During the announcement, Intel revealed that Cascade Lake X chips would bring new networking technology to the desktop with their 2.5 Gbps i225 V Ethernet controller while adding their AX200 module for wireless Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
Cascade Lake-X, Intel brings Wi-Fi 6 and 2.5GbE technologies to the desktop
After more than a decade of Ethernet at 1 Gbps, Intel is now switching to a 2.5 Gbps PHY with the i225-V Ethernet driver codenamed Foxville. The chip will now be integrated into the new LGA2066 motherboards for the recently announced Cascade Lake-X HEDT (High-End Desktop) processors.
Realtek, Broadcom and leading multi-gigabit Ethernet group Aquantia has already released their 2.5GbE PHYs, so Intel is not the only 2.5GbE PHY brand. However, Intel’s move to this faster generation should accelerate widespread adoption.
Intel is the most popular GbE vendor with it’s i218 V and i219 V controllers and explains that Intel Ethernet controllers have low costs due to their dependence on a PCH-based MAC and a proprietary PCIe bus, which underscores their appeal.
Wi-Fi 6 is expected to be rapidly adopted, with an adoption rate of more than 50% in the various end ranges by 2022. Wi-Fi 6 offers a theoretical bandwidth of up to 2.4 Gb/s. Support for Cascade Lake-X follows in the footsteps of tenth-generation portable processors. However, support is different for the two platforms.
With its tenth-generation CPUs, Intel is integrating Wi-Fi 6 into the 400-series mobile chipsets: Intel claims that the RF module package is 70% smaller than the fully discrete solution and that the combined silicon footprint is 15% smaller. Intel does not integrate the RF component as this would require system-level Wi-Fi certification instead of the module, which would be a headache for partners. It also allows Intel to build the analog RF component in the 28nm UMC process.
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Supporting Wi-Fi 6 in Cascade Lake-X only means the platform is compatible with Intel’s PCIe based AX200 adapter.
This leap in communication performance improvement will be critical as fiber-optic Internet connections become more common. Cascade Lake-X processors will be available in November.