Intel Panther Point to have native support for USB 3.0

According to some confidential documents Intel will finally include the support for USB 3.0 in the next generation of chipsets. Thus, the proliferation of new high-speed serial interface will get a new momentum.

Currently, USB 3.0 support is organized by a separate controller that usually provides two ports. According to the slide above, new chipsets, code-name Panther Point, for Intel Ivy Bridge processors will have quad-port XHCI-compatible USB 3.0 controller. In addition, there will be two EHCI USB 2.0 controllers providing 10 more USB 2.0 ports which give an overall of fourteen USB ports.
The controller is adjacent to two controllers EHCI USB 2.0, and shares with them 14 ports USB, 4 of which are, thus, will be compatible with the new version of the specification.

The Panther Point chipset line-up will feature P77 and H77 models in the begging with X78 or/and Z78 coming later, as we expect this with current Cougar Point chipset family, targeted at different consumer requirements. Concerning Ivy Bridge processors, they are said to be produce more advanced process technology than Sandy Bridge — 22nm. It is expected that next (3rd) generation of Intel Core processors will be presented at Consumer Electronic Show in 2012.