An engineering sample of a motherboard using Intel’s newest LGA 7529 socket has been the topic of a set of comprehensive images that have been posted to a blog on the Chinese Bilibili website. This platform has already been the subject of specifications and images, but the most recent leak has a wealth of fresh details. The writer for Bilibili used a Sapphire Rapids Xeon Processor to demonstrate the large physical footprint that the fifth-generation platform takes up on the board by placing it on top of the new socket.

With dimensions of 61 x 82 mm, this year’s Sapphire Rapids LGA 4677 (Socket E) is already regarded as a large promise. In contrast, the future Mountain Stream platform (LGA 7529) is enormous, with estimations putting its approximate dimensions (with the retaining arm) at 66 x 92.5 mm. The Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest CPU families from Intel, which include scalable microarchitecture, are intended to run on the fifth generation platform and are scheduled to debut in 2024. The reference platform with a dual socket configuration has been assigned the code name “Avenue City.”

The leaker has hypothesized that this new Xeon platform will support P-Core variants with up to 86 and 132 cores and E-Core variants with up to 334 and 512 cores, as well as HBM variants, based on an analysis of the single socket engineering sample motherboard. The photographed board is repeatedly labeled “ES,” and branding on the socket identifies the entire assembly as a prototype made by LOTES.

The information revealed by the leaker is consistent with earlier reports that revealed Intel’s plans for its upcoming Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest Xeon processors. The Xeon family will split into two distinct offers as a result of these ranges: one targeted for performance with a P-core array and the other for efficiency with an E-core array. Industry analysts predict that Intel will make these new offers in 2024 with a focus on the high performance server and cloud computing markets.