Hello friends.
This time we will look at such an important part of the motherboard and computer as a whole, like the chipset. Let's talk about the main manufacturers, the differences between the chipsets. Let's go through the price categories of chipsets of different series.
What is a chipset
Chipset (eng. Chipset) - a set of microcircuits located on and acting as an intermediary between various elements of the computer. It provides understanding of processor commands by RAM, video card, hard disk and other equipment connected to the motherboard.
Chipsets differ by manufacturer, number of internal chips, speed, supported connectors and their number, as well as many others. Let's consider the differences.
Name history
A group of motherboard control chips was originally called a chipset. These were the North Bridge and the South Bridge. Also, sometimes the chipset included a Super I / O chip connected to the south bridge and controlling low-speed connectors (PS / 2, floppy, COM, LPT).
North bridge
Northbridge or Memory Controller Hub - coordinates the processor with memory and graphics adapter. It uses high-speed buses, allowing information to be exchanged at tens of gigabits per second. Physically, it is located above the south bridge, hence its name.
South bridge
South bridge or controller-hub I / O - through the north bridge connects the processor and steel equipment connected via SATA, USB, IDE and other connectors.
Manufacturers
Such companies as Intel, AMD are engaged in the production of chipsets. Among the companies that stopped producing chipsets are NVidia, VIA and SiS, the markings of which can still be found on motherboard chipsets. The chipsets of modern manufacturers differ mainly in the supported socket. Intel manufactures chipsets for their sockets, AMD for theirs.
Differences between chipsets
The main difference between modern Intel chipsets is the absence of a Northbridge. Not so long ago, they removed it as part of the processor.
Chipsets come in different classes and categories. Of the modern chipsets from Intel, it is worth highlighting the 100 series chipsets:
H110- for budget home or office computers;
B150 and H170- for medium computers;
Q170 and Z170- for serious gaming or work computers. Only the Z170 has overclocking capability.
All of them have USB 3.0, SATA 3, PCI-E x16 connectors. The main difference between these chipsets is in the number of supported connectors and slots. All of them are able to work with modern i series processors (i3, i7, i5).
Modern AMD chipsets are divided into 2 categories: A series and 9 series. The main difference between the 9th series is that it can work with 8-core AMD processors. The 9-series supports AMD OverDrive fine tuning and socket FX support for 8-core processors. Chipsets A series today are presented:
A58- for very budget and low-speed systems, without support for SATA 3 or USB 3.0;
A68H- for budget computers;
A78- for medium and multimedia machines;
A88X- for high-performance work or gaming PCs, with the ability to overclock.
AMD chipsets are cheaper than Intel chipsets, but at the same time they have fewer supported slots.
This article will examine and describe in detail the chipsets produced by Intel for the latest generations of processors from this manufacturer. Also, recommendations will be given regarding the choice of logic of the motherboard when assembling a new computer system.
What is a "chipset"?
Behind the word "chipset" is the chipset that is installed on the motherboard. It connects together the various components of a computer system. Its second name is system logic. As a rule, it is bound to a specific socket, that is, a processor socket. This article will consider the most relevant solutions from Intel, which can still be found on sale.
Sandy Bridge and Series 6 Chipsets
The most "ancient" of those produced, which can still be found on sale now, belong to the 6th series. Their announcement took place at the beginning of 2011, and any CPU of the Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge families can be installed in them. If you are installing a second family of CPUs, you may need to. All of these chips were installed in and were often equipped with an integrated graphics solution. Another important feature of this platform was that it consisted of only one microcircuit - the "south bridge". But the "north bridge" was integrated into the processor. The most affordable of these was the chipset. It made it possible to create inexpensive office systems. Also, on its basis, it was possible to make a good PC for study. But the ligaments "Kor Ay5" or "Kor Ay7" and "N61" look absolutely ridiculous. It is foolish to install a high-performance processor in a MiniATX motherboard with minimal functionality. This chipset allowed installing only 2 RAM modules, equipped with one PCI-Express 16x v2.0 slot for installing an external graphics accelerator and had 10 YUSB 3.0 ports and 4 SATA ports for connecting hard drives or an optical drive.
The middle segment was occupied by Q65, B65, Q67 (these chipsets did not support Ivy Bridge chips). The difference between them and the H61 was the number of slots for RAM (in this case there were 4 instead of 2) and ports for drives (5 versus 4). Initially, the H67 and P67 were used for the most productive. The first of them supported integrated video, but was equipped with only one slot for installing an external graphics accelerator. And the second was aimed only at use (it had 2 slots for these purposes), but the built-in graphics accelerator on such motherboards did not work. In turn, the solutions based on the Z68 combined the best aspects of the H67 and P67. This particular chipset can be considered the best for this platform.
"Ivy Bridge" and motherboards for them
A new generation of Ivy Bridge CPUs came in 2012 to replace Sandy Bridge. There were no fundamental differences between these generations of chips. The only thing that has essentially changed is the technological process. The previous generation of processors was manufactured using 32nm technology, and the new one - using 22nm process technology. The socket for these chips was the same - 1155. Entry-level systems in this case were also built on the basis of the Intel H61 chipset, which perfectly supported both generations of semiconductor crystals. But the middle and premium segments in this case have changed significantly. Although the characteristics of the Intel7 series chipsets indicate that they practically did not differ from their predecessors. The mid-range solutions in this case included B75, Q75, Q77 and H77. All of them were equipped with 1 slot for a video card and had 4 slots for installing RAM. The B75 has the most modest parameters: 5 SATA 2.0 ports and 1 SATA 3.0 port for organizing a disk subsystem and 8 YUSB 2.0 ports and 4 YUSB 3.0 ports. By the way, all chipsets of the 7th series could boast of exactly this amount of YUSB 3.0. The Q75 differed from the B75 only in the number of YUSB 2.0 ports, of which in this case there were already 10 instead of 8. The H77 and Q77, unlike the Q75 and B75, could boast of having two SATA 3.0 ports. The premium segment in this case was represented by the Z75 and Z77. If the previous four chipsets only allowed overclocking the CPU and the graphics accelerator, then these two semiconductor crystals could also increase the RAM frequency. Also in this case, the number of slots for video cards increased. There were 2 of them in solutions based on the Z75, and 3 in the Z77.
