[Rumour] Intel reportedly developing a discrete USB 3.0 controller

[zalbard]

Source: http://www.fudzilla.com/

Intel is apparently working on a discrete USB 3.0 controller that could enable it to speed up transition to the new standard before it includes it in its chipsets. A few months ago Intel announced that its 6-series chipsets will not support USB 3.0, but it seems Intel will offer the controller as an option.

According to Xbit, NEC managed to ship around three million USB 3.0 controllers since September. This doesn't sound like much, but bear in mind that very few vendors chose to offer USB 3.0 on their motherboards and demand could grow rapidly over the coming months. Gigabyte used NEC's discrete controllers to its advantage and managed to boost its motherboard sales over the past several months, so its success probably won't go unnoticed and other vendors will probably embrace USB 3.0 sooner rather than later.

Bear in mind that Intel has not officially confirmed reports that it will launch a discrete USB 3.0 controller.

More here.

Quite an odd thing to do, wouldn't they make more money making people buy new motherboards with new chipsets?

[Behemot]

Isn't it the same if you buy board with discrete or integrated controller? You still need to buy whole board under this scenario. So yes, it makes sense. If somewhere can be money easily made, Intel don't let it unnoticed...

[BrowncoatGR]

No, cost for the manufacturer increases and so does the retail price

[saaya]

makes sense... most people probably dont need or want usb3, at least not if they have to pay 10$ for it
(yeah yeah, people always say oh, only 10$? thats no problem! but then they have to chose between a board that costs 140 and one that costs 150 and most pick the one for 140 )

[ripken204]

makes sense... most people probably dont need or want usb3, at least not if they have to pay 10$ for it
(yeah yeah, people always say oh, only 10$? thats no problem! but then they have to chose between a board that costs 140 and one that costs 150 and most pick the one for 140 )

everyone at XS being the minority in this case

[Aerwidh]

everyone at XS being the minority in this case

How do you know I'm not Xtremely cheap?

[Sgt.McRuff]

How do you know I'm not Xtremely cheap?

We can tell, your budget on your avatar was xtremely cheap. Couldn't afford 8 bit color? Would of cost's to much cpu cycles eh?

usb 3.0 is something I would like to have in case I get a usb 3 device like a flash drive. As of right now I don't have any usb 3 devices right now. Its a 50/50 if would I pay more for it.

Intel or NEc, dose it matter, if they both work? I rather see Intel making usb 3.0 native on chipset, same with amd.