Intel Releases Z390 Chipset Product Information: New Motherboards Inbound
by Ian Cutress on May 14, 2018 9:00 AM ESTIn an unexpected disclosure of information, Intel’s Z390 Product Brief documentation went online today. No prior warning was given, and we were expecting something similar to perhaps pop up during Computex in a few weeks, but it would seem that Intel has pulled the plug during a Sunday (which makes me think this was an accidental posting, but I’m not complaining).
Z390 is the second generation of high-end chipset for Intel’s 300-series platform for Coffee Lake desktop processors. It builds on Z370 in two obvious areas: chipset support for up to six USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) ports, and introduces a built in wireless networking MAC for dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi use via Intel’s new integrated connectivity feature. This uses Intel’s 802.11ac Wave 2 configuration, suitable for up to 160 MHz wireless bands. These additions mirror what we saw when Intel launched the low-range and mid-range chipsets such as H370, B360, and H310, in early April.
Intel 8th Gen Chipsets (PCH) | |||||||
AnandTech | Z390 | Z370 | H370 | Q370 | B360 | H310 | |
Launch | May '18 | Oct '17 | Apr '18 | Apr '18 | Apr '18 | Apr '18 | |
Market | Consumer | Y | Y | Y | - | Y | Y |
Corporate | - | - | Y | Y | Y | - | |
ME Firmware | ? | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | |
HSIO Lanes | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 24 | 14 | |
Total USB | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | |
Max USB 3.1 G2 | 6 | - | 4 | 6 | 4 | 0 | |
Max USB 3.1 G1 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | |
SATA 6 Gbps | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |
PCH PCIe 3.0 Lanes | 24 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 12 | - | |
PCH PCIe 2.0 Lanes | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | |
Max RST PCIe Storage | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
Supports Optane | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | |
Integrated 802.11ac | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
Intel Smart Sound | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | |
Intel vPro | N | N | N | Y | N | N | |
TDP | ? | 6 W | 6 W | 6 W | 6 W | 6 W |
Overall, this disclosure essentially paints a picture of how Coffee Lake CPUs were initially launched. It appears to be that the chipsets with USB 3.1 and integrated Wi-Fi were not expected to be ready when the CPUs were to be launched, and so Z370 came out as a Z270 refresh but for Coffee Lake only. Now that the chipset designs with USB 3.1 and Wi-Fi are ready, we are seeing Z390 as the true high-end chipset for Intel’s mainstream platform.
Comparing the Z370 and Z390 general block diagrams side by side showcases the two differences listed above: on the left are the new USB 3.1 ports and on the right is the integrated Wi-Fi MAC. As with other Z-series chipsets, these allow overclocking, and are also not vPro enabled (Q-series only).
Other standard features include RAID support, RSTe, Optane Memory support (as Boot and non-Boot drives), and HSIO lanes.
Z390 Updates
Taken from our 8th Gen Chipset Analysis
The first headline feature is the integrated 2T2R 802.11ac Wi-Fi support, allowing the latest Wave 2 (160 MHz) channel communications and giving speeds up to 1733 Mbps. Intel states that this is 12x faster than 1T1R 802.11n support provided by low cost solutions, and double the performance of most 2T2R options on the market. Despite Intel support however, not all motherboards that use a chipset that offers this feature will have it implemented: we canvassed some of the manufacturers and were told that the periphery around Wi-Fi support, such as manufacturing, trace layouts, the companion module, antenna, and potential regulatory support (given devices shipping with Wi-Fi) can add an additional $15 cost to the motherboard. While Z390 is the high end chipset, it will span a range of prices from the low $130 range all the way up, so some motherboards may not have this feature in order to save cost.
Intel’s Wi-Fi solution relies on its integrated connectivity feature, CNVi, enabled in Gemini Lake and now in the latest 8th Gen processors. This method pushes the large/expensive functional blocks from the Wi-Fi module (such as the logic, MAC, and memory) directly onto the chipset, leaving the PHY and antenna on the companion RF module (CRF). These connect together through the CNVio interface via a specialised M.2 slot. Intel’s own webpage on the feature states that it has three different CRFs possible, all under the ‘Jefferson Peak’ platform codename:
- The AC-9560 (the 2T2R module, the only vPro enabled CRF),
- The AC-9462 (a 1T1R module with FIPS9 support), and
- The AC-9461 (a low-end 1T1R module).
All three CRFs support Linux, Chrome OS, and Windows 10, but are only offered with a 1 year warranty.