Haswell, Haswell Refresh and its system logics
In 2013, 1150 replaced it. Its processors did not make any revolutionary changes. The only exception in this regard was the power consumption of chips, which in this particular family of CPUs was significantly redesigned and this made it possible, without changing the technological process, to significantly reduce the thermal package of semiconductor crystals. New sets of system logic were released for the new socket. Their parameters have a lot in common with the previous generation of the 7th series. There were 6 chipsets in total: H81, B85, Q85, Q87, P87 and Z87. The most modest in terms of parameters was the H81. It only has 2 RAM slots, 2 SATA 3.0 ports, 2 SATA 2.0 ports and 1 graphics card slot. Also, the number of YUSB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, respectively, was 8 and 2. Motherboards based on this set of system logic, as a rule, were equipped with Seleron and Pentium chips. The Intel B85 chipset differs from the H81 in the increased number of RAM slots (there were already 4 of them), USB 3.0 and SATA 3.0 ports (4 in both cases versus 2). The Q85 could, in comparison with the B85, boast only 10 USB ports of version 2.0. These two chipsets are most often used in conjunction with Kor Ay3 chips. The characteristics of the Q87, P87 and Z87 are identical. They have 4 slots for RAM, 8 YUSB 2.0 ports, 6 YUSB 3.0 ports and 6 SATA 3.0 ports. The Q87 and P87 chipsets were perfect for Kor Ay5 and Kor Ay7 with locked multipliers. But the Z87 was focused on chips with the "K" index, that is, on its basis computer systems were built to overclock the CPU.
Broadwell and chipsets for it
In 2014, the Haswell generation was replaced by new chips codenamed "Broadwell". They are manufactured using a new 14 nm manufacturing process and are not fully compatible with 8 series logic kits. The number of processors themselves was released a little and, as a result, there was no specific update of the chipsets. Only 2 of them were released - H97 and Z97. The first of them was intended for a CPU with a locked multiplier and completely repeated the parameters of P87. Well, the Intel Z97 chipset was an exact copy of the Z87, but supported the 5th generation Cor processors. By the way, chips of the 4th generation, that is, Haswell, can be installed in the same motherboards.
System logic for Skylike
A total of 5 sets of system logic were presented for the latest generation of CPUs, codenamed "Skylike": H110, B150, H170, Q170 Z170. Comparison of Intel chipsets of the eighth and hundredth series clearly indicates the positioning of the latter. Moreover, their technical parameters are almost identical. The first of them - Н110 - is intended for use in budget and office computer systems together with Celerons and Pentiums. В170 and Н170 are oriented towards "Kor Ay3", "Kor Ay5" and "Kor Ay7" with locked multipliers. Well, with unlocked multipliers "Kor Ay5" and "Kor Ay7" (that is, the CPU with the index "K"), it is most correct to install it in motherboards based on the Z170. There is one important difference in this family of chipsets, which is support for a new type of RAM - DDR4. But all earlier versions of the system logics of this manufacturer supported only DDR3.
What's next?
The life cycle of the hundredth series of Intel chipsets is just beginning. These decisions will be valid for exactly 2 more years. And the replacement process itself in the future will not be so fast. But, in any case, its receivers will have a similar division into niches. Even their designations will be similar.
Enthusiast solutions
Separately, it is necessary to consider the chipsets for enthusiasts from Intel. Chipsets of the 2011 platform were different from all previously described. The first of these was the X79. It allowed installing the most efficient Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge chips. It was replaced in 2014 by the X99, which was intended to install Haswell solutions. Among other differences, it is necessary to highlight in the latter support for DDR 4 standard RAM, while the X79 could only work with DDR 3. Also, these processors, in comparison with the previously described chips, could boast of an improved memory controller (4 channels) and an increased number of computational modules (the most productive solutions included 8 such units).
Intel motherboard chipsets are clearly divided into niches. The least productive solutions are recommended to be built on the basis of H81 and H110. The most productive PCs for computer enthusiasts are best built on the basis of the Z87, Z97 and Z170. The rest of the chipsets are focused on mid-range computer systems. Their performance will definitely be enough for the next 2-3 years, but at the same time the possibility of overclocking is minimized. Well, the latest BIOS updates generally indicate that such an opportunity will not be available soon. The chipset manufacturer himself is blocking it. From the standpoint of novelty, it is better to choose solutions of the hundredth series, which are now only beginning to actively appear on store shelves. But in case of budget savings, you will have to purchase more affordable 80 series motherboards.
Outcomes
This article took a closer look at the chipsets released since 2011 by Intel. This semiconductor giant updates its chipsets almost every year. As a result, each new generation of CPUs requires the purchase of an updated motherboard. On the one hand, this increases the cost of the PC, and on the other hand, it allows you to constantly improve its characteristics.
Long gone are the days when on the market it was possible to choose a PC of almost any configuration for any task. There are now few companies that assemble PCs, and there are practically no more companies that specialize in assembling PCs. Moreover, the rest, as a rule, are engaged in exclusive and very expensive PCs, which are far from affordable for everyone. But computers from companies that do not specialize in assembling PCs often cause criticism. As a rule, these firms are engaged in the sale of components, and for them the assembly of ready-made configurations is not their main business, which is often just a means for cleaning warehouses. That is, computers are assembled according to the principle "what is left in our warehouse?" As a result, for many users, the motto "Do it yourself if you want it to be good" remains very relevant today.
Of course, you can always order a PC assembly of any configuration from the components sold. But the "foreman" of such an assembly will be you, and it is you who will have to develop the PC configuration and approve the estimate. And this business is by no means simple and requires knowledge of the range of components on the market, as well as the basic principles of creating PC configurations: in which case it is better to put a more powerful video card, and when you can get by with an integrated graphics core, but you need a productive processor. We will not consider all aspects of creating a PC configuration, but we will have to remember several important stages.
So, at the first stage when creating a PC configuration, you need to decide on the platform: whether it will be a computer based on an AMD processor or based on an Intel processor. The answer to the question: "Which is better?" - simply does not exist, and we will not campaign in favor of this or that platform. Just in this article we will talk about computers on the Intel platform. At the second stage, after choosing a platform, you should decide on a specific processor model and choose a motherboard. Moreover, we consider this choice as one stage, since one is closely related to the other. You can choose a board for a specific processor, or you can choose a processor for a specific board. In this article, we will just look at the modern range of motherboards for Intel processors.
Where to begin
The range of modern motherboards for Intel processors, just like the range of Intel processors themselves, can be divided into two large families:
- motherboards on the Intel X299 chipset for Intel Core X processors (Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X)
- motherboards based on Intel 300 series chipsets for 8th generation Intel Core processors (Coffee Lake).
These two platforms are completely different and incompatible with each other, and therefore we will consider them in more detail each separately. The rest of the boards and processors are no longer relevant, although they can be found on sale.
Intel X299 Chipset and Intel Core X Processors
Intel X299 chipset along with motherboards based on it and a family of compatible processors Intel presented at Computex 2017. The platform itself received the codename Basin Falls.
First of all, motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset are only compatible with processor families codenamed Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X, which have an LGA 2066 processor socket.
The platform is quite specific and focused on the segment of high-performance solutions, which Intel dubbed HEDT (High End DeskTop). Actually, the peculiarity of this platform is determined by the peculiarity of the Skylake-X and Kaby Lake-X processors, which are also called the Core X family.
