ASUS Confirms Z270 Platform Could be Compatible with Intel Coffee Lake CPUs

[Raevenlord]

In an interview with Bit-tech, ASUS ROG motherboard product manager Andrew Wu has let the proverbial cat out of the bag: apparently, compatibility of Z270 boards with Coffee Lake processors wouldn't have been impossible after all. When asked why the new Coffee Lake CPUs aren't compatible with the previously released Z270 platform, Andrew Wu explained that it" (...) depends on Intel's decision." Andrew Wu also went on to mention that Intel's stated power delivery reasons don't "make much difference", and that ASUS themselves could make their Z270 motherboards compatible with Coffee Lake. For that, however, they'd need "(...) an upgrade from the ME [Management Engine] and a BIOS update", for which "Intel somehow has locked the compatibility."

It seems all of that extra "pin-count" doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of the current Coffee Lake lineup with up to six core processors - the CPU socket and platform as designed with Z270 would have been able to handle the increased core counts and power loads. The question gets murkier with Intel's ability to release an 8-core CPU to the Z370 platform though - that particular amount of cores might indeed prove to be too much for Z270's power delivery. Making an educated guess, it would seem that Intel could have allowed for Coffee Lake compatibility on Z270 motherboards on CPUs up to 6 cores, but would need the new revisions on the Z370 platform to allow for operation of 8-core Coffee Lake chips.





Naturally, if Intel were to allow backwards compatibility, that would eat into sales of current-gen Z370 boards, so the company decided to increase the Z370 platform's attractiveness by locking all Coffee Lake processors behind it. It's not much of a platform sale point to say that it will be eventually compatible with unannounced 8-core CPUs. And let's be honest: ASUS and all other motherboard manufacturers probably love this game themselves, since they do get to sell more motherboards this way.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Chaitanya]

So basically intel just trying to milk customers to max.

 

[IceScreamer]

I'm shocked.

 

[noel_fs]

So basically intel just trying to milk customers to max.

There is another option i see that is generations, usually 2 generations chipsets are compatible with 2 generation processors, if they made it compatible would be 3 generations compatible with 3 processors, and if they release 8 core in the future compatible with z370... It would kill them, i think its a marketing thing apart what you said

 

[Furunomoe]

So all we need is something like this?

 

[plåtburken]

So more or less.
"You have to upgrade both mobo and cpu"
Later on...
"Wait, you MIGHT be ABLE to run under CERTAIN CERTIFIED BY INTEL(tm) mobos"

 

[ps000000]

I wonder if Gen9 is not compatible with Z370 and only need Z390.

 

[londiste]

I really do not see this benefitting Intel. I would even say Intel would benefit considerably if it could keep Coffee Lake compatible with Z270. Their main source of income in desktop context is from CPUs not chipsets. Motherboard manufacturers... maybe.

My best guess, Intel is a slow behemoth tied down with bureaucracy and standardization. Basically the way of thinking - If specifications say socket needs more voltage pins for what they are planning, it needs these and end of story. The fact that OC on the current socket/chipset/mobos has been pulling twice the power from the same socker is irrelevant.

 

[Dave65]

So basically intel just trying to milk customers to max.

Would you expect anything else from Intel?

 

[Stephen.]

For that, however, they'd need "(...) an upgrade from the ME [Management Engine] and a BIOS update", which "Intel somehow has locked the compatibility

I can confirm that i once made an Intel Desktop Board DZ87KLT-75K compatible with the Devil's Canyon CPUs, Intel does not officially support them on Z87 Chipset, all i did was updated the Intel Management Engine and the BIOS also needs to already be detecting the CPU for this to work or if not the BIOS itself also needs to be updated

You could check the thread on intels community forum, where i posted the method i used

https://communities.intel.com/thread/78161

 

[Ruru]

I can confirm that i once made an Intel Desktop Board DZ87KLT-75K compatible with the Devil's Canyon CPUs, Intel does not officially support them on Z87 Chipset, all i did was updated the Intel Management Engine and the BIOS also needs to already be detecting the CPU for this to work or if not the BIOS itself also needs to be updated

You could check the thread on intels community forum, where i posted the method i used

https://communities.intel.com/thread/78161

Well, Devil's Canyon is just Haswell Refresh. Broadwell doesn't work on Z87, but Haswell Refresh does.

 

[bonehead123]

Milk is a dish that is best served COLD....
it is very cold in space !

 

[InVasMani]

I gotta say kudos to Asus for having the integrity and gall to release this information I'm sure Intel isn't pleased by it, but screw them honestly.

I'm shocked.

Sarcasm detected!

 

[noname00]

So basically intel just trying to milk customers to max.

Just like any other company.

 

[InVasMani]

Now if Asus can just confirm the SL/KL Xeon's would work on Z170 as well seeing as C326 xeon chip set supports SL/KL CPU's in them. Intel is so anti consumer.

 

[InVasMani]

Just like any other company.

