What is the difference between Z99 and X99 Motherboards?

[Robert O White]

I've seen notices for the upcoming X99 Motherboards and a few for the Z99 MB. What are the differences

 

[Jcomptech]

They are both the same thing just different chipset name

 

[adchac]

Hi Robert.

Basically, the X series is used as the Extreme Platform. In this case, the processor supports more pci-e lines, cache, cores and threads. You can use quad channel DDR4 memory and the socket is known as 2011-3 (for haswell-e). Only Core i7 Extreme Edition and Xeons processors can be used in this chipset. Finally, the worst feature is its price, the X Platform (processor + motherboard) is more expensive than others.

Z97 is the current chipset used for the regular consumer. This one come with less pci-lines and support only Haswell and Devils Canyon processors (Maybe Broadwell the next year). The range of processors includes the Pentium, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and some Xeon. The memory only supports DDR3 dual channel. This is a more cheaper than the X series in general.

In the case of the Z99 chipset that you asked, i never heard about it. Maybe you're referring to Skylake chipset, which is supposed to arrive in 2015 to support the new processor and DDR4 on the regular consumer oriented platform. This chipset has no official name till now.

 

[Mac266]

There is no chipset Z99, only the upcoming X99 or the released Z97. they will be used on different processor sockets, with X99 for Socket 2011-3, which is Intel's soon-to-be-released HEDT (High End DeskTop) platform. Z97 is for Socket 1150 which is Intel's 'mainstream' platform.

 

[MartinNixon0422]

you talk about z97 right?

here is the photo shared from msi facebook
the different between z97 and x99 is the chipset
also the number of pcie/sata/dimm support

 

[Robert O White]

Thanks for the info adchac. The X series is what I'm looking for. I've been waiting a couple of years for a real improvement in motherboard technology. Now that most MB makers have just announced their X99 boards, it will take some time to decide which board to get. My only consideration is that it has to be a standard ATX size as my Asus Vento case won't take the slightly larger EATX./b]

Hi Robert.

Basically, the X series is used as the Extreme Platform. In this case, the processor supports more pci-e lines, cache, cores and threads. You can use quad channel DDR4 memory and the socket is known as 2011-3 (for haswell-e). Only Core i7 Extreme Edition and Xeons processors can be used in this chipset. Finally, the worst feature is its price, the X Platform (processor + motherboard) is more expensive than others.

Z97 is the current chipset used for the regular consumer. This one come with less pci-lines and support only Haswell and Devils Canyon processors (Maybe Broadwell the next year). The range of processors includes the Pentium, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7 and some Xeon. The memory only supports DDR3 dual channel. This is a more cheaper than the X series in general.

In the case of the Z99 chipset that you asked, i never heard about it. Maybe you're referring to Skylake chipset, which is supposed to arrive in 2015 to support the new processor and DDR4 on the regular consumer oriented platform. This chipset has no official name till now.