Intel to Include USB 3.0 Support in its Chipsets in 2011

For those who were hoping to see some USB 3.0 support in an Intel chipset, you’ll have to wait a while. Oddly enough, it was NVIDIA who began pushing the fact that Intel’s chipsets won’t support the new standard until 2011, but judging by comments from Intel employees, it looks as though it’s true. The reason NVIDIA has anything at all to say about it is because its taking an opportunity to boast the fact that its own chipsets have always been rich with features.

The reason NVIDIA might have reason to raise concern is because Intel essentially pushed them out from being able to create chipsets based around its latest processors. In a sense, Intel won’t support USB 3.0 now, but won’t allow others to, either. In that sense, I have a hard time disagreeing with NVIDIA on this one, because we’ve been lead up to the USB 3.0 release by Intel for quite a while, and it’s even a technology that Intel has a hand in, so to not see a chipset support it until 2011 is a little strange.

It’s important to note, however, that motherboard vendors, such as ASUS and Gigabyte, are fully capable of adding in USB 3.0 via additional chipsets on the board. This is not uncommon, as most of today’s motherboards include extra chipsets for other components already, such as an additional LAN port, and also additional S-ATA ports. Without the support in Intel’s chipset, it means we all pay a wee bit more for the support.

The reason behind Intel’s decision to not roll out USB 3.0 in its chipsets right now is unknown, and whether NVIDIA would have actually had a chipset prepared now with such support is also. But the good thing is that those looking for USB 3.0 support aren’t going to have to go without. Boards might cost a little more, but they’ll be there for those who want them. Now, let’s just see more USB 3.0 devices, so we have something to get excited about!

“We [have also] learned that Intel is postponing USB 3 introduction until 2011. With no competition in chipsets, it seems Intel has decided that innovation is not needed for USB any time soon,” said Burke. “With no one to push Intel to innovate, PC enthusiasts are left with Intel chipsets and the features and performance they deliver, or lack there of.”