Legit Reviews came across an updated Intel desktop processor roadmap that suggests the Ivy Bridge-E "HEDT" platform is slated for Q3 2013. These chips will continue to use the LGA2011 socket and will be compatible with the X79 chipset.
These will bring all the improvements found in the current Ivy Bridge CPUs such as 22nm Tri-Gate transistors and greater overall efficiency and performance to Intel's premium enthusiast platform. IB-E will feature 6-12 cores (IB-E/EP) large amounts of cache, quad channel memory controllers supporting 8 GB of DDR3-1066/1333/1600/1866 per DIMM slot, along with PCI-E 3.0 (40 lanes) and 4 lanes supporting PCI-E 2.0. It's believed that four CPUs will be launched, bearing the following names: Core i7-4930, Core i7-4960, Core i7-4970 and Core i7-4990.
The slide also reveals Intel plans to deliver new Sandy Bridge-E processors in Q2 2013, this should include the Core i7-3980X, the first consumer chip from Intel with eight cores.
