Introduction
The pre-launch marketing is coming together for Intel's upcoming LGA1,156 chips. To be productised as Core i5 and Core i7 on September 6th, if reports are correct, the soon-to-be-available CPUs will require a new breed of motherboard chipset support.
Intel will be providing the core-logic with a range of 5-series chipsets - P55, P57, H55, H57, Q57 - and some will support a later generation of chips that have built-in graphics These parts will be based on the Westmere architecture, to debut in 32nm CPU and 45nm GPU form.
Coming back closer to the present, Intel's motherboard partners already have a slew of P55 chipset-based boards ready to go, and we saw an ASUS motherboard just last week.
Gigabyte UK dropped off a micro-ATX-sized P55 board that may well be a contender for readers looking for a comparatively low-cost solution - perhaps pairing it up with a Core i5 750 or Core i7 860.