Gigabyte Says Intel Z490 Chipset Motherboards Will Support 11th Gen "Rocket Lake-S"

[Raevenlord]

Maybe it's hard to fathom an Intel chipset that actually supports more than a single generation of CPU designs; and if so, you're forgiven, because it seems the blue giant has mostly forgotten of thinking about platform longevity and upgradeability. However, we might be in for a rare treat, if the words from a Gigabyte representative are to be taken seriously. In a Q&A regarding Gigabyte's latest generation Z490 motherboards, a user questioned the Gigabyte representatives whether their Z490-based platforms would support upcoming Rocket Lake designs. The answer, which came with a caveat of "I don't know if this should be made public", was that yes: Z490 will support Rocket Lake-S.

If true, this may shed some light on why motherboard manufacturers have given so much importance to PCIe 4.0 marketing on their Z490 motherboards... Whose chipset doesn't support PCIe 4.0 from the get-go. However, with next-generation Rocket Lake-S expectedly sporting the same 14 nm fabrication process albeit with a new microarchitecture, a wider DMI 3.0 8x band, Intel's high-performance Xe graphics architecture design and PCIe 4.0 support on a platform level, it does begin to make sense that manufacturers would mention PCIe 4.0 support on the current Z490. Because if CPU compatibility is maintained, that means that users looking to drop-in a Rocket Lake-S CPU will at the very least be able to enjoy 20 lanes of PCIe 4.0 in these ready-made motherboards.

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[xpredator_13]

Don't care. Being using a x370 crosshair vi extreme since the launch, and updated to a 3700x. This new socket is the reason why I quit buying Intel after 15 years of a Intel only user.

 

[ppn]

Socket 1200 exists to privide wider dmi link and direct nvme to the cpu, totally justifiable. Now if it could support tiger lake shrink of the racket lake also, once server chips move to 7nm and free 10nnm for desktop's that would be amazing. I don't like the idea of 250 watt 8core running AVX.

X370 3700x doesn't hold forever, X570 5700X is yet another socket. You are stuck with X470 4700X at best.

 

[zlobby]

Socket 1200 exists to privide wider dmi link and direct nvme to the cpu, totally justifiable. Now if it could support tiger lake shrink of the racket lake also, once server chips move to 7nm and free 10nnm for desktop's that would be amazing. I don't like the idea of 250 watt 8core running AVX.

X370 3700x doesn't hold forever, X570 5700X is yet another socket. You are stuck with X470 4700X at best.

Still bettet than new CPU -> new mobo. More so when a decent new mobo is north of $300.

X370 is available since Feb 2017 and is still relevant in 2020. What is the oldest intel chipset that supports 2020 CPUs?

 

[AnarchoPrimitiv]

Socket 1200 exists to privide wider dmi link and direct nvme to the cpu, totally justifiable. Now if it could support tiger lake shrink of the racket lake also, once server chips move to 7nm and free 10nnm for desktop's that would be amazing. I don't like the idea of 250 watt 8core running AVX.

X370 3700x doesn't hold forever, X570 5700X is yet another socket. You are stuck with X470 4700X at best.

First, what are you referring to when you say "5700x"? What is that?

Secondly, "stuck with X470 4700x at best".... You say that as if that's a disappointment or a let down, when literally AMD has, again, let me stress the word LITERALLY, offered the best and longest lasting Chipset/upgrade path in the consumer market in the past ten years (probably longer, but I'm not sure so I won't make that claim). Can you refer to an Intel Chipset that lasted through four CPU generations including two a total architectural change? And for all intents an purposes, Z490 doesn't apply (even though it'll only offers upgradability through two gens) unless you're willing to give AMD credit for that too since the only reason Intel is doing anything that helps the consumer now is because they're being forced to by AMD.

 

[EarthDog]

Maybe it's hard to fathom an Intel chipset that actually supports more than a single generation of CPU designs

I'm wondering what you consider a single generation of CPU designs... Intel is typically good for two, are they not? It isn't AMD, we all get that, but... is this really true?

 

[Jism]

Yeah, the SGX is just removed completely due to a flaw that cannot be fixed. https://arstechnica.com/information...ret-data-stored-in-intels-sgx-secure-enclave/

Owned.

 

[dj-electric]

Secondly, "stuck with X470 4700x at best"....

There's something users will have to know in some days from now regarding that combination.
Personally, i can't wait to see people's faces to that announcement.

 

[ppn]

SO I made a mistake about X570 chipset/5700X CPU and 470/4700, but the idea is, sockets will change sooner or later for both Intel or AMD. If your motherboard is incompatible just sell it.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

Socket 1200 exists to privide wider dmi link and direct nvme to the cpu, totally justifiable. Now if it could support tiger lake shrink of the racket lake also, once server chips move to 7nm and free 10nnm for desktop's that would be amazing. I don't like the idea of 250 watt 8core running AVX.

X370 3700x doesn't hold forever, X570 5700X is yet another socket. You are stuck with X470 4700X at best.

It does if you have no use case that warrants PCI-e 4.0 (Solely for M.2 storage at the moment and the foreseeable future) and the price tag that comes with any X570 board worth its salt. Or maybe you just don't care for the whole chipset fan thing. Anyway, my point is X370 owners like @xpredator_13 are still chugging away with their "old" boards and newer chips because it works for them.

