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Intel Z370 Chipset Could Support Kaby Lake - But Intel Will Not Allow It
Much has been said and spoken about Intel upcoming 6-core Coffee Lake processors. It will launch based on a LGA 1151 Socket. We’ve been able to confirm that Z370 will only support Coffee Lake processors. Here’s the shocker, they could support Kaby Lake, yet Intel doesn’t allow it.
Over the past few weeks I have been talking to many motherboard manufacturers, and the story is the same. There is no reason for the Z370 chipset to not be able to support last-gen Kaby Lake, it is merely firmware restriction. Intel is enforcing the motherboard manufacturers to only support Intel 8th gen processors, thus Coffee Lake on Z370.
We’ve seen it in the past though, a BIOS update all of the sudden might enable other processors. The board-partners are very tight-lipped about this, understandably. Earlier this week you have already seen our Dutch colleagues from HWI try out a 7th gen Celeron G3930 Kaby Lake based processor on Z370. That processor got in the BIOS post code up-to code 26 when it halted. Post code 26 is the graphics pass, all passes before that would have been valid including memory and CPU.
According to some board partners the extra pins used on Z370 are merely supported voltage pahs. Ergo, (but not confirmed) perhapsvice versa Coffee lake could have been supported on Z270 as well. But this last bit remains speculation of course. But the reality is, that other processors than Coffee Lake on LGA1151 could have been supported on Z370, yet Intel simply will not allow board partners to support them.
New info also shows that the new 6-core procs can do an all-core 5 GHz overclock on a proper air cooler / liquid cooling without too much complication.
tunejunky
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Posts: 1223
Joined: 2017-08-18
#5474710 Posted on: 09/23/2017 12:45 AM
it's as if Intel has a target painted on their crotch while wearing a kick me sign on their back.
this is what forces many Intel users to hold off until a time when their cpu/mobo dies.
if you were planning a rig last spring, oh well it's already outdated and incompatible.
AMD wins here by default...and the default wins used to be Intel.
it's super ironic to me that just as Intel forgoes the "tick-tock", AMD is instituting it with the 12nm shrink, while work is continuing on the 7nm node. this is excellent planning and a method to refine techniques necessary for the shrink.
i like Intel at 10nm, just not the bungled (future tense) marketing . the technology is great and with a few nods to fans (solder...lol) they could have a hedt win here.
it's as if Intel has a target painted on their crotch while wearing a kick me sign on their back.
this is what forces many Intel users to hold off until a time when their cpu/mobo dies.
if you were planning a rig last spring, oh well it's already outdated and incompatible.
AMD wins here by default...and the default wins used to be Intel.
it's super ironic to me that just as Intel forgoes the "tick-tock", AMD is instituting it with the 12nm shrink, while work is continuing on the 7nm node. this is excellent planning and a method to refine techniques necessary for the shrink.
i like Intel at 10nm, just not the bungled (future tense) marketing . the technology is great and with a few nods to fans (solder...lol) they could have a hedt win here.
Cave Waverider
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Posts: 1076
Joined: 2010-07-25
#5474718 Posted on: 09/23/2017 01:24 AM
A douche move by Intel, but nothing unexpected.
I'm fairly certain there will be inofficial (modded) BIOS versions with microcode update to allow the new CPUs on Z270 Mainboards and older CPUs on Z370 Mainboards if it's possible.
A douche move by Intel, but nothing unexpected.
I'm fairly certain there will be inofficial (modded) BIOS versions with microcode update to allow the new CPUs on Z270 Mainboards and older CPUs on Z370 Mainboards if it's possible.
Elder III
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Posts: 3723
Joined: 2010-05-16
#5474722 Posted on: 09/23/2017 01:31 AM
A douche move by Intel, but nothing unexpected.
I'm fairly certain there will be inofficial (modded) BIOS versions with microcode update to allow the new CPUs on Z270 Mainboards and older CPUs on Z370 Mainboards if it's possible.
Yep and Yep, I completely agree with ya there.
5 Ghz on 6 cores, or even 4.8 on 6 cores sounds pretty nice for the vast majority of gaming needs though.
A douche move by Intel, but nothing unexpected.
I'm fairly certain there will be inofficial (modded) BIOS versions with microcode update to allow the new CPUs on Z270 Mainboards and older CPUs on Z370 Mainboards if it's possible.
Yep and Yep, I completely agree with ya there.
5 Ghz on 6 cores, or even 4.8 on 6 cores sounds pretty nice for the vast majority of gaming needs though.
nosirrahx
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Joined: 2013-04-05
Senior Member
Posts: 331
Joined: 2013-04-05
#5474726 Posted on: 09/23/2017 01:51 AM
A douche move by Intel, but nothing unexpected.
I'm fairly certain there will be inofficial (modded) BIOS versions with microcode update to allow the new CPUs on Z270 Mainboards and older CPUs on Z370 Mainboards if it's possible.
Its been a while sine I have looked into modified BIOS. Have things gotten easier or harder to reverse and modify since BIOS migrated to UEFI?
A douche move by Intel, but nothing unexpected.
I'm fairly certain there will be inofficial (modded) BIOS versions with microcode update to allow the new CPUs on Z270 Mainboards and older CPUs on Z370 Mainboards if it's possible.
Its been a while sine I have looked into modified BIOS. Have things gotten easier or harder to reverse and modify since BIOS migrated to UEFI?
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Should it be compatible, in a scenario where a Kaby Lake CPU owner loses their z270 mobo, they might think, let's get a z370 mobo instead, just in case, even though they had no concrete plans to spend money to get a Coffee Lake CPU. With that prevented like this, the person would need to judge between getting another dead-end mobo for the "old" CPU or perhaps upgrade it all to the new Coffee Lake, mobo and CPU. Naturally Intel would rather sell both a chipset and a CPU, not only a chipset.