Apr 19, 2011 18:51 GMT  ·  By
Intel high-end 7-series chipset roadmap, includes the Patsburg-based X79
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   Intel high-end 7-series chipset roadmap, includes the Patsburg-based X79

Intel has just updated its motherboard chipset roadmap to feature all the company's upcoming Sandy Bridge-E and Ivy Bridge PCH controllers. The list is comprised out of no less than seven chipsets, split into the X, Z, H and Q series.

As we pretty much knew by now, the most advanced solution in the 7-series chipset lineup is the X79 Express, which will be used by Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge-E processors.

The X79 is compatible with all LGA-2011 CPUs and previous leaks have revealed that the PCH will feature 10 SATA 6Gbps ports, a DMI 2.0 interface, and an additional eight lane PCI-Express 2.0 hub.

Consumers who decide to go with an Ivy Bridge CPU, will have the option of choosing from three different chipsets, dubbed the Z77, Z75 and H77.

The first two are designed to replace the Z68 and P67 platform controller hubs (PCH), while the latter targets the mainstream H67 chipset.

Finally, the business sector will witness the introduction of the Q77, Q75 and B75 controllers, which are destined to replace the current Q67, Q65 and B65.

The H61 chipset won't be replaced by Intel in the near future, but Ivy Bridge CPUs use the same LGA 1155 socket as their Sandy Bridge counterparts and most motherboards will be compatible with the 22nm after a BIOS update.

All the Ivy Bridge chipsets are based on the Panther Point PCH which adds native support for USB 3.0 and could also sport Intel's recently released Thunderbolt technology.

No specific dates regarding the introduction of these new chipsets are available at this time, but Panther Point PCHs are expected to arrive in the first quarter of 2012, with the introduction of the Ivy Bridge processors, while the X79 should arrive in Q3 2011. (via Xfastest)

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Intel high-end 7-series chipset roadmap, includes the Patsburg-based X79
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