The first official slides of the Intel Broadwell-E HEDT processors have been leaked out and confirm that the launch is taking place at Computex, next week. The Intel Broadwell-E family of high-end, enthusiast aimed processors will be available on the X99 platform which is geared at high-end desktop users who demand the best performance from their PCs. The leaked slides cover the features, specifications and prices of the CPUs.

Intel's 14nm Core i7 HEDT processors will be launching on 30th May! (Image Source: Videocardz)

Intel Broadwell-E Official Specifications, Prices and Features Detailed - Flagship 14nm Family For X99 Platform

The Intel Broadwell-E family features a total of four new processors which will start from price of $400 US. The processors will be available worldwide and will be compatible with existing and new X99 motherboards. Since we are talking about X99, we should know that X99 motherboards feature the LGA 2011-3 socket that will allow support for such processors. The existing motherboards have already received the latest BIOS to deliver support for Broadwell-E while new motherboards will already be shipping with the latest BIOS.

The Intel Core i7 HEDT processors based on Broadwell architecture feature lots of new updates! (Credits: Videocardz)

Intel's Broadwell-E Is Based on a Beefy 3+ Billion Transistor Die

The Broadwell-E processors are coming to the X99 platform soon and now we know their codenames too. Last week, we updated that the specifications are clear and set in the stone. The Broadwell-E family is based on the same process and architecture which we saw recently on the Broadwell-EP processors that incorporate several billion transistors under the hood. In the official launch post, we covered that the Broadwell-EP parts were based off three different dies.

We know that Intel’s Broadwell-E processors will have four variants, a 10 core variant, a 8 core variant and two 6 core variants. Like the Broadwell-EP, the Broadwell-E lineup can either use a single die configuration such as the LCC (Lowest Core Configuration) which houses up to 10 cores and seems like the perfect candidate for the HEDT family but Intel could also use the MCC die configuration to send off the disabled units to the consumer family.

The three 14nm dies used in building the Broadwell-EP family. Broadwell-E can be based on the LCC die.

Depending on the die used, Broadwell-E can feature any where from 3.4 Billion transistors on 246mm2 dies or 4.7 Billion transistors on 306mm2 dies. The first and second options will still be a vast improvement in overall transistors per die moving from Haswell-E which housed up to 2.6 Billion transistors on a 355mm2 die. In both cases, he transistor density has increased by a great margin.

Intel Core i7 Broadwell-E To Feature Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 - Boosted Performance With Single and Multi-Threaded Workloads?

Intel has a new feature on-board the Broadwell-E processors known as Turbo Boost Max 3.0. With this technology, Intel expects to deliver up to 15% better single threaded and multi-threaded performance. Broadwell-E with Turbo Boost Max 3.0 can be a technology built to boost performance in both single and threaded workloads and we can't wait to find out more about this technology.

Aside from Turbo Boost Max 3.0, Intel has also promised much better overclocking features such as per voltage overclocking, AVX ratio offset and VccU voltage control. Intel Broadwell-E chips deploy a new heatspreader and a fully soldered design that will help tone down temperatures while the fine tuned Broadwell architecture will keep power delivery smooth and steady.

Intel Broadwell-E Family

Processor Name Intel Core i7-6950X Intel Core i7-6900K Intel Core i7-6850K Intel Core i7-6800K Process Node 14nm 14nm 14nm 14nm Cores/Threads 10/20 8/16 6/12 6/12 Core Clock 3.00 GHz 3.20 GHz 3.60 GHz 3.40 GHz Boost Clock 3.50 GHz 3.70 GHz 3.80 GHz 3.60 GHz L3 Cache 25 MB L3 Cache 20 MB L3 Cache 15 MB L3 Cache 15 MB L3 Cache Unlocked Multiplier (BCLK OC) Yes, Full Range OC Yes, Full Range OC Yes, Full Range OC Yes, Full Range OC Chipset X99 X99 X99 X99 Socket LGA 2011-3 LGA 2011-3 LGA 2011-3 LGA 2011-3 PCI-E Lanes 40 40 40 28 Memory Support DDR4-2400 MHz DDR4-2400 MHz DDR4-2400 MHz DDR4-2400 MHz TDP 140W 140W 140W 140W Launch Price $1723 US $1089 US $617 US $434 US

Intel Core i7-6950X 10 Core / 20 Thread Processor ($1723 US)

The Intel Core i7-6950X processor is the flagship processor of the Broadwell-E lineup. The processor will feature 10 cores and 20 threads. The processor will run at a base clock of 3.00 GHz and a 3.50 GHz boost clock. The processor will come in an unlocked package to allow overclocking support. The processor rocks 25 MB of L3 cache (2.5 MB per core). Intel will be asking a price of $1723 US for this processor which is an 1.72x increase over the previous flagship (Core i7-5960X).

Specification slide from Intel details the entire Broadwell-E product family.

The Intel Core i7-6950X will pack 40 PCI-E lanes. The total TDP of the chip is rated at 140W. All Broadwell-E processors are designed to support quad channel memory clocked at 2400 MHz (native speeds). The CPU is Intel's first and the worlds first Deca core processor so I think we know why Intel is charging such a high price for this chip.

Intel Core i7-6900K 8 Core / 16 Thread Processor ($1089 US)

The Intel Core i7-6900K is the second fastest processor in the series and is essentially a more fine tuned Core i7-5960X with better clock speeds on a 14nm process node. The Intel Core i7-6900K features 8 CPU cores and 16 threads. The Core i7-6900K is clocked at frequencies of 3.2 GHz base and 3.7 GHz boost clocks. There are same 40 PCI-Express 3.0 lanes on this chip while featuring a 140W TDP. The total L3 cache available is 20 MB and you can expect users on older Sandy Bridge-E or Ivy Bridge-E platforms to move to this processor.

MSI and various motherboard makers are already ready with new X99 products.

At $1089 US, the Core i7-6900K is very similar in terms of pricing to the Haswell-E flagship. Even the specs are similar although Broadwell-E has new technologies and a more tuned architecture. For users who are likely to upgrade to X99, the 6900K can be a good yet expensive update however the performance benefit in threaded applications will be decent enough.

Intel Core i7-6850K ($617 US) and Intel Core i7-6800K ($434 US) 6 Core / 12 Thread Processors

The Intel Broadwell-E family also includes two 6 core processors, the Core i7-6850K and the Core i7-6800K. Both CPUs have 6 cores and 12 threads and come with 15 MB of L3 cache but the interesting thing is that both chips are placed for the entry level enthusiasts which means these will be retailing at price of $617 US (6850K) and $ 434 US (6800K) respectively.

The Core i7-6850K will feature a base clock of 3.60 GHz base and 3.80 GHz boost while the Core i7-6800K will feature clock speeds of 3.40 GHz base and 3.60 GHz boost. Both processors are fully compliant with the LGA 2011-3 socket and will feature support for quad channel DDR4 memory with speeds of up to 2400 MHz (O.C+). The thing that needs to be pointed out is that the Core i7-6850K will have 40 PCI-Express lanes while the Core i7-6800K will have 28 PCI-Express lanes.

Intel officially launches Broadwell-E on 30th May at Computex. We have a list of motherboards already detailed that can be seen below:

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