Intel updates PCH datasheet with 300 series chipsets, including the Z390.

Intel confirms Z390 specifications

The Z370 chipset is commonly considered a rushed product delivering questionable differences over Z270 motherboards. In fact, Flex I/O lane specifications are mirrored for both chipsets. Officially Z370 only support Coffee Lake processors due to differences in the LGA1151 socket. Has Z390 delivered more changes to Intel’s Lake family?

Technically yes, the Z390 has more differences over Z370, starting with USB 3.1 Gen 2 support. The lane specs are different too, but the number of them has not changed.

Intel has not really made any official introduction of the new chipset. We are only finding this by browsing Intel website, which is quite odd. However, this could mean that Computex Z390 showcase might actually happen. The previous embargo date was set to September, but the recent announcement from AMD could have affected those plans.

The following chart is a comparison between Z390 and Z370 lane specs. There was no point in including Z270 here since lanes are the same for Z370.

Please note: in Intel documents 200-series/Z370 lanes start from 0, whereas 300-series/Z390 lanes start from 1.

Intel Z390 vs Z370 Flex I/O Lane Intel Z390 Intel Z370 0 USB 3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 USB 3.0 / OTG 1 USB 3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 USB 3.0 2 USB 3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 USB 3.0 3 USB 3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 USB 3.0 4 USB 3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 USB 3.0 5 USB 3.1 Gen1 / Gen2 USB 3.0 6 USB 3.1 Gen1 / PCIe USB 3.0 / PCIe 7 USB 3.1 Gen1 / PCIe USB 3.0 / PCIe 8 USB 3.1 Gen1 / PCIe USB 3.0 / PCIe 9 USB 3.1 Gen1 / PCIe USB 3.0 / PCIe / LAN 10 PCIe / GbE PCIe / LAN 11 PCIe PCIe 12 PCIe PCIe 13 PCIe PCIe 14 PCIe / GbE PCIe / LAN / SATA 0A 15 PCIe PCIe / SATA 1A 16 PCIe / SATA 0A PCIe 17 PCIe, GbE / SATA 1A PCIe / LAN 18 PCIe / GbE / SATA 0B PCIe / LAN / SATA 0B 19 PCIe / SATA 1B PCIe / SATA 1B 20 PCIe / SATA 2 PCIe / SATA 2 21 PCIe / SATA 3 PCIe / SATA 3 22 PCIe / SATA 4 PCIe / SATA 4 23 PCIe / SATA 5 PCIe / SATA 5 24 PCIe PCIe 25 PCIe PCIe 26 PCIe PCIe 27 PCIe PCIe 28 PCIe PCIe 29 PCIe PCIe

For comparison, the Z370 from 200-series datasheet:

Source: Intel via PCGamesHardware