Yes in no they take the unethical to a much higher level especially with the monopoly they have on the tech sector. God knows if IBM, Samsung, Nvidia, or Apple could build x86 CPU's Intel would have much more real competition on it's hands. Especially a lot more than the ghost of Via and the broken ribs of AMD putting up much of a real fight. Yeah sure AMD has recovered a bit so it's a better fight, but they are still bruised and hurting look what they are up against.

 

[Ahhzz]

In an interview with Bit-tech, ASUS ROG motherboard product manager Andrew Wu has let the proverbial cat out of the bag: apparently, compatibility of Z270 boards with Coffee Lake processors wouldn't have been impossible after all. When asked why the new Coffee Lake CPUs aren't compatible with the previously released Z270 platform, Andrew Wu explained that " (...) it depends on Intel's decision." mentions that Intel's stated power delivery reasons doesn't"make much difference", and that ASUS themselves could make their Z270 motherboards compatible with Coffee Lake. For that, however, they'd need "(...) an upgrade from the ME [Management Engine] and a BIOS update", which "Intel somehow has locked the compatibility."

It seems all of that extra "pin-count" doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of the current Coffee Lake lineup with up to six core processors - the CPU socket and platform as designed with Z270 would have been able to handle the increased core counts and power loads. The question gets murkier with Intel's ability to release an 8-core CPU to the Z370 platform though - that particular amount of cores might indeed prove to be too much for Z270's power delivery. Making an educated guess, it would seem that Intel could have allowed for Coffee Lake compatibility on Z270 motherboards on CPUs up to 6 cores, but would need the new revisions on the Z370 platform to allow for operation of 8-core Coffee Lake chips.





Naturally, if Intel were to allow backwards compatibility, that would eat into sales of current-gen Z370 boards, so the company decided to increase the Z370 platform's attractiveness by locking all Coffee Lake processors behind it. It's not much of a platform sale point to say that it will be eventually compatible with unannounced 8-core CPUs. And let's be honest: ASUS and all other motherboard manufacturers probably love this game themselves, since they do get to sell more motherboards this way.

Source: Bit-tech

Let me FTFY....

"Major company decides to continue their business model of maximizing profit, while minimizing end-user options. Computer Community shocked. "

 

[Imsochobo]

Well, Devil's Canyon is just Haswell Refresh. Broadwell doesn't work on Z87, but Haswell Refresh does.

CL = KL refresh = SKL refresh.

 

[GorbazTheDragon]

I'm shocked.

I'm shocked that you're shocked

 

[InVasMani]

Intel all like yo we ain't sorry we had to cause $ reasons you already know we are anti competitive and anti consumer just deal w/it ok keep shoveling piles of monies our way k thx ^_^ woot woot money money money MONEY!!!!

 

[john_]

Who cares? Coffee Lake destroys Ryzen in gaming, right? All hailpay Intel.

 

[dj-electric]

Devil's advocate here: In terms of power consumption some boards might not handle CFL, especially not when overclocked to a degree, very well at all.

Service wise, they are trading a bunch of angry hardware enthusiasts on the internet with knowing no customer will fry a CPU or a board in some scenarios.

 

[john_]

I really do not see this benefitting Intel. I would even say Intel would benefit considerably if it could keep Coffee Lake compatible with Z270. Their main source of income in desktop context is from CPUs not chipsets. Motherboard manufacturers... maybe.

My best guess, Intel is a slow behemoth tied down with bureaucracy and standardization. Basically the way of thinking - If specifications say socket needs more voltage pins for what they are planning, it needs these and end of story. The fact that OC on the current socket/chipset/mobos has been pulling twice the power from the same socker is irrelevant.

Intel is helping motherboard manufacturers who see their motherboard sales taking a nose dive alongside PC sales. In case you wonder why Intel cares so much about motherboard manufacturers, let's not forget that those manufacturers also create many gaming PCs, especially mobile gaming PCs. And those PCs usually have expensive Intel i7 processors.

Also by making a necessity to upgrade both motherboard and cpu, Intel is flooding the market with cheap i7 + Z270 combos, making life for AMD more difficult. Considering that people will still pay happily for a 8700K to get the absolute best gaming performance, Intel wouldn't have probably a big problem with this. What it needs is to control cash flow going to AMD. It needs AMD and RTG alive, just not kicking.

 

[Durvelle27]

Same old intel yet again

 

[Vya Domus]

Considering that people will still pay happily for a 8700K to get the absolute best gaming performance

Not many though , reviews sites and forums make it look like people are buying millions of these and exaggerate their relevance. They aren't , in actual fact few are willing to drop 500$+ on a new platform that gets you 10% better gaming performance. For that reason , no , I do not expect the market to be flooded by sh Kaby Lake kits. There might be a ton of Intel fanboys out there but at the end of the day their wallets have a limit.

So basically intel just trying to milk customers to max.

Every company tries to milk their customers , except Intel is entitled to do it thanks to their vast and loyal fanbase. Just like Apple or other companies where the brand far outweighs the product. A position where you as a company would like to be but as a consumer your getting ripped off.