Kaby lake-x
Kaby Lake-X processors are 4-core. Today there are only two models of such processors: the Core i7-7740X and the Core i5-7640X. They are not much different from the "regular" processors of the Kaby Lake family with an LGA 1151 socket, but they are compatible with a completely different platform and, accordingly, have a different socket.
The Core i5-7640X and Core i7-7740X processors have an unlocked multiplier factor and lack a graphics core - like all models of the Core X family. The Core i7-7740X model supports Hyper-Threading technology (it has 4 cores and 8 threads), and the Core model i5-7640X - no (4 cores and 4 threads). Both processors have dual channel DDR4 memory controller and support up to 64GB of DDR4-2666 memory. The number of PCIe 3.0 lanes in both processors is 16 (as in regular Kaby Lake).
All processors of the Core X family with six or more cores are already based on the Skylake microarchitecture. The range of models is quite large here. There are 6-, 8-, 10-, 12- 14-, 16- and 18-core models, they are presented in two subfamilies: Core i7 and Core i9. 6- and 8-core models form the Core i7 family, while models with 10 or more cores form the Core i9 family.
Skylake-x
All processors of the Skylake-X family have a four-channel memory controller and, accordingly, the maximum amount of supported memory for them is 128 GB. The size of the L3 cache for is 1.375 MB per core: for a 6-core processor it is 8.25 MB, for an 8-core processor it is 11 MB, for a 10-core processor it is 13.75 MB, etc. Core i7-7800X and Core i7-7820X) each have 28 PCIe 3.0 lanes, and the models of the Core i9 family already have 44 lanes.
Intel X299 Chipset
Now let's dwell on the Intel X299 chipset, which is the basis of the motherboard and 90% (conditionally, of course) determines its functionality.
Since Core X processors can have both dual channel (Kaby Lake X) and quad channel (Skylake-X) DDR4 memory controller, the Intel X299 chipset supports both memory modes. Boards based on this chipset, as a rule, have eight DIMM slots for installing memory modules. It's just that if a Kaby Lake X processor is used, then out of eight memory slots, only four can be used.
The functionality of the chipset is determined by the set of its high-speed input / output ports (let's abbreviate to HSIO): USB 3.1 / 3.0, SATA 6 Gb / s or PCIe 3.0.
The Intel X299 chipset has 30 HSIO ports. The set is as follows: no more than 24 PCIe 3.0 ports, no more than 8 SATA 6 Gb / s ports, and no more than 10 USB 3.0 ports. But once again we note that in total there should be no more than 30. In addition, there can be no more than 14 USB ports, of which up to 10 can be USB 3.0 versions, and the rest - USB 2.0.
Flexible I / O technology is also used: some HSIO ports can be configured as PCIe or USB 3.0 ports, while others can be configured as PCIe or SATA 6Gb / s ports.
Naturally, the Intel X299 chipset supports Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology), which allows you to configure a SATA controller in RAID controller mode with support for levels 0, 1, 5, and 10. In addition, Intel RST is supported not only for SATA ports. , but also for drives with PCIe x4 / x2 interface (M.2 and SATA Express connectors).
The distribution diagram of the high-speed I / O ports for the Intel X299 chipset is shown in the figure.
Speaking of the Basin Falls platform, one cannot fail to mention such technology as Intel VROC (Virtual RAID on CPU). This is not a feature of the chipset, but of Core X processors, and not all, but only of the Skylake-X family (Kaby Lake-X has too few PCIe 3.0 lanes).
VROC technology allows you to create a RAID array from PCIe 3.0 x4 / x2 SSDs using PCIe 3.0 processor lanes.
This technology is implemented in different ways. The classic option is to use a PCIe 3.0 x16 container card that has four M.2 slots for PCIe 3.0 x4 SSDs.
By default, RAID 0 is available for all SSDs connected to the container card. If you want more, you will have to pay. That is, in order for a level 1 or 5 RAID array to become available, you need to separately purchase an Intel VROC key and connect it to a special Intel VROC Upgrade Key connector on the motherboard (such a connector is available on all motherboards with the Intel X299 chipset).
Intel 300 Series Chipsets & 8th Gen Intel Core Processors
The Basin Falls platform discussed above is aimed at a very specific market segment where multi-core processors are required. For most home users, computers on such a platform are both expensive and pointless. So the vast majority of Intel-based PCs are 8th Gen Intel Core PCs also known as Coffee Lake.
All Coffee Lake processors have an LGA1151 socket and are only compatible with motherboards based on the Intel 300 series chipset.
Coffee Lake processors are available in the Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium Gold and Celeron series.
The Core i7, Core i5 series processors are 6-cores, while the Core i3 series processors are 4-core models without Turbo Boost support. The Pentium Gold and Celeron series are entry-level dual-core models. All Coffee Lake series processors have an integrated graphics core.
The Core i7, Core i5 and even Core i3 series have one processor model each with an unlocked multiplier (K-series), that is these processors can (and should) be overclocked... But here it should be remembered that overclocking requires not only a K-series processor, but also a board based on a chipset that allows the processor to be overclocked.
Now about the Intel 300 series chipsets. There is a whole garden of them. Along with the Coffee Lake processors, only the Intel Z370 chipset was announced, which has represented the entire family for almost a year. But the trick is that this chipset is “fake”. That is, at the time of the announcement of the Coffee Lake processors (October 2017), Intel did not have a new chipset for these processors. So they took the Intel Z270 chipset, made some cosmetic changes, and re-labeled it Intel Z370. In fact, these are the same chipsets with the only exception that they are targeted at different processor families.
In April 2018, Intel announced a number of Intel 300-series chipsets - this time they are really new, with new functionality. There are seven models in the 300 series today: Z370, Q370, H370, B360 and H310. Two more chipsets - Z390 and Q360 - will be announced, presumably in early fall.
So, All Intel 300-series chipsets are compatible with Coffee Lake processors only with LGA 1151 connector. Models Q370 and Q360 are targeted at the corporate segment of the market and are not of particular interest to users in the sense that motherboard manufacturers do not make consumer decisions on them. But the Z390, Z370, H370, B360 and H310 are just for users.
Chipsets Z390, Z370 and Q370 belong to the top-end segment, and the rest are obtained by castration, cutting the functionality of top-end models. Chipsets H370, B360 are for mass inexpensive motherboards (motherboards that are called popular), but H310 is when life cracked.
Now about how the rest get from the top models. It's simple. The top models Z390 and Q370 have exactly 30 numbered HSIO ports (USB 3.1 / 3.0, SATA 6Gb / s and PCIe 3.0). Please note that we do not classify the Z370 chipset as top-end models, because, as we have already noted, it is “fake” simply because it lacks the features that are inherent in Intel 300 series chipsets, although there are also exactly 30 HSIO ports. In particular, the Z370 does not have a USB 3.1 controller and there is no CNVi controller, which we will talk about a little later.
