NVIDIA confirms Intel chipsets won't support USB 3.0 until 2011
By Vladislav Savov 
posted Nov 4th 2009 10:59AM
posted Nov 4th 2009 10:59AM
What was once an unverifiable rumor from an anonymous source has now, sadly, become a confirmed fact. Intel won't be integrating USB 3.0 support into its chipsets until at least 2011. Motherboard makers such as ASUS can still opt to add discrete 3.0 controllers at an extra cost, but Intel -- already accused of dragging its heels on the standard's development -- won't be. NVIDIA spokesman Brian Burke has expressed, in no uncertain terms, his company's disappointment with Intel, while also claiming that chipsets by NVIDIA are more feature-rich and just plain better than Intel's own efforts. We'll add this to our ever-growing collection of things NVIDIA doesn't like about Intel, but we also hope that the immature outburst doesn't obscure the real issue. NVIDIA is correct in noting that Intel needs competition in the chipset space, and the new interconnect's dependence on Intel's whims demonstrates the market-altering powers that reside in Santa Clara, CA. Unless another chipmaker gets serious about competing with Intel, we could face plenty more of these seemingly arbitrary delays in tech rollouts.
Intel, WTF?
if intel thinks this is going to stop usb3.0 their wrong. computer makers will just find other ways to bring it to computers. i hope amd is bringing support to their chips before intel this could bring them some revenue.
Something say "Light Peak" to me...
Intel = jerkoffs
Ten years or so ago, when asked at a trade show when they were finally going to put Firewire on their motherboards, an Intel rep feigned ignorance and said, "Firewire? Isn't that some Apple thing?" with a smirk.
Uh, no, dumb-ass, it's what every current video camera on the planet used at the time to get its recordings to the computer. You can smugly play stupid while denying your customers needed functionality, though.
The trend continues, but why perpetuate it with USB 3? They can hardly pretend it's "some Apple thing" this time.
They will be working hard to fix all the kinks in X58 and P55 motherboards.
@reload
That was also my first though - why bother to quickly adopt a standard that you are competing against with Light Peak.
Ajay must be busy with all those ads...
Man Lightpeak, USB3 and FireWire 3200, too many choices !!
Just because the chipsets won't support it natively doesn't mean it won't be on Intel branded boards or boards from other manufacturers. There are plenty of free PCIe lanes on boards to add integrated controllers or add in cards. Just because Intel won't put it into their chipsets for another year does not mean its the end of the world or they are purposely trying to kill the standard off. Intel sells boards with 1394a and its not built into the chipset, what makes you think USB3.0 will be any different.
maybe dropped support because of its huge support of eSATA?
I'm with r3loaded.
If this is a step towards optical computing, count me in. Lightpeak would not get attention with usb 3.0 out. If intel is looking to push lightpeak this was an ingenious move. Lightpeak will be openly available first, giving it plenty of time to get all of the attention. If intel doesn't support usb 3.0 then trust me, very few people will be using it. So people will start adjusting to using lightpeak for high data needs. By the time 3.0 is supported, it will be outclassed (by lightpeak). This will prevent OEM's from deciding between including some 3.0 ports and including lightpeak instead.
Optics is the future!
It's less evil than that. Intel has a monopoly (from patents) on chipsets for intel processors starting with the i5/7 (maybe sooner I stopped caring and bought a mac) and the next atom.. this is why Nvidia is taking yet another jab at them while OEMS sit silently and take it. Even though Apple uses Nvidia NOW, they're playing with Intel to jump to light peak about the same time Intel cuts off Nvidia from making laptop chipsets... how polite!
What's Intel's rush for USB3? Most of the PC market CAN'T buy their chipsets anyplace else. Why release it now, when they can make everybody buy new in 2 years to get the feature?
What makes it doubly bad for anybody else is that in 2011 when Intel finally does release a chipset with USB3, whatever bugs or tweaks their product has will instantly become "de facto" standard everybody releasing products/chipsets NOW will have the "astroturf tech media" calling existing products "broken" the day blessed Intel's hits. This is just like Microsoft shut down the performance for 64bit processors when AMD was 3 years ahead on the desktop.... until Intel started shipping 64bits now 32 & 64 is in the same box.
