There is a new rumor about the Intel Z390 platform that will be released around the same time as the new Coffee Lake processors in the third quarter of 2018. According to a Benchlife report, Z390 products will be based on the existing Z370 PCH.
Intel Z370 chipsets would be renamed to Intel Z390
If we look at the differences between the Intel Z370 and Z390 PCH, we won’t see any big differences. All Intel 300 series chipsets, except the Intel Z370, are based on a 14 nm node, while the Z370 is based on a 22 nm process node. In addition, the Intel Z390, like other 300 series chipsets based on the 14nm process, supports USB 3.1 Gen 2.0 and Wireless AC 802.11 AC, as well as Bluetooth 5.0.
The Z390 chipset was officially on the Intel website, but it was removed a few days ago. The reason they waited so long to remove this chipset from the list was not to avoid more media coverage, but because the Z390 is going to change.
With Intel putting the redesigned 22nm Z370 PCH chipsets like the Z390 on the motherboards, we won’t see native support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 or wireless capabilities that are included in other 300 series chipsets. Instead, motherboard manufacturers would rely on third-party drivers to provide users with these features. Third-party driver chipset manufacturers, such as ASMedia, would see a high demand for their chipsets with specific features that would have been available on the 14nm Z390 chipsets.
Re-classifying the Z370 chipsets as Z390 doesn’t sound like a serious’ decision, but motherboard manufacturers have to offer something new and fresh with the arrival of the next 8-core Intel Core. These would also save them additional efforts to maintain eighth generation CPU support. Intel will have little reason to eliminate support for new processors on Z370 cards, as the Z390 would be based on the same design.