So, the Z390 and Q370 chipsets have 30 HSIO ports, of which there can be up to 24 PCIe 3.0 ports, up to 6 SATA 6 Gb / s ports and up to 10 USB 3.0 ports, of which up to 6 ports can be USB 3.1. Moreover, there can be no more than 14 USB 3.1 / 3.0 / 2.0 ports.
To get a non-top chipset from a top-end chipset, you just need to block some of the HSIO ports. That's all. True, there is one "but" here. The H310 chipset, which is completely "castrated", differs from the others not only in that some of its HSIO ports are blocked, but also in that the PCIe ports are only 2.0, not 3.0, as in the case of other chipsets. In addition, the USB 3.1 controller is also blocked here - in other words, there are only USB 3.0 ports.
A diagram of the distribution of high-speed I / O ports for the Intel 300 series chipsets is shown in the figure.
If you get confused, then the easiest way to understand how the Intel 300 series chipsets for desktop PCs differ from each other will be from this table.
| Q370 | Z390 | Z370 | H370 | Q360 | B360 | H310 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total HSIO Ports | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 24 | 15 |
| PCIe 3.0 Lines | up to 24 | up to 24 | up to 24 | up to 20 | 14 | 12 | 6 (PCIe 2.0) |
| SATA 6Gb / s Ports | until 6 | until 6 | until 6 | until 6 | until 6 | until 6 | 4 |
| USB 3.1 ports | until 6 | until 6 | No | up to 4 | up to 4 | up to 4 | No |
| USB 3.0 ports | to 10 | to 10 | to 10 | up to 8 | up to 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Total number of USB ports | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 |
| Intel RST to PCIe 3.0 (x4 / x2 M.2) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | No |
| Overclocking support | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| PCIe 3.0 Processor Lane Configurations | 1 × 16 2 × 8 1 × 8 and 2 × 4 |
1 × 16 | |||||
| Memory support | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 | DDR4 |
| Number of memory channels / number of modules per channel |
2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/2 | 2/1 |
| Intel Optane Memory Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| PCIe Storage Support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| PCIe RAID 0, 1, 5 support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| SATA RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| CNVi (Intel Wireless-AC) support | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in gigabit network MAC layer controller |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Motherboard manufacturers
There were times when there were dozens of motherboard manufacturers. But natural selection has led to the fact that there are very few of them left - only the strongest survived. And if we talk about the Russian market, there are only four motherboard manufacturers: ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte and MSI (do not attach importance to the order - everything is alphabetical). True, there is also the Biostar company, but you can safely forget about it.
It is senseless and incorrect to talk about whose products are of better quality. The factories where the boards are produced are the same for all companies in the sense that they use the same equipment. Besides, motherboards from the same Asus can be produced at Gigabyte factories and vice versa. It all depends on the workload of factories, and none of the companies "disdains" about OEM production. In addition, there are companies like Foxconn and ECS that are exclusively dedicated to OEM and ODM manufacturing, including for ASRock, Asus, Gigabyte, and MSI. So the question of where exactly the board was made is not so important. It is important who developed it.
Features of motherboards on the Intel X299 chipset
First of all, note that motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset are aimed at expensive PCs. The peculiarity of these boards is that they support processors with a different number of PCIe 3.0 lanes - 16, 28 and 44 lanes. PCIe 3.0 processor lines are used primarily for PCI Express 3.0 x16 / x8 / x4 slots, and sometimes M.2 / U.2 slots. The difficulty in this case is that each type of processor must have its own implementation of slots.
In a simple case (not very expensive boards), the implementation is as follows. The 44-lane PCIe 3.0 processor option will have two PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, one PCI Express 3.0 x8 (PCI Express x16 form factor) and one PCI Express 3.0 x4 (again, PCI Express x16 form factor) ).
In the 28-lane PCIe 3.0 processor variant, one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot will become unavailable, that is, there will be only one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot, one PCI Express 3.0 x8 and one PCI Express 3.0 x4.
In the variant of the processor with 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes (Kaby Lake-X), one more PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot is simply blocked and only PCI Express 3.0 x8 and PCI Express 3.0 x4 slots remain.
But it may also be that in the processor version with 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes, two slots will be available: PCI Express 3.0 x16 / x8 and PCI Express 3.0 x8 - which operate in x16 / - or x8 / x8 modes (an additional PCIe 3.0 switch is required ).
However, such sophisticated circuits are used only in expensive boards. Manufacturers do not pay much attention to the operating mode of the board with Kaby Lake-X processors. Moreover, there is even a board based on the Intel X299 chipset that simply does not support Kaby Lake-X processors.
Actually, this is quite logical and correct. There is no point in using Kaby Lake-X processors in combination with motherboards based on Intel X299 chipsets - this severely limits the functionality of the board. First, there will be fewer PCI Express 3.0 x16 / x8 slots available for use. Second, of the eight memory slots typically found on motherboards with the Intel X299 chipset, only four will be available. Accordingly, the maximum amount of supported memory will be two times less. Thirdly, Intel VROC technology will not be available either. That is, if a motherboard based on the Intel X299 chipset is used with a Kaby Lake-X processor, then you will get an expensive solution, which in terms of performance and functionality will be inferior to solutions based on the Coffee Lake processor. In a word, expensive and pointless.
In our opinion, motherboards based on the Intel 299 chipset make sense only in combination with Skylake-X processors, and it is better that these are Core i9 series processors, that is, models with 44 PCIe 3.0 lanes. Only then can you take advantage of the full functionality of the Basin Falls platform.
Now about what the Basin Falls platform is needed for.
Most motherboards with Intel X299 chipsets are marketed as gaming motherboards. The names of the boards either contain the word "Gaming", or they generally refer to a gaming series (for example, Asus ROG). This, of course, does not mean that these boards are somehow different from those boards that are not positioned as gaming boards. It's just easier to sell that way. Now the word "Gaming" is sculpted everywhere, simply because there is at least some demand for it. But an extra word on the box, of course, does not oblige the manufacturer to anything.
Moreover, we would say that motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset are the least suitable for games. That is, you can, of course, assemble a gaming computer on their basis, but it will turn out to be expensive and ineffective. Just the main "highlight" of the Basin Falls platform lies precisely in the multi-core processors, and games do not need this... And using a 10-, 12-, 14-, 16- or 18-core processor will not give you any advantage in games.
Of course, motherboards with the Intel X299 chipset have a lot of PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots and, it would seem, you can put several video cards. But it's good just to show off to the neighbors: two video cards can be installed on a system with an Intel Z370 chipset, and there is simply no point in three video cards (however, in two, too).