Nvidia's got to be sore.. they priced themselves out of AMD buying them and now nobody with the cash can touch them due to anti-trust concerns. (AMD/ATI can't, VIA doesn't have the cash, and Intel can't buy them [AT] and can just let them die off) Nvidia made the day for everybody else... their video cards keep pros and gamers buying expensive Intel processors for the last 10 years, their graphic chips help Microsoft found Xbox on sold ground... but like the "safety" prom date nobody's returning their calls now.
I'm guessing it's because the northbridge is now on the CPU die. The DMI between north and southbridges is limited to 2GB/s, which USB2 can't saturate, but USB3 could (in theory, anyway). You'd have to rework the whole chip and kaboodle to get a wider path between the onchip northbridge and ICH...
Still, it's $30 to get that support from Asus...
Intel will do whatever the market says...if USB 3.0 becomes popular enough, Intel will push it on the front burner. The last thing Intel would want to do, is to be left out of the dominant market position of a popular standard.
So... suddenly NVIDIA, one of Intel's competitors, is a spokesperson for them? This confirms nothing.
Just curious... do we really need Intel to support USB 3.0... right now at least?
I'd be happy having to buy a USB 3.0 card for my computer... and for manufacturers to start making USB 3.0 flash drives and external hard drive enclosures now.
That way, I can still get the benefit of USB 3.0... even if Intel is dragging their feet on the matter. Sure, it sucks for laptop owners... but if enough desktop users get to use USB 3.0, it might help take off, right?
I want a USB 3.0 portable, bus-powered 2.5" hard drive that is fast at home... yet, will still work at USB 2.0 speeds on other people's computers. Yes... eSATA is fast at home... but not exactly portable because of the power brick... and not everyone has eSATA yet.
So that lightpeak is all intel copyrighted? Needs an intel transceiver? Gives intel/sony the monopoly?
And it seems others can at least make USB3 chips, so yeah if it's like that, nice try but the chinese run things now and will sell us USB3 and apple will be the only one pushing lightpeak since only their core fans can afford it if it's licensed the monopoly way.
But we'll see what happens, maybe intel will play nice with lightpeak, maybe not, USB3 is here now though and devices are already in the pipeline and assured.
Thinking about it I think varun's comment makes sense, even though intel knew about USB3 long in advance of course, but the dualchan i5/i7's are starved as it is already in regards to PCIE lanes (and seem to me to be semi-experimental pre-releases for when their GPU/CPU stuff arrives which would have internal PCIE I guess)
So yeah they probably put USB3 down as unimportant compared to all their grand plans and changes to their CPU on their timeline as varun's comment points out.
@Wwhat
Sony? You mean Apple?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/26/exclusive-apple-dictated-light-peak-creation-to-intel-could-be/
Intel specifically mentioned sony a few times on their page on lightpeak, but sure there are a few chosen ones.
The hell with intel what about amd save us : )
YayMD?
WARNING...HIGH SPEED USB DEVICE PLUGGED INTO NON-HIGH SPEED USB PORT
The accumulated filth of Intels anti competitiveness and monopoly power will foam up about their waists and all the techies and USB 3.0 enthusiasts will look up and shout "Save us!". And AMD will look down, and whisper "I wish I could".
Nvidia is better than Intel
Having just built an X58 PC, that is kind of good news for me. Because by 2011 i'll be looking at building another computer, so by then hopefully USB 3.0 will be around and about.
I'm really glad for you!
Yeah, thanks for that update!
Hey, did that ointment work?
Intel trying to push lightpeak? If it comes out in early 2010 and is truly better then USB 3.0 then I won't be that upset.
You /like/ having another communication standard? I prefer one cable standard so I can simplify my drawer of hookups...
With the sheer volume of tech that uses USB it's stupid right now to try to make a different standard unless it's going to completely revolutionize how the industry works now.
postmastersteve - True it's a different standard but it's ONE CABLE. for EVERYTHING. That includes mass storage/input peripherals, video input and output, network... all of it. If you want to simplify your drawer of hookups, light peak is going to be the way to do it.
I just want to be another voice in the mob shouting about Lightpeak. Lightpeak is something that Intel is working on that was demoed on systems running OSX, whatever that hints at. Lightpeak is an optical cable interface capable of 10 gigabits/sec while USB 3.0 will only be capable of 4.8 Gbps. Lightpeak, being optical, probably uses simpler cables that may or may not cost less.
Brian Burke is sour because his company is losing relevance in the marketplace.
