Intel’s Haswell Could Be Last Interchangeable Microprocessors

This is a developing story that seems to have some serious traction behind it.  As you may have noticed Intel has been consolidating their chip offerings by combining features.  First it was the memory controller, then PCI Express.  The pin process changed from a socket type to Land Grid Arrays and sometime after Haswell LGA will be replaced by BGA.

According to Japanese PC Watch web-site, code-named Haswell microprocessors may be the last desktop chips in LGA packaging, which enabled easy switch of CPUs on mainboards. Starting from Broadwell chips, which are due in 2014, all mainstream desktop processors will be available in BGA packaging, which means that they will have to be soldered to mainboards, something that can be done  in relatively sophisticated manufacturing facilities.

Speculation remains around what will happen to the Ultra High-end space.  For instance will processors like the LGA 2011 still exist?  Right now the interchangeable processor seems like the only way to build servers and graphical workstations leaving the mid-range to be treated like an OEM video card supplier with all-in-one system board offerings.

I'll be watching this story as it very well could kill PC building process unless you're into the enthusiast builds and, have extremely deep pockets.

Related Web URL: http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/201211220...