But if the Basin Falls platform is not the most suitable option for games, then what is the best use for it? The answer will disappoint many. Basin Falls platform is very specific and most home users don't need it at all... It is optimal to use it to work with specific applications that can be well parallelized by more than 20 threads. And if we talk about the applications that home users encounter, then there are very few of them. These are programs for converting (and editing) video, 3D rendering programs, as well as specific scientific applications that were originally developed for multi-core processors. In other cases, the Basin Falls platform simply does not provide advantages over the platform based on Coffee Lake processors, but it will be much more expensive.
But if you still work with applications where 36 threads (18-core Skylake-X processor) will not be superfluous, then the Basin Falls platform is just what you need.
How to choose a board based on the Intel X299 chipset
So, you need a board on the Intel X299 chipset for Skylake-X processors. But the assortment of such boards is quite large. Asus alone offers 10 models based on this chipset in four series. Gigabyte has an even bigger list of offered models - 12 pieces. Further, 10 models are produced by ASRock and 8 models by MSI. The price range is from 14 to 35 thousand rubles. That is, there is a choice, and it is very wide (for every taste and wallet). What is the difference between these boards that they can differ so much (more than twice) in cost? It is clear that we will not describe the features of each of the 40 motherboard models on the market, but we will try to highlight the main aspects.
The difference is primarily in functionality, which, in turn, is determined by the set of ports, slots and connectors, as well as various additional features.
If we talk about ports, slots and connectors, then these are PCI Express 3.0 x16 / x8 / x4 / x1 slots, USB 3.1 / 3.0 and SATA ports, as well as M.2 connectors (PCIe 3.0 x4 / x2 and SATA). Not so long ago, motherboards also featured SATA Express and U.2 connectors (there are such connectors on some models of the sold motherboards), but all the same, these are already “dead” connectors, and they are no longer used on new models.
PCI Express 3.0 x16 / x8 slots are implemented via PCIe 3.0 processor lanes. PCI Express 3.0 x4 slots can be implemented through both processor lanes and PCIe 3.0 chipset lanes. And PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots, if any, are always implemented via PCIe 3.0 chipset lanes
On expensive models of boards, complex switching schemes are used, which make it possible to make the most of all PCIe 3.0 processor lines in the variant of all types of processors (with 44, 28 and 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes). And even switching between processor and chipset PCIe 3.0 lines is possible. That is, for example, when a processor with 28 or 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes is used, some of the slots with the PCI Express x16 form factor switch to PCIe 3.0 chipset lanes. An example is a fee or. It is clear that such opportunities come at a cost.
Asus Prime X299-Deluxe Board
As we already said, the Intel X299 chipset has exactly 30 HSIO ports, which are PCIe 3.0, USB 3.0 and SATA 6 Gb / s ports. For inexpensive (by the standards of this segment) motherboards, this is quite enough, that is, everything that is implemented on the board (controllers, slots, ports) can work without separation from each other. Typically, motherboards with the Intel X299 chipset have two M.2 slots (PCIe 3.0 x4 and SATA), a gigabit network controller and a Wi-Fi module (or two gigabit controllers), a pair of USB 3.1 controllers, and a PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot. In addition, there are 8 SATA ports and 6-8 3.0 ports.
More expensive models can add more network controllers, USB 3.1 controllers, more USB 3.0 ports, as well as PCI Express 3.0 x1 slots. Moreover, there are also network controllers that meet new standards. For example, the Aquantia AQC-107 10 Gigabit LAN controller, which can be connected to the chipset via two or four PCIe 3.0 lanes. There are also Wi-Fi modules of the WiGig standard (802.11ad). For example, the Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme board has both an Aquantia AQC-107 controller and an 802.11ad Wi-Fi module.
But ... you can't bend over your head. And the fact that there is a lot of things on the board does not mean at all that all of this can be used at the same time. Nobody canceled the limitations of the chipset, therefore, if there is a lot, then, most likely, something should be shared with something, unless the board uses an additional PCIe lane switch, which essentially allows you to overcome the limitations on the number of PCIe lanes ... An example of a board where a switch is used (though PCIe 2.0 lines) might be.
ASRock X299 Taichi Board
The presence of such a switch will undoubtedly increase the cost of the solution, but the feasibility of such is questionable, since the basic capabilities of the Intel X299 chipset are quite enough.
There are also boards where switches are used not for chipset lines, but for PCIe 3.0 processor lines, this allows you to increase the number of PCI Express 3.0 x16 / x8 slots. For example, the Asus WS X299 Sage board, which is positioned as a workstation, has seven slots with PCI Express 3.0 x16 / x8, which can operate in x16 / x8 / x8 / x8 / x8 / x8 / x8 mode. It is clear that even 44 PCIe 3.0 lanes of Skylake-X processors will not be enough for this. Therefore, the board additionally has a pair of PCIe 3.0 PLX PEX 8747 switches. Each such switch is connected to 16 PCIe 3.0 processor lanes and gives 32 PCIe 3.0 lanes at the output. But this, of course, is already a specific and expensive solution.
Asus WS X299 Sage board
The range of motherboards based on Intel X299 chipsets also includes quite exotic, expensive solutions. For example, motherboards or Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme. The first of them is designed for extreme overclocking and has a reduced number of memory slots (one module per memory channel). The Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme is different in that it doesn't support Kaby Lake-X processors at all. In addition, both boards have proprietary DIMM.2 slots, which are visually similar to slots for memory modules, but provide a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface and are designed for installing special expansion cards. Each card allows up to two M.2 SSDs to be installed.
Asus ROG Rampage VI Apex Board
Asus ROG Rampage VI Extreme Board
There is practically no demand for such solutions and it is almost impossible to sell them. But these boards are not made for sale - they are a kind of business card of the company. Of all the motherboard manufacturers, only Asus can afford to make such motherboards.
As we have already noted, in addition to the variety of slots, connectors and ports, motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset differ in a set of additional features and, of course, in the package bundle.
A newfangled trend is the presence of RGB backlighting on the board, as well as separate connectors for connecting LED strips. Moreover, there are even two types of connectors: four-pin and three-pin. A non-addressable RGB tape is connected to the 4-pin connector, in which all LEDs glow with the same color. Naturally, the color can be any and can change, but synchronously for all LEDs.
An addressable tape is connected to the 3-pin connector, in which each LED can have its own color.
The LED backlighting on the board is synchronized with the backlighting of the connected LED strips.
Why backlighting is needed on motherboards with the Intel X299 chipset is not very clear. All sorts of whistles, fakes and different lights - this is all focused on the pioneers. But when it comes to expensive, high-performance PCs that are designed to work with highly specialized applications, LED backlighting hardly makes sense at all. Nevertheless, like the word Gaming, it is present on most boards.