Also, @xpredator_13, damn fine board you have there. I had the Crosshair VI Hero (RIP) and absolutely loved it. Even now, it's still a killer board. I was planning to get another one for my still WIP build (long story, don't ask lol) but I'm doing a smaller m-ATX build and the board wouldn't fit in the case I've chosen for it. It's just a shame ASUS didn't carry over the Extreme to the X470 or X570 chipset.

 

[R-T-B]

Yeah, the SGX is just removed completely due to a flaw that cannot be fixed. https://arstechnica.com/information...ret-data-stored-in-intels-sgx-secure-enclave/

Owned.

Unsure why you assume this couldn't be fixed in hardware.

 

[Vader]

Why is this surprising? Intel changes sockets every two generations of cpus since at least skylake, with a chipset refresh in the middle.
Z170 -> Z270 for 6000 and 7000 cpus
Z370 -> Z390 for 8000 and 9000 cpus
Z490 -> Z590? For 10000 and 11000? cpus

What would be interesting to know is if intel will build 11 series cpus with an improved manufacturing node, or will they backport the design to 14nm again

 

[efikkan]

We finally see the initial driver support for Rocket Lake as well: https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/intel-gfx/2020-May/238498.html?print=anzwix&show=1

I do wonder how Z490 motherboards will deal with the claimed 4 extra lanes of PCIe in Rocket Laket though.

 

[EarthDog]

We finally see the initial driver support for Rocket Lake as well: https://lists.freedesktop.org/archives/intel-gfx/2020-May/238498.html?print=anzwix&show=1

I do wonder how Z490 motherboards will deal with the claimed 4 extra lanes of PCIe in Rocket Laket though.

Has that been confirmed? Or just pcie 4.0? Some z390 boards support pcie 4.0 (clock gen, receivers, switches).

 

[efikkan]

Has that been confirmed? Or just pcie 4.0? Some z390 boards support pcie 4.0 (clock gen, receivers, switches).

No, that's why I said claimed

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

So Intel are doing almost exactly what AMD did pciex4 partial support with its next chip on slot one only if the board has been tested, wonder how that will go.

If I was in need of a CPU I personally wouldn't pay this kinda money for a board and chip that are clearly going to be superceeded within 9 months by something so much better (we hope)

Great comedy though, there be some shrinking ideological arguments abounding now Intel are copying AMD'S playcard.

 

[ppn]

on socket 1200 one NVMe has to come from the CPU. if COmet lake doesn't have those lanes, and RAcket lake does, this means a it has to come from the PCH. so avoid 490 regardless. Get the best cpu possible and forget about future proof. if it doens't support 10nm and 7nm, it is useless.

 

[Aerpoweron]

I don't get it. First Intel releases a new socket for the 10th gen CPUs. Ok, normal behavior for intel, every 2 generations a new socket.

But now they really try to point out, that it can be uses for 11th gen.

Could it be that they do not plan, for the first time, not to go with a chipset upgrade from one generation to the next? The Z490 boards are very expensive as they are, so probably not.

I wonder if a 10900K also has the same VRM issues when you load all cores with one multithreated task, but the memory controller has only to work now and then. I had this issue on my 9900K on any mainboard. Intel reproduced it, even with a 9700K. Looks like i have to test myself ^^

 

[Cranky5150]

As has been said before about Intel, and will be said again: If they can get away with it they will, hands down..At least with AM4 we have been able to go from 1000 series to 3000 series,and maybe one more time with this chipset. I have MORE than gotten my moneys worth on the AM4 socket.

 

[Vader]

I don't get it. First Intel releases a new socket for the 10th gen CPUs. Ok, normal behavior for intel, every 2 generations a new socket.

But now they really try to point out, that it can be uses for 11th gen.

Could it be that they do not plan, for the first time, not to go with a chipset upgrade from one generation to the next? The Z490 boards are very expensive as they are, so probably not.

I wonder if a 10900K also has the same VRM issues when you load all cores with one multithreated task, but the memory controller has only to work now and then. I had this issue on my 9900K on any mainboard. Intel reproduced it, even with a 9700K. Looks like i have to test myself ^^

Chipset update =/= socket change.

 

[svan71]

How sad is it when the biggest news about this launch of the z490 is that it will support the next generation of cpus? Thank you intel for not requiring yet another board replacement a year from now your so kind.

 

[Patriot]

I'm wondering what you consider a single generation of CPU designs... Intel is typically good for two, are they not? It isn't AMD, we all get that, but... is this really true?

They were good for 2 rebrandings but not always sometimes only 1.

 

[Vayra86]

Its strange but if you wear a mouth mask like that, I just can't take you seriously. Hanging half off your face like that? Who the hell are you even kidding, yourself?

Irrelevant, but telling anyway.

How sad is it when the biggest news about this launch of the z490 is that it will support the next generation of cpus? Thank you intel for not requiring yet another board replacement a year from now your so kind.

Heheh yeah there wasn't much to see in the first place...

I'm wondering what you consider a single generation of CPU designs... Intel is typically good for two, are they not? It isn't AMD, we all get that, but... is this really true?

The more legitimate thought is, why even buy several CPUs for one board, that is one hell of a strange use case.

'I want to be up to date with my CPU always'... Okay, so why would you not want new chipset features?
'I need the higher core count' ... Okay... so why did you buy a sub par CPU to begin with and not just wait a bit?
'I can't afford a new board every time'... Okay, so you cán afford several upgrades on a single socket? And why would you, then?
'Its cheaper' ... no, its really not, cheap is buying what you need straight away and making it last.

I just don't see it, but inb4 numerous people saying its super useful for reasons... I am dying to see them.

 

[Manoa]

"says", I can say alote of things too