Following in the wake of AMD, it seems likely that Intel will announce an integrated USB3.0 function in their next-generation chipsets. Update: A comment from mobo manufacturers.
Intel have doggedly avoided speaking of USB3.0 chipsets for quite some time now, instead focusing on their Light Peak technology that they considered a higher value inclusion - that is, until a recent rumour suggested otherwise.
Taiwanese technology news site Yahoo claims that Intel will announce full USB3.0 support at IDF, to be held next week, which will sandwich a native controller into Intel's upcoming Sandy Bridge "Cougar Point" chipsets - though at this stage it's not clear whether it will be for both the P67 and H67, or merely the former.
The article explains that:
Intel originally intended to promote the fiber-optic communication transmission interface for the Light Peak mainstream, but the new standard for promotion, Intel shifted attention to the potential business opportunities for USB 3.0
Though Intel has invested "gazillions of dollars and bazillions of engineering man hours" into the development of the USB3.0 standard, as explained by Nick Knupffer in the official Intel blog, it hasn't confirmed support for the standard it has thrown so much money at - with updates in July of this year pinning it somewhere in 2012.
The reasons behind this sudden change of heart appear to stem from main competitor AMD, as the top-end "Hudson" chipset intended for use with Fusion processors also packs in USB3.0 support - only announced recently, for launch in early 2011.
It is said that "Intel will follow the example of AMD and Renesas model of collaboration, in Sandy Bridge motherboard reference design", working with what is essentially the manufacturer of NEC USB3.0 chipsets, in the hopes of full integration.
Strangely, Light Peak development appears to remain in full swing, a 10Gbps optical standard that defeats the USB3.0 speed of 4.8Gbps, and though Light Peak was demonstrated inside a laptop earlier this year, USB3.0 support seems to have taken pole position.
It's also unclear at this stage as to whether motherboard partners were aware of this change, as many designs would be very close to final, and it may be costly to redesign them in time for launch. We have contacted manufacturers and will update as they respond.
We hope to get a confirmation at next week's IDF.
Update @ 1:27pm
Update 2 @ 12:05pm, 09/09/2010
Dino Strkljevic, GIGABYTE Australia, has responded to this rumour:
This is still a rumour and it’s best to wait until IDF to hear the latest Intel has to say on this topic. We have already included multiple USB 3.0 ports into our motherboards using the Intel 6 series chipset, so including NEC USB 3.0 chips in the reference design doesn't really affect us.
Issue: 133 | February, 2012