for those who don't want to fumble with a cable. While surely for a permanent setup a wire would be best, but for a quick show or w/e it would be nice. The more wires you can cut out without having to worry about interference the better.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Another worthwhile feature that would benefit all realms of personal computing would be a wireless display system that could be built into TVs and monitors for those who don't want to fumble with a cable. While surely for a permanent setup a wire would be best, but for a quick show or w/e it would be nice. The more wires you can cut out without having to worry about interference the better.

WiDi is the Intel version of that.

 

[dealcorn]

As a proof of concept, Intel Avoton and Rangerly already implement an on SoC MAC that supports either 4X1 GbE or (pre standard) 4X2.5 GbE. Assuming it does not cause anti trust issues, I say do not wait for the 2.5 GbE standard to be finalized. 2.5 GbE should be implemented across all chip lines ASAP. I believe 2.5 GbE is more efficient and less costly than 10 GbE. It is necessary to better match network transfer speeds to SSD speeds (even for Atom). From an Intel perspective, why do they want to throw additional revenue to Realtek when they can do it cheaper with an on SoC solution?

 

[DrMrLordX]

XenGT earlier docs said it works on Haswell GPUs, nowhere it says that only Iris Pro.

Interesting, I did not know that.

 

[DigDog]

proper audio routing

 

[CrazyElf]

Do we really need lower prices? Or is the "race to the bottom" part of the problem in the PC OEM industry? When every beige (now black) box is the same conglomeration of parts, and there are no exciting, differentiating features, is that what you want?

A sea of 22nm Atoms? Kabini dual-cores? Is that what you want?

Intel and Microsoft still make a lot of money. As does Nvidia.

On the system integrator front, Apple commands a huge price premium as well.

The question is, what do you want? I'd like to see cheaper 8 core CPUs.

 

[VirtualLarry]

The question is, what do you want? I'd like to see cheaper 8 core CPUs.

I'd like mainstream 8-core (and 6-core) options on the Intel side.

 

[cbn]

Updated the OP with the request for virtualization of the iGPU.

 

[taserbro]

Is there a solution integrated in a hard drive controller to pair a SSD with a regular HDD to make a hybrid drive kind of deal yet? I remember reading about something that would automatically profile the loading usage of your files and cache the relevant files from your HDD into the SSD which would translate into 99% of the benefits of a SSD with all the cheap capacity of regular HDDs.

I'd like to see that being a standard feature on motherboards one day...