Intel Z790 Chipset Detailed: More Downstream PCIe Gen 4 Lanes

[btarunr]

With the 13th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" desktop processors, Intel on Tuesday launched its companion motherboard chipset, the Z790. Since "Raptor Lake" desktop is based on the same LGA1700 package as 12th Gen "Alder Lake" desktop; the two are intercompatible—you can use 12th Gen processors with Z790 chipset motherboards out of the box; and you can use 13th Gen processors with Z690 or other 600-series chipset motherboards with the latest BIOS. Z790 chipset essentially sees a re-balancing of the downstream PCIe connectivity, resulting in more PCIe Gen 4 downstream lanes. Besides more downstream connectivity, you get one additional 20 Gbps USB 3.2x2 port.

While the Z690 put out up to 12 downstream PCIe Gen 4 lanes and up to 16 downstream PCIe Gen 3; the new Z790 puts out up to 20 downstream PCIe Gen 4 lanes, and up to 8 downstream PCIe Gen 3. Both chipsets use DMI 4.0 x8 as the chipset bus (connection between the processor and chipset), with bandwidth comparable to PCI-Express 4.0 x8 (128 Gbps per direction). Z790 allows motherboard designers to wire out up to five M.2 NVMe Gen 4 slots attached to the chipset, or deploy more numbers of high-bandwidth onboard devices than those possible with Z690; devices such as discrete USB4 host controllers, Thunderbolt 4 80 Gbps controllers, etc, besides a handful PCIe Gen 4 slots. The 8 PCIe Gen 3 lanes should be enough for lower-bandwidth onboard devices, such as WLAN cards, onboard 2.5 GbE NICs, or even a 10 GbE NIC.



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[Tsukiyomi91]

guess building a "cheap" Raptor Lake build is possible without needing to spend extra on a Intel 700 Series board.

 

[Why_Me]

guess building a "cheap" Raptor Lake build is possible without needing to spend extra on a Intel 700 Series board.

Intel 13th Gen Core "Raptor Lake" Desktop Processors Launched: +15% ST, +41% MT Uplift

true. I had asked in another thread if all motherboards support disabling e-cores and no one answered me, so I wasn't confident this was possible except with high end motherboards. I guess it is common though so I don't need to worry about that. I might do this. Wiz answered you. The answer...

www.techpowerup.com

 

[AlwaysHope]

I wonder if DDR5 OC on these Z790 boards will be better than Z690 boards, keeping in mind the IMC of course is in the cpu but tracers on the boards themselves could play an important role in sustaining high DDR5 OC? I guess we will have to wait for reviews.

 

[DJ_Cas]

For those who want to build a PC - hold your horses and wait for Z890 + Intel 14th gen with DDR5 full support and PCIe 5.0. This hybrid DDR4/5, PCIe 3/4/5 is not a good way with Z790 series

 

[AlwaysHope]

For those who want to build a PC - hold your horses and wait for Z890 + Intel 14th gen with DDR5 full support and PCIe 5.0. This hybrid DDR4/5, PCIe 3/4/5 is not a good way with Z790 series

Yes indeed, that was my thoughts today as well, especially upon seeing the listed prices of Raptor Lake with Z790 boards & its even worse with AM5 platform!
The combo of DDR4/DDR5 capability means the chips IMC is not optimised for just one generation, I'm presuming here.
Meteor Lake will be a revolutionary way with architecture for Intel; but seems a trend these days to release a new line up of chips less than 12 months old on the market. I mean look at Rocket Lake & Alder lake - both less than 12 month life cycles as an example.

 

[stimpy88]

Remember this is the last time the socket remains unchanged.

 

[Mysteoa]

So does RaptorLake supports PCIEX5?