Hardly. nVidia is more active than ever in the industry. They are working on the ion still and that is about the only thing that makes adom cpu's worth using. The GTX 300 series is their first real innovation in their graphics tech since the 8800 gtx. I personally love their MoBo's because they let you customize your computer in ways Intel doesnt. (overclocking my C2Q from 2.83 upto what intel would charge me 1000 dollars for).
Right now intel is slowing down progress to make as much money as possible on the tech they will pushing.
CPUs
Thats a funny statement from Nvidia considering they have effectively killed off their chipset division which makes things like USB controllers.
http://arstechnica.com/hardware/news/2009/10/day-of-nvidia-chipset-reckoning-arrives.ars
USB3 chips can ship so what if Intels aren't ready what on earth difference does it make if there not, its not like operating systems natively support USB3 anyway (a driver install would be required Intel chipset or not) so why is Engadget whining about this ?
A driver install is the simplest thing you can do and Engadget is correct in whining about this because its an artificial delay and Intel is the dominant chipset manufacturer in the PC space.
You link about Nvidia leaving the chipset market is old disproved news, they are not making Core i5/i7/i9 chipsets because Intel won't let them !
Don't you understand that Intel has become too powerful? USB 3.0 seemed ready to go by early 2010, and it is being delayed and for no good reason. Almost every computer that ships uses chipsets made by Intel, so it's either Intel's way or the highway. I wish AMD and Nvidia would sue their asses.
They killed off chipset development because there isn't much to be changed anymore.
@dagamer43
I shudder at your thought process. There is ALWAYS space for improvement in ANYTHING you do in either life or in the tech industry. If you stop innovating you should be part of history & not dictate the future.
This is the problem with dominant (almost monopolistic) companies in the tech space. It disgusts me to no end. Capitalism only works if there is competition.
Ah, AMD?
Besides, this is probably complete BS anyways. Not the first time nVidia has been spreading complete BS about Intel lately.
if anyone was here has built a intel X58 i7 computer from last year as i have done late 2011 early 2012 would be the time i would build another computer so this is not that bad for me.
and if you want USB 3.0 badly you can get a PCIx USB 3.0 card.
I've always pondered what I should plug into that mysterious PCIe x1 slot..
So what Intel is doing is right?
How many log-in IDs do you have here? Do you mean we're not supposed to notice this earlier comment by "DeathroW" above:
"Having just built an X58 PC, that is kind of good news for me. Because by 2011 i'll be looking at building another computer, so by then hopefully USB 3.0 will be around and about."
Nobody cares. Seriously.
Who the hell is "DeathroW" and your right no one should care its not like anyone here has spent time on USB 3.0 for it to be pushed back. i mean no one here can do anything about it
just sit and wait just like everyone else.
Intel dragging its feet because Apple is paying them millions to push lightpeak
I'm sure Intel sits awake at night trying to work out how to get it's hands on Apple's money ! HELLO WORLDS BIGGEST CHIP MAKER !
Lightpeak is Intel's standard not Apple's
That's my thought exactly. Intel really can hamper a standard such as this from getting off the ground at a decent pace if they don't jump behind it.
I really don't care who wins, USB 3.0 or Light Peak. I just want the one that is ready to ASAP. Also does anyone know how rugged the Light Peak cable is? Will it be as bendable as USB copper cable?
@daytripper, it can be up to 100meters long and is thinner so says wikipedia. Actually doesn't sound bad, just imagine replacing HDMI/USB/Firewire/DisplayPort/etc... with one connector. Hopefully intel doesn't f' it up.
NY Times: Cuomo Files Antitrust Suit Against Intel
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/05/technology/companies/05chip.html?_r=1&emc=na
This is front page news for sure.
I'm not surprised. Intel is single handedly slowing the advancement of entry level notebook graphics. its been over 5 years with almost no improvements on intel's integrated graphics. its like they are not even trying! every notebook/netbook deserve a video card solution that is at least as fast as the nvidia 9400m. I'm not asking for a video card capable of playing intensive 3d games, i just want to be able to view HD and high quality flash videos! i just want to browse the web with no restrictions what so ever.
high quality flash won't use your graphics chip because of Adobe not Intel.
Why, hello, Mr. Flash 10.1. Welcome to the GPU party.
Actually, even now, it does use some DirectX when in Internet Explorer.
However, it can't access that when running in any other browser. Blame Netscape for using a secure plugin protocol back in the 90's, and everyone adopting it. Turns out, it's too secure for what Adobe wants to do for performance, and not secure enough to actually be secure.