The second headline feature is the support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports native to the chipset. This is using Intel’s own IP, and shows Intel reaching parity with the competition. Motherboard manufacturers will have to use HSIO lanes to enable USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) ports, with up to four being supported on H370/B360, and six being supported on Q370 and Z390. In order to implement a Type-C port, a re-driver is required, as with other Type-C implementations. It will be interesting to see the number of 10 Gbps ports that are put into play on the motherboards available.
Also on the plate for the chipsets are features like Modern Standby/Smart Connect, allowing for systems to update email and such while in a sleep state similar to some laptops. Intel was proud to state that this is the first time the feature has come to the desktop, whereas previously it was seen more as a laptop-focused feature. This is enabled through the chipset and the network connection, and while Intel only lists the 1T1R enabled CRFs as supporting this feature, the 2T2R does as well.
Intel also lists ‘ambient computing’ as being enabled by the chipset. This allows for wake-on-voice in a low powered mode, much like a smartphone or connected device that the user can call Cortana or Alexa while the system is in screen-off or Modern Standby.
I Just Purchased a Z370 Motherboard, What Should I Do?
The main differences depends on if you use USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) ports, or Wi-Fi. If those features are something already in use on the Z370 board in play, then the only difference is that the Z390 motherboard might* use slightly less power (less than a few watts) or that the Z390 version might* have been slightly cheaper. But if anything, you are not missing out on that much. If you do not use those features, then there is no real loss.
*might: postulated expectations that sound plausible. Until we get the hardware in to test, there is no way of knowing.
What Happens to the Z370 Motherboards?
I fully expect that motherboard manufacturers have manufactured plenty of Z370 models that Z390 will be earmarked mostly for the high-end and that both will be sold side-by-side. For example, ASUS has not launched a Maximus X Extreme yet, neither have ASRock launched an OC Formula on this platform, so it is likely that these will be on Z390 only. I would expect, stock permitting, that new designs down the like, such as future revisions to motherboard designs, will be using the newer Z390 chipsets where it makes sense to do so. However expect reviews of both Z370 and Z390 boards for the next few months at a minimum.
Where Are The Z390 Motherboards?
Computex is the first week of June. Given that Intel has made this disclosure now, it is likely that most motherboard manufacturers will push for the ability to show their designs on the show floor.
Source: Intel (via SH SOTN)
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Flunk - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
I hope this means that Intel isn't going to force people to buy a new board for Cannon Lake. Releasing a new Coffee Lake chipset and then entirely new chipsets to Cannon Lake would seem like a pretty big cash grab (but it IS Intel we're talking about here).eddman - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
You've missed the news then. Z390 is compatible with CNL but it doesn't even matter. There isn't going to be any high performing CNL parts anyway.CFL is rumored to be replaced by the 14nm++(+?) whiskey lake and then the 10nm+ ice lake.
jwickham - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
Why is there no mention of Thunderbolt native? Some of us need Thunderbolt enabled motherboards, currently the market is using a TB header and add in card adding cost to PC builds, frustrating.romrunning - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
My guess is Intel doesn't want to add to the cost of the chipset by adding TB3 logic from their Alpine Ridge controller. They likely also figure those who need/want the higher top-end speed (TB3 can go up to 40Gbps vs USB 3.1 Gen2's 10Gbps) will pay more for it.DanNeely - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
My guess'd be it's waiting for the new Ice Lake architecture on the desktop. TB3 needs a PCIe x4, putting it on the CPU lanes means you're down to only an x8 for the GPU. Putting it on the chipset significantly increases the risk of saturating DMI and bogging everything down.They'll need to either add additional PCIe lanes to the CPU itself (a pair of x4's like Ryzen did for either 2 PCIe SSDs or 1 SSD and 1 TB3), or upgrade DMI to PCIe 4/5 to have enough bandwidth to the chipset.
jwickham - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
This makes sense, but how is Apple getting away with it? So Apple's solution is equivalent to the add in card solution available to PC's today?eddman - Tuesday, May 15, 2018 - link
Yes. Look here, step 6:https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook+Pro+15-Inc...
romrunning - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
I hope this version of the ME engine had all of the past firmware fixes already baked in, especially for the vPro-enabled versions.Srikzquest - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
What happened to the Integrated SDXC 3.0 Controller mentioned in few Spec sheets sometime back? Are they just rumors? I was expecting a SD Card Slot directly on the motherboard just like USB Ports or M.2 Slot instead of expecting on the Case (which probably only a couple of them do) or through an external 3.5 or 5.25 slot which are not reliable enough.DanNeely - Monday, May 14, 2018 - link
I suspect that's only going to show up on laptop chipsets where removing the need for an external controller frees a precious cm^2 of boardspace. On the desktop an onboard USB-SD adapter has been possible for many years if any mobo maker wanted to do it.