Intel 7 Series Chipsets - Comparative Review

Almost two months ago, on April 9, Intel officially announced the release of the new, seventh series chipsets. And although information about these chipsets has been discussed for almost a year, it seems to make sense once again in one text to bring together all their main characteristics and functions. After all, it is one thing to simply discuss, and quite another, after discussion, go to the store and purchase the selected device or set of components.
So, the seventh series chipsets (code name Panther Point) are designed for the new generation Ivy Bridge processors, in addition, the previous generation Sandy Bridge processors are also supported. In general, the chipset picture looks like this:

Intel Q75 Express Chipset	Desktop PCs - Enterprise Segment
Intel Q77 Express Chipset
Intel B75 Express Chipset
Intel Z77 Express Chipset	Desktop PCs - Consumer Segment
Intel Z75 Express Chipset
Intel H77 Express Chipset
Mobile Intel HM75 Express Chipset	Mobile PCs - Consumer Segment
Mobile Intel HM76 Express Chipset
Mobile Intel HM77 Express Chipset
Mobile Intel UM77 Express Chipset
Mobile Intel QM77 Express Chipset	Mobile PCs - Corporate Segment
Mobile Intel QS77 Express Chipset

To begin with, we highlight the common features of all chipsets:

• Integrated video on the graphics core of the processor (that is, in fact, motherboards "without video" are now absent as a class, although there is no video as such on them);
• Connect up to 3 independent monitors;
• Integrated Network Card 10/100 / 1000Base-T;
• Integrated Intel High Definition Audio
• DDR3 memory (up to 1600 MHz).

Now consider each of the families individually.

Home PC Chipsets

The logic of building the rulers is approximately the same as that in the sixth series. In the class of desktop home PCs, the top will be the Z-series with great overclocking potential. The flagship of the series, Z77, like the previous “mass” charged model Z68, will be able to satisfy the needs of most demanding home users - well, for maniacs, there is still the X79. H77 is a workhorse with a target audience of whom to go, not checkers.
All chipsets support Intel Rapid Storage Technology. Rumors about the death of the PCI bus in home motherboards turned out to be somewhat exaggerated - PCI slots are still present, but the PCI controller is moved outside the chipset and made by a third-party manufacturer - a sure sign of its soon retirement.

	Z77	Z75	H77
PCI Express 3.0 Slots	1x16 or 1x8 + 1x8 or 1x8 + 2x4 *	1x16 or 1x8 + 1x8 or 1x8 + 2x4	1x16 or 1x8 + 2x4
PCI Express 2.0 Lines	8	8	8
SATA2 Ports (SATA3)	4 (2)	4 (2)	4 (2)
USB2 Ports (USB3)	10 (4)	10 (4)	10 (4)
Intel Smart Response Technology	Yes	Not	Yes
CPU overclocking	Yes	Yes	Not

* Hereinafter, the second PCI Express x4 is dedicated to the Thunderbolt bus .

Chipsets for business PC

In the line of business chipsets, as usual, the focus is on remote monitoring and administration, as well as corporate security. Here is the flagship vPro technology (we already talked about it in detail ), Intel Standard Manageability (ISM) and Intel Small Business Advantage (SBA). The younger B75 chipset in the line is positioned as a solution for small and medium-sized businesses; more expensive analogs are proposed for use in large corporate networks with developed centralized management of IT infrastructure.
Unlike home chipsets, corporate ones still contain a "native" PCI controller, but, I think, this is also not for long.

	Q77	Q75	B75
PCI Express 2.0 Lines	8	8	8
SATA2 Ports (SATA3)	4 (2)	5 (1)	5 (1)
USB2 Ports (USB3)	10 (4)	10 (4)	8 (4)
Intel Smart Response Technology	Yes	Not	Not
Management and Monitoring Technologies	vPro / ISM / SBA	ISM	SBA

Mobile Chipsets

In the category of mobile chipsets, the HM77 has the richest functionality, while the UM77, on the contrary, has a chipset with reduced functionality but low power consumption. In general, we can say that mobile chipsets in a somewhat reduced form inherit the capabilities and technologies of their desktop counterparts, naturally reflecting the nuances of mobility.

	Hm75	Hm76	Hm77	UM77	QM77	QS77
PCI Express 2.0 Lines	8	8	8	4	8	8
SATA2 Ports (SATA3)	4 (2)	4 (2)	4 (2)	3 (1)	4 (2)	4 (2)
USB2 Ports (USB3)	12 (0)	8 (4)	10 (4)	6 (4)	10 (4)	10 (4)
Intel Rapid Storage	Not	Not	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

The list of optional features of mobile chipsets also includes:

• Intel Anti-theft Technology (protection against theft of the laptop);
• Intel Rapid Start Technology (advanced hibernation mode and faster exit from it);
• Intel Smart Connect Technology (support for network activity during sleep).

Dry residue

So what does Intel have the honor to offer in the seventh family? There is probably only one significant feature - PCI Express 3.0. Less substantial, but very pleasant - native, not mounted USB 3.0. Everything else almost without changes migrated, at least from the sixth series. Is it a lot or a little? Say, for the transition from the same Intel 6x - most likely, not enough. However, let's not forget that the chipset is just a nice addition to the processor. If the new Ivy Bridge processor family is as popular as the previous one, then the Intel 7x chipsets will also forget the lack of memory gain, and only 2 high-speed SATA ports.
So the future of the seventh series of chipsets depends entirely on how much the new “ivy bridge” from Intel will appeal to users.