Memo from Intel:
"...because we can."
See Matt's post a few up from here. They might get told "No, you can't" fairly soon about some of their BS.
LightPeak all the way please. Let's get moving and spend less time fiddling with our cables and more time being productivity.
How many man hours lost to waiting for yet another DVI-X to connector Y adapter? Etc.
After watching the video of Light Speak, it's clear why the decision was made.
http://techresearch.intel.com/articles/None/1813.htm
Regards,
I use fiber cables at work. They are great, high speed, long distance connections.
They are not good for anything consumer related, because all it takes to kill it is to bend it.
Think of every time you have ran over a usb cable with your chair, closed a drawer on it, or just tried to shove it behind your computer or in between your desk and the wall.
Almost all of these would result in having to purchase a new fiber cable.
Fiber is great, but unless they pack it in some super-overdone protective cable, it is simply too fragile to be just laying on a desk to get knocked around/crimped.
i mean of course they would do that but its for the right reason Light Peak is way better One I/O connection to rule them all, Light Peak is a dream come true just thinking about how nice it would be to have one cable for everything the inside of my PC would look great LOL.
PS: You cannot send power over light (except maybe with solar panels?). So every single one of your Light Peak devices will also need another cable connected for power.
@thain
Ever heard of bendable fiber? it's a non issue.
Also Don't jump to conclusions. Fiber can be bundled with copper for power without interference because it's light. Intel is proactive in making Lightpeak a powered connection.
thain @ Intel said it's working on bundling light peaks optical fiber with copper wire so Light Peak can be used to power devices plugged into the PC.
"it would be to have one cable for everything the inside of my PC would look great LOL"
We are so laughing out loud at that. The hilarity!
Ooops! Typo, I intended to wight "Light Peak".
And what did you intend to "write" this time?
Ok, I give up as I need to slow down...
Dan
yeah, is your name really Dan? Or is that a typo too? Don? Dawn? c'mon, fess up.
I read this earlier today...
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2355165,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532
Perhaps all of the pieces are starting to fall into place
Yes, this is complete nonsense.
Intel practically owns USB. "On September 18, 2007, Pat Gelsinger demonstrated USB 3.0 at the Intel Developer Forum."
"Pat Gelsinger is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer, EMC Information Infrastructure Products at EMC. Before joing EMC, he was the first Chief Technology Officer of Intel Corporation and Senior Vice-president and General Manager of the Digital Enterprise Group at Intel."
Intel developed drivers for USB3 for Linux over a year ago IIRC.
Intel is not stupid, no reason they would delay USB3 because something to compete with it is in development (unless it is set to be finished within a few months and be deployed mid next year).
Could this :http://techresearch.intel.com/articles/None/1813.htm maybe have something to do with Intel dragging their heals on USB 3.0?
From everything I've seen, Lightpeak looks to be a better tech. If I were Intel, I'd be looking to support something a bit more forward thinking than just a faster version of a tech that's never really been all that good to begin with.
Does this prevent AMD from integrating USB3.0 into their chipsets? I mean, if they could have the better part of a year jump on Intel, would that not be advantageous?
This is prolly gonna change. or else all of us Intel lovers are going to gangup on em.
With the DMI patch at only 2GBps, it will max out with a only 3 USB 3.0 ports, add that to SATA which has even higher bandwidth, and you can see that they need to triple it from this generation just to keep up with the new interfaces. We probably won't see that until Sandy Bridge which has a brand new MCP called the "System Agent."
Hopefully LightPeak comes out full swing next year so we don't even have to waste our time with USB 3.0
By the time it's full swing, and IF it ever becomes cost-effective, USB3 will be ubiquitous I bet.
Intel can blow me.
It was them that brought out Anti-Consumer crap such as HDCP.
And ID numbers in CPU's and TMP chips.
But hey they have good ideas too, and almost all companies are run by creeps without respect for their fellow citizens basically, it's damn hard to avoid the bad ones without an awful lot of self-sacrifice like living without cellphones and internet and computers and TV :[
WHAT THE FUCK INTEL!
Thank God for Asus for making USB 3.0 available soon and at a price any computer enthusiast can afford.
Ugh. I have always sided with Intel. I preferred their processors and tech over AMD's for so long now because they always seemed to have the latest and greatest ideas. But crap like this is making me think maybe my next rig will have a Phenom as a heart...
Shame on you Intel, this is some serious bull.