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In the past few days, there have been multiple leaks in upcoming Z490 motherboards for Intel’s Comet Lake S processors, which will start in a few weeks. Both ASUS and MSI have details on the different models. Until now, the 3.0 standard for PCI Express slots has always been talked about, at least that’s what ASUS explains in the product details.
Videocardz has apparently obtained information on Gigabyte Z490 motherboards. In addition to some images of the corresponding boards, there are some technical data. In these is one Gigabyte PCIe 4.0 hardware design the Gigabyte speech, therefore, appears to be at least preparing for compatibility.
However, this interpretation seems to refer only to the PCB layout and installed components. This is evident from the additional details:
- 2 PCIE 4.0 slots (PCIe 4.0 x16 or x8 / x8 rugged with lower impedance
- M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot (M.2 PCIe 4.0 x4 slot with lower impedance)
- PCIE 4.0 Turbo B-Clokc (external clock generator for PCIe 4.0 overclocking)
- PCIE 4.0 switches (PCIe 4.0 x16 switch on PCIe x8 / x8)
- PCIe 4.0 Re-driver (Boost and strengthen PCIe 4.0 signals to longer lengths)
Gigabyte is talking about impedance here – i.e. AC resistance, external clock generators, PCI Express switches, and new drivers – to maintain signal integrity even on longer signal paths. It is not known if these preparations are planned for the 14 planned Z490 motherboards.
Even if Gigabyte prepares its Z490 motherboards or at least some models for PCI-Express 4.0, this does not mean that Comet Lake S processors will fully support it. Earlier this year it was announced that Intel was apparently having trouble integrating PCI-Express 4.0 into the chipset.
Implementation issues shouldn’t be in the Comet Lake S processor itself. Rather, the chipset or chipsets are problematic and apparently have problems, more precisely a concern. To fix this, external clock generators would have to be used. Firstly, support for PCI-Express 4.0 for Comet Lake-S has been canceled. We will have to see if this is true or not. Currently, however, everything indicates that some manufacturers are preparing their motherboards for PCI-Express 4.0, but the Comet Lake-S does not support it.
However, at least some motherboard manufacturers seem to want to prepare their motherboards for PCI Express 4.0. This probably has to do with what comes to the Lake-S comet. Rocket Lake-S is expected to come with PCI Express 4.0 support in 2021. However, Intel has yet to be confirmed to trust the LGA1200 here again. But it is increasingly likely, because motherboard manufacturers should not be able to provide a PCI Express 4.0 unless there is a longer-term perspective.
