The intel z390 chipset would be nothing more than a reset z370 pch

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, the Z390 products will be based on the existing Z370 PCH.

Intel Z370 chipsets to be renamed to Intel Z390

If we were to take a look at the differences between the Intel Z370 and Z390 PCH, we won't see big differences. All Intel 300 series chipsets except the Intel Z370 are based on a 14nm node, while the Z370 is based on a 22nm process node. Furthermore, 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, in addition to Bluetooth 5.0.

The Z390 chipset was officially on the Intel website, but 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 22nm Z370 PCH chipsets reset as Z390 on motherboards, we're not going to see native support for USB 3.1 Gen 2 or wireless capabilities that are included in other 300 series chipsets. Instead, motherboard manufacturers base would rely on third-party controllers to provide users with these functions. Third-party controller chipset manufacturers, such as ASMedia, would see high demand for their chips with specific features that would have been available on 14nm Z390 chipsets.

Re-classifying the Z370 chipsets as Z390 doesn't sound like a very 'serious' decision, but motherboard makers have to offer something fresh and new with the arrival of the upcoming 8-core Intel Core. These would also save them additional efforts to maintain eighth generation CPU support. Intel will have little reason to remove support for new processors on Z370 cards, as Z390 would be based on the same design.

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