So, let's summarize. Motherboards based on the Intel X299 chipset are aimed at high-performance PCs that are designed to work with well-parallelized applications. It makes sense to use these boards in conjunction with the Skylake-X Core i9 series processors. Only in this case, you can use all the functionality of the boards. Not all home users generally need computers based on boards with the Intel X299 chipset. First, it's expensive. Secondly, it's not a fact that your super-powerful computer based on, for example, an 18-core Core i9-7980XE processor, will be faster than a computer based on a 6-core Coffee Lake processor. It's just that in some cases it is better to have fewer fast cores than many slow ones.
Therefore, the Basin Falls platform only makes sense if you know for sure that the applications you work with can be parallelized with more than 20 threads. But if not, then a computer based on a Coffee Lake processor will be optimal for you, for which, accordingly, you will need a board based on the Intel 300 series chipset.
Features of motherboards based on Intel 300 series chipsets
Of the seven Intel 300 series chipsets, only five models are targeted at home boards: Intel Z390, Z370, H370, B360, and H310. The Intel Z390 chipset has not yet been announced, so we won't talk about it yet, and the boards based on other chipsets have already been. In the rest of the list, the top-end is the Intel Z370 chipset. Then the H370, B360 and H310 follow in terms of cost and functionality. Accordingly, motherboards based on the Z370 chipset are the most expensive. Then, in order of decreasing cost, there are motherboards based on H370, B360 and H310 chipsets.
All Intel 300 series chipsets with the exception of the Z370 have built-in CNVi and USB 3.1 controllers (except for the younger Intel H310 model). So why, then, is the Intel Z370 the top-end one, and the motherboards on it are the most expensive.
First, of the four (Z370, H370, B360 and H310) chipsets under consideration, only Intel Z370 allows you to combine 16 PCIe 3.0 processor lanes into x16, x8 + x8 or x8 + x4 + x4 ports. All other chipsets only allow grouping to the x16 port. From the user's point of view, this means that only motherboards with the Intel Z370 chipset can have two slots for video cards based on PCIe 3.0 processor lines. AND only motherboards based on Intel Z370 can support Nvidia SLI mode. Accordingly, two PCI Express x16 slots on motherboards with the Intel Z370 chipset operate in x16 / - (when using one slot) or x8 / x8 (when using two slots) modes.
Note that if a motherboard with an Intel Z370 chipset has more than two slots with a PCI Express x16 form factor, then the third slot is a PCI Express 3.0 x4 slot, but in a PCI Express x16 form factor, and it can already be implemented on based on PCIe 3.0 chipset lines. The combination of x8 + x4 + x4 ports based on PCIe 3.0 processor lanes on motherboards with the Intel Z370 chipset is found only in the most expensive models.
In all other variants (H370, B360 and H310 chipsets) there can be only one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot based on 16 PCIe 3.0 processor lines.
Second, of the four considered chipsets only Intel Z370 allows CPU and memory overclocking... Both the multiplication factor and the base frequency of the BCLK can be changed. Changing the base frequency is possible for all processors, but changing the multiplication factor is possible only for K-series processors, for which this factor is unlocked.
As you can see, the Intel Z370 chipset has undeniable advantages over its fellows H370, B360 and H310. But, if the system is not supposed to be overclocked, then the advantages of the Intel Z370 chipset are not so obvious, since the need for two video cards is rather an exception to the rule. However, one more circumstance must be taken into account. The Intel Z370 chipset is top not only due to the fact that it allows you to overclock the processor and group the processor PCIe 3.0 lanes into different ports. This chipset has no blocked HSIO ports, and, accordingly, its functionality is wider. That is, based on the Intel Z370 chipset, you can do the most.
True, the Intel Z370 chipset does not have a USB 3.1 controller or CNVi. But can this be considered a serious drawback?
As for the USB 3.1 ports, on motherboards with the Intel Z370 chipset, they are usually implemented using the ASMedia ASM3142 dual-port controller. And from the user's point of view, it makes no difference how exactly the USB 3.1 ports are implemented: through a controller built into the chipset, or through a controller external to the chipset. Another thing is more important: what exactly to connect to these ports. And the vast majority of users don't need USB 3.1 ports at all.
Now about the CNVi (Connectivity Integration) controller. It provides Wi-Fi (802.11ac, up to 1.733 Gbps) and Bluetooth 5.0 (new version of the standard) connections. However, the CNVi controller is not a full-fledged network controller, but a MAC controller. For a full-fledged controller, you also need an Intel Wireless-AC 9560 card with an M.2 slot (E-type dongle). Moreover, no other card will work. Only Intel 9560 which supports CNVi interface.
Again, from the user's point of view, it doesn't matter exactly how the Wi-Fi network interface is implemented. In this case, the situation is about the same as with the Intel i219-V and Intel i211-AT gigabit network controllers. The first is a PHY-level controller, which is paired with a MAC controller built into the chipset, and the second is a full-fledged network controller.
How to choose a board based on the Intel 300 series chipset
So there is the realization that you need a Coffee Lake board with an LGA1151 socket. The range of such boards is very large. For example, only Asus has 12 models of boards based only on the Intel Z370 chipset, 10 models on the Intel B360 chipset, 6 models on the Intel H370 chipset and 5 models on the Intel H310 chipset. Add in the assortment of motherboards from Gigabyte, ASRock and MSI, and it becomes clear that there are a lot of options.
Intel H310
In the 300 series chipset line, Intel H310 is an entry-level model or, in simple terms, this chipset targets the cheapest motherboards with minimal features.
In addition, the Intel H310 chipset does not have blocked only 15 out of 30 HSIO ports (6 PCIe, 4 SATA, 4 USB 3.0 and one port dedicated for LAN), all PCIe ports are version 2.0. There is also no USB 3.1 controller. It is also important to note that motherboards with Intel H310 can only have two slots for memory modules, since one module is supported per memory channel.
With such a limitation of the chipset, you really can't run away. So all boards based on Intel H310 are very similar to each other, and the price range is not very large here. Typically, the board has one PCI Express 3.0 x16 slot for a video card (based on PCIe 3.0 processor lines). In addition, a maximum of one M.2 connector (or none at all), a gigabit network controller, four SATA ports and a pair of PCI Express 2.0 x1 slots. There are also several (no more than 4) USB 3.0 ports. That, in fact, is all.
An example of a cheap (4800 rubles) version of a motherboard based on the Intel H310 chipset can be a model. A more expensive option (6500 rubles) is a fee.
Conclusion
We reviewed two modern platforms for Intel processors: Basin Falls platform based on Intel X299 chipset, compatible with Intel Core-X processors (Skylake-X, Kaby Lake-X), and platform based on Intel 300 series chipsets, compatible with processors of the family Coffee Lake. We hope our story will help you to be more confident in a huge range of motherboards and make the right choice for your specific tasks.
In the future, we plan to make a similar article dedicated to motherboards for AMD processors.
Comparing Intel chipsets is incredibly entertaining, so today we will discuss the most notable solutions from this manufacturer. We will also give some recommendations regarding the choice of the best option when assembling a computer system.
