Discussing PCIe 4.0 on Z490 chipset
Discussing PCIe 4.0 on Z490 chipset
I'm planning to assemble a new PC around the 3080 and believe Intel would be a better CPU choice compared to the card I'm considering. Unless high-resolution benchmarks prove no difference between Ryzen and Intel at that level, I'll opt for Ryzen. But if Intel makes more sense, I want a board that supports PCIe 4 for both GPUs and SSDs, so I can take full advantage of Rocket Lake-S later. *By the way, if you need a PCIe 4 compatible SSD, does it function identically to GPUs in a PCIe 3 slot at reduced speed?* Thanks!
Typically Z490 boards include PCIe 4.0 switches which should be activated via Rocket Lake-S if Intel decides to add 4.0 to desktops. If you're not interested in buying right now, there might be updates from AMD about Zen 3 soon. According to the rumors, it could match Intel's gaming performance and ensure PCIe 4.0 support on B550 and X570 chipsets, even though it will operate at 3.0 speeds.
Technically at least, the chipset can handle it, though the current CPU isn't. Once Ampere launches, Gen 3 should provide sufficient bandwidth for the 3080. For a casual user, the drive won't significantly impact speed unless you're fully utilizing Gen 3 capabilities.
With today's equipment the distinction isn't noticeable at 1440p, and I think it will stay the same even for the 3070 if it matches the 2080ti