Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) has launched its new H97 and Z97 chipsets, revealing details of both the chips for use in desktop PCs. Z97 is different from H97 in that the former will support over-locking of unlocked Intel processors. The 9 series is reportedly higher performance compared to the 8 series, says a report from ZdNet.
Intel new chips facilitate speedier data transfer
Both chips from Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) would allow faster data transfer for storage drives and support the M.2 specifications, which is gradually becoming popular with solid state drives by allowing them two lanes of PCI Express 2.0 to enhance speeds up to 1GB/s. SATA Express, a new specification that offer similar bandwidth through same pair of PCIe 2.0 lanes is also supported by the chips. Both H97 and Z97 have higher version of Intel’s Smart Response Technology (SRT), supporting so-called hybrid drives combining lower proportion of solid-state storage (such as 16 GB) along with a traditional hard drive to improve boot-up and app launching times.
PCIe 3.0 is available with up to sixteen lanes for graphic support which would be monitored by the CPU and not the chipset. A different number of lanes can be configured in both chips. In the Z97, users can use one slot at x16 speed, two slots at x8 speed each or three slots at x8/x4/x4 speeds. In H97, only one slot can be used so there are no multi-GPU arrangements.
Already popular among manufacturers
Before the chips were launched, SRT required separate hard drives and SSD to function. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s Rapid Start technology could be used in the hybrid drive to reactivate the system from hibernation. The latest chipsets from Intel come with Device Protection Technology with Boot Guard from Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s latest Atom mobile processors. The technology safeguards computers from malware that aims to disturb the boot operations by using hardware infrastructure from both the chipsets and the refreshed Haswell processors.
Motherboard manufacturers are readying up to build devices compatible with 9-series chipsets, primarily the Z97. Also, boutique PC builder Origin PC is already offering its gaming desktops equipped with 9-series chipsets and some with new Haswell CPUs.