Definition
So, today we are talking about Intel products. Chipsets from this manufacturer, like any other, are essentially a chipset. Such an element is installed on the motherboard. This device connects together the individual components in a computer system. In addition, the chipsets of Intel motherboards are responsible for the system logic. Most often, such elements are bound to a specific socket, in other words, we are talking about a processor socket. We'll talk more about these elements later.
Sandy bridge
The earliest chipsets currently produced by Intel are the sixth series chipsets. They can still be purchased. The announcement of these solutions took place in 2011. Any central processor belonging to the Sandy or Ivy Bridge series can be installed in them.
There is one peculiarity in such Intel products. Chipsets may refuse to interact with Ivy Bridge without prior BIOS update. The above computing solutions are most often found with socket 1155. In addition, they are usually equipped with an integrated graphics processor. The characteristics of the sixth series Intel chipsets have one important feature - these solutions include only one chip - the "south bridge". The second is integrated into the processor. We are talking about the "north bridge".
The most affordable solution in this series is the Intel H61 chipset. On its basis, you can create inexpensive office systems. Also, such computers can be suitable for educational purposes. A high-performance processor in a MiniATX motherboard with minimal functionality looks out of place. This chipset allows you to install 2 RAM modules. There is one PCI-Express slot. The latter allows you to install an external graphics accelerator. There are 10 USB 3.0 ports. Has four SATA ports for interfacing with hard drives or CD drive. The middle segment includes the Q67, B65, Q65 chipsets. Compared to the H61, the difference comes down to the number of RAM slots. In this case, there are four of them. There are also more ports for connecting drives - as many as 5.
Evie Bridge
2012 gave the world another technical solution. It was the Ivy Bridge central processing units. The device did not receive any cardinal differences in comparison with the one described above.
However, the technological process has changed. A transition was made from 32 nm to 22 nm. These chips have the same socket - 1155. Entry-level systems were based on the H61 chipset. For more productive options, the H77, Q77, Q75 and B75 are used. These systems have one video card slot and four video card slots. The B75 has the most modest parameters. We are talking about 4 ports USB 3.0 and 8 - standard 2.0, the only one SATA 3.0 and 5 - version 2.0. On the basis of the latter, a disk subsystem is organized.
Haswell
In 2013, socket 1150 appeared. This solution did not bring with it revolutionary changes. However, the power consumption of the chips has changed. Significant transformations made it possible to achieve a decrease in the thermal package of crystals without making any changes to the technological process. System logic sets have been released specifically for this socket. Their parameters received a number of similarities with the previous generation of the seventh series.
In total, the described group includes 6 chipsets: Z87, P87, Q87, Q85, B85 and H81. The last solution in the given series has the most modest parameters. He received a couple of slots for RAM, two SATA 3.0 ports and the same number - version 2.0. There is also one video card compartment. As for the USB ports - there are 8 and 2, respectively, 2.0 and 3.0. In motherboards, which are based on the specified set of system logic, Pentium and Seleron chips are most often installed. The B85 chipset has more RAM slots than the H81. There are 4. SATA and USB ports - 4. Q85 has 10 universal ports.
The solutions described above can often be found in tandem with Kor Ay3 computing chips. The characteristics of solutions Z87, P87, Q87 are identical. They have six SATA 3.0, the same number of USB 3.0 (8 - 2.0), as well as 4 RAM slots.
Now let's take a closer look at these Intel developments. Chipsets P87 and Q87. It should be noted that they are suitable for Kor Ay7. As for the Z87 solution, it is focused on chips that have received the "K" index. Based on this solution, you can create a computer system with the ability to overclock the central processor.
Broadwell
These solutions appeared in 2014. They are manufactured using a 14 nm manufacturing process. There are few such processors released. Thus, a large-scale chipset update was not noted.
The series includes two models - Z97 and H97. The second of these solutions is designed to work with a central processor that has a locked multiplier. It repeats parameters P87. The Z97 is a copy of the Z87, which also supports the fifth generation Cor processors.
During CES, Intel revealed that it plans to release 10nm Ice Lake processors by the end of this year. However, rumors began to appear that due to problems with the implementation of PCIe 4.0, the company could not organize the release of chipsets.
KitGuru, citing anonymous sources, reported that Intel is struggling to resolve the PCIe 4.0 issue. And if this does not work out in the near future, the company will again have to delay the 10 nm technology.
And although KitGuru fully trusts its source, our colleagues note that this information has not been confirmed. Moreover, now is only the beginning of the year, and the company still has time to solve emerging problems.
Intel is now under unprecedented pressure from AMD. The "green" camp is ready to start producing 7 nm processors, and their chipsets are ready for the introduction of PCIe 4.0.
Intel is forced to return to 22nm process
October 13, 2018Trying to fulfill all orders for 14 nm production, Intel is forced to make compromises. Considering that the 10 nm process is far from ready, the company simply has no alternative but to transfer some products to outdated technologies.
Such products include the H310 chipsets, which will now be larger. This decision is understandable. The fact is that the H310 is the simplest system logic chips designed to work with 8th and 9th generation Core processors. Motherboards based on these chipsets are used in office machines and simple consumer machines, for which its modest capabilities are sufficient. Taking into account the low requirements for the chip, Intel decided to release them using 22 nm technology.
According to Chinese sources, the new chipset is called H310C. Its dimensions are 10x7 mm, while the usual 14 nm H310 microcircuit measures 8.5x6.5 mm. The heat dissipation of the original chip was 6 W, and due to the change in production technology, it is not expected to increase. Also, the chip change is not expected to affect the design of motherboards.
Intel Z370 gets support for 8-core processors
July 19, 2018Numerous manufacturers of motherboards based on the Z370 Express chipset have begun releasing BIOS updates that support the new 8-core Intel processors.
For now, these updates are indicated in the beta stage. Given that only the Z370 receives such updates, it is possible that Intel will prohibit the use of these boards with the first 8-core processor for the LGA1151 socket (with option K, without multiplier lock and with a high TDP) due to the fact that it requires more powerful power, and PWM on current boards may not be able to handle the load.
To support future CPUs, the new BIOS must include the latest firmware, 06EC. Manufacturers such as ASUS, ASRock and MSI have already submitted firmware with this microcode, which is confirmed by the screenshots of the Aptio AMI check. This microcode complicates attacks with new variants of the Specter vulnerability.
Z390 chipset may be relabeled Z370
June 27, 2018It looks like the new 8-core Coffee Lake processors will be able to run on the Z370 chipset, as the new Z390 chipset may actually be relabeled Z370.
Intel recently posted a block diagram of the new chipset, which is virtually indistinguishable from the Z370. Moreover, according to recent rumors, all missing in the Z370, but declared in the Z390 components, such as the wireless module of the AC standard, Intel recommends to implement third-party microcircuits.
