Although plenty of USB 3.0 devices have launched since the specification was finalized in late 2008, Intel and AMD have been slow to deliver embedded support. To date, neither chipmaker provides native USB 3.0 support, forcing motherboard manufacturers to purchase third-party controllers.
Fortunately, this shouldn't be the case for much longer as both camps ready their USB 3.0 parts. Yesterday we learned that Intel plans to include USB 3.0 support in its 7-Series Panther Point chipset, due sometime during the first half of 2012 alongside its 22nm Ivy Bridge processors.
Not to be outdone by its counterparts in Santa Clara, AMD revealed this week that its upcoming A75 and A70M FCH Fusion chipsets will have an integrated USB 3.0 controller. What's more, AMD spokesman Phil Hughes told PCWorld those chips are already shipping to system builders.
It's unclear what APUs the A75 and A70M will be paired with, but we imagine AMD would cover its existing Ontario and Zacate APUs. Both parts are typically used in compact, budget-oriented notebooks and nettops, which would directly benefit from the savings of an embedded controller.