Z68 Based Motherboard To Have PCI E 3.0 & Nateve Support Of 1600MHz Memory?

[Protagonist]

After looking at this diagrams, it leads me to think that if you have a Z68, P67 motherboard you do not have to change it to a Z77 to get the functionality of PCI Express 3.0, My reasoning for this is as the diagrams point out the PCI Express Graphics are routed to the processor so if anyone changes to the upcoming Ivy bridge processor, by putting it in a Z68 motherboard it will enable PCI Express 3.0 since the lanes required are available in the Ivy bridge processor.

I think this apply to the memory too if someone has a Z68 motherboard that has 1600+ support and purchases Ivy bridge processor to use in the Z68 motherboard it should change the native support from 1333 to 1600, due to the memory controller being in the processor.

Anyone correct me if i am wrong and shade more light in to this information/topic...

 

[Protagonist]

There was a promise of PCI Express 3.0 in some 6 series Motherboards does this have anything to do with it?

 

[user21]

Agreed i think thats the reason many motherboard vendors who have produced z68 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 integrated a certain bridge chip for its full functionality. But as Ivy Bridge has all the functionality with it i think gentlemen we have a POINT here.

 

[Protagonist]

Agreed i think thats the reason many motherboard vendors who have produced z68 motherboards with PCI Express 3.0 integrated a certain bridge chip for its full functionality. But as Ivy Bridge has all the functionality with it i think gentlemen we have a POINT here.

So my reasoning is that any motherboard with Z68 Chipset coupled with Ivy Bridge Processor and probably a bios update should fully support PCI-E 3.0, in my opinion does not have to have an embedded extra chip for it? this goes for the Z68 Boards with 1600+ to get native 1600MHz support?

 

[Protagonist]

For those who wonder if the interface on the motherboard (Z68 or any other) might be a limitation, i highly think its no limitation at all, coz new PCI-E standards eg PCI-E 3.0 ensure double the bandwidth per pin, so to the PCI-E Interface no technical change is normally done they mostly increase the a available bandwidth in form of PCI-E Lanes

 

[erocker]

The motherboard needs to have PCI-E 3.0 switch chips on it. This kind of explains/show what they are: http://www.asrock.com/microsite/pcie3/overview.html

They are not represented in the chipset graphic you list above. The 1600mhz ram should just be doable in a new bios, though most Z68 boards have multipliers above 1333mhz.

 

[Protagonist]

The motherboard needs to have PCI-E 3.0 switch chips on it. This kind of explains/show what they are: http://www.asrock.com/microsite/pcie3/overview.html

They are not represented in the chipset graphic you list above. The 1600mhz ram should just be doable in a new bios, though most Z68 boards have multipliers above 1333mhz.

My opinion to the Bold text is, i highly think its not necessary, maybe necessary for sandy bridge CPUs.

If the 1600 can be achieved by bios update so can the PCI-E 3.0

PCI-E 3.0 Switch Chip makes sens for sandy bridge, on Ivy bridge + any Z68 motherboard i see no sense according to the diagram

 

[erocker]

My opinion to the Bold text is, i highly think its not necessary, maybe necessary for sandy bridge CPUs.

If the 1600 can be achieved by bios update so can the PCI-E 3.0

PCI-E 3.0 Switch Chip makes sens for sandy bridge, on Ivy bridge + any Z68 motherboard i see no sense according to the diagram

Not too sure about that since PCI-E 3.0 cards do not run at 3.0 on Z68 (Gen 3) boards with SB. So, an Ivy Bridge CPU is necessary, however it looks as if the 3.0 switches are necessary as well.

 

[Protagonist]

Not too sure about that since PCI-E 3.0 cards do not run at 3.0 on Z68 (Gen 3) boards with SB. So, an Ivy Bridge CPU is necessary, however it looks as if the 3.0 switches are necessary as well.

Meaning for gen 3 to work Ivy Bridge processor is needed coz the Ivy Bridge CPUs have the necessary lanes needed. And that's why I don't see what is stopping a Z68 running Ivy Bridge from accessing the necessary bandwidth, the Z77 & Z68 chips are identical apart from few thing, over all the processor is what is the big difference, so may be the switches are not necessary according to how the chipsets look which do not indicate any switches

Except for Sandy Bridge-E which has the required lanes.

 

[cadaveca]

My opinion to the Bold text is, i highly think its not necessary, maybe necessary for sandy bridge CPUs.

If the 1600 can be achieved by bios update so can the PCI-E 3.0

PCI-E 3.0 Switch Chip makes sens for sandy bridge, on Ivy bridge + any Z68 motherboard i see no sense according to the diagram

This is generally correct, however, there are many components in the link that prevent such from happening.


On boards with X16 single link, some of these may work with just BIOS update.

Boards with dual PCIe x16 slots that run at an electrical x8/x8 use bridge chips to switch 8 lanes to the second slot, and if these chips are not PCIe 3.0 complaint, then PCIe 3.0 will not work. PCIe 3.0 bridge chips were not available when the P67 and Z68 platforms launched, which is why we saw a "refresh" with PCie 3.0 P67/Z68 boards after the launch...the switches jsut came onto the market then.