As for the Z390, it is now known that it will work with 8-core Coffee Lake processors. It will work with the LGA1151 socket, and the interconnect will be implemented using the DMI 3.0 bus (which actually occupies 4 PCIe lanes). As well as in the younger version, the Z390 will receive 24 PCI-Express lanes. It will also receive 6 SATA 6 Gb / s ports with AHCI and RAID support and up to three 32 Gb / s M.2 / U.2 connectors. There will also be support for a gigabit network.
Intel Z390 chipset lit up in SiSoft Sandra
20 November 2017For the first time, a motherboard based on the future Z390 chipset has appeared in the database of the information utility SiSoft Sandra. This means that the company's partners have already begun testing these boards.
Of course, everyone knew that Intel would release the Z390 chipset, so the appearance of motherboards on this platform did not come as a surprise.
The new board is made by SuperMicro. Its model is C7Z390-PGW. Testing was carried out on an unknown processor, but most likely, we are talking about an 8th Gen Core Coffee Lake-S processor.
According to the previously leaked roadmap, motherboards based on the Z390 chipset should appear in the second half of next year, however, given the information about the tests, the release may be postponed to the first half of the year.
Most likely, we will learn new information during CES 2018.
Intel is preparing a productive chipset Z390 Express for 2018
September 12, 2017Information about the future of the platform for Coffee Lake has appeared on the web. It turned out that the Z370 chipset will not be the most productive.
For mainstream Intel's 8th Gen Core platform, Coffee Lake, the company is preparing the Z370 Express chipset, but the company plans to prepare the Z390 Express chipset for the second half of 2018. This is evidenced by Intel's roadmap for the 300th series of chipsets.
Coffee Lake CPUs will launch in October alongside the Z370 Express chipsets. The mid-range chipsets, the B360 Express and H370 Express, as well as the entry-level chipset, the H310 Express, are expected to ship in Q1 2018. In the same time frame, the firm will release the Q370 and Q360 chipsets, intended for the corporate desktop market.
Coffee Lake platform details revealed
August 9, 2017Intel is gearing up to launch the first Core i7 and Core i5 Coffee Lake models and motherboards based on the Intel Z370 Express chipset later this year. It turned out that the new chipset will receive 24 PCI-Express gen 3.0 lanes. And that's not counting the 16 lines assigned by the processor for PEG (PCI-Express Graphics) slots.
The new chipset will offer a huge breakthrough in PCIe lanes, as chipsets have traditionally had 12 general-purpose lanes. The increase in the number of lanes to 24 will allow motherboard manufacturers to increase the number of M.2 and U.2 devices supported, as well as the number of USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt controllers. In addition, the chipset contains a 10-port USB 3.1 controller, of which 6 ports operate at 10 Gb / s, and 4 ports at 5 Gb / s.
The chipset also provides 6 SATA 6 Gbps ports. The platform provides connection of PCIe drives directly to the processor, just like AMD did. In addition, the chipset will receive integrated WLAN 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities, but most likely we are talking only about the controller, since the physical layer chips require good isolation.
In addition, Intel is making the biggest change to the sound system since the Azalia (HD Audio) specification, released 15 years ago. Intel's new SmartSound Technology integrates a quad-core DSP directly into the chipset, while CODEC, with reduced functionality, will be housed separately on the board. Probably, the I2S bus will be used for communication instead of PCIe. However, it will still be a software acceleration dependent technology, and the CPU will have to do all the AD / DA conversions.
The top-of-the-line 8th Gen Core processors and the Z370 chipset will be unveiled in Q3 this year, with mainstream CPU options only arriving in 2018.
Intel Coffee Lake will require new motherboards
August 8, 2017Intel is known to be preparing new Coffee Lake processors that will be available in 2018, but it looks like those looking to upgrade using current motherboards will be disappointed.
Intel introduced the LGA1151 socket about two years ago along with Skylake processors. This socket was used with Z170 and Z270 chipsets and 14nm processors. Since Coffee Lake will also be a 14nm chip, many logically expected support from at least the 200-series chipset.
However, someone on Twitter posed a direct question to ASRock asking if the Z270 Supercarrier motherboard will support future Coffee Lake CPUs. To which the company responded: "No, Coffee Lake CPU is not compatible with 200 series motherboards."... This tweet has already been deleted, but there is a screenshot of it.
Intel previously promised to increase Coffee Lake performance by 30%, as well as offer 6-core solutions in the mainstream segment.
Intel's new chipsets will negatively affect the business of Realtek, ASMedia and Broadcom
June 23, 2017Intel plans to release its 300-series chipsets with integrated Wi-Fi and USB 3.1 next year, which will have a negative impact on chipmakers such as Realtek Semiconductor, ASMedia and Broadcom.
The Z370 chipset for Coffee Lake processors was planned for release along with the CPU in early 2018 and was supposed to contain Wi-Fi (802.11ac R2 and Bluetooth 5.0) and USB 3.1 Gen2 modules. However, amid pressure from AMD, Intel accelerated the work and pushed the release to August, forcibly abandoning these interfaces.
With the release of the Z390 and H370 chipsets in early 2018, the company is realizing its plans to integrate Wi-Fi and USB 3.1. In addition, Intel plans to release the Gemini Lake platform later this year, replacing the entry-level Apollo Lake SoC, and this platform will also receive built-in Wi-Fi support.
Thus, as observers note, Coffee Lake's influence on third-party chip manufacturers will gradually begin to increase.
With this perspective in mind, ASMedia has already prepared its own alternative solution, which will enter the market in the second half of 2017. The company also began developing products based on USB 3.2, which will give it an edge over Intel.
The situation is the worst for Realtek, as sales of its chips for computers make up the majority of the company's revenues.
On the other hand, Intel's integrated solutions will simplify the design of motherboards and reduce their cost.
Intel Z270 chipset block diagram leaked
December 23, 2016As you know, Intel is preparing to release desktop versions of Kaby Lake processors that have few advantages over Skylake. However, there is not much information about the Z270 chipset yet. It is known that it will be backward compatible with the Z170 chipsets, which means that these chipsets need to be compared among themselves.
The first change will concern the supported DDR4 memory. If now the chipset supports chips with a frequency of 2133 MHz, then in the future the frequency will increase to 2400 MHz. Fortunately, the memory can still be overclocked, and the maximum frequency will also be increased. The chipset will feature 24 PCIe lanes, 4 more than the Z170. The rest of the configurations remain, including 16x 3.0 PCIe in various variants, and the DMI 3.0 connectivity remains unchanged. There will also be 10 USB 3.0 ports and 14 USB 2.0 ports, 6 SATA ports available.
The new chipset will be the same size as the previous generation. Against the background of AMD's preparation of its Ryzen chip, Intel may find itself in a tight competition, however, the specifications of the X370 chipset are not yet known, it is too early to say.
