Budget X299 motherboards may have fewer PCIe lanes and dual-channel memory

PCGamesN reports Intel will give motherboard makers the option to create cheaper X299 motherboards that lack certain high-end features like quad-channel memory support, and/or with fewer PCIe lanes than the standard motherboards. These motherboards could be a good fit for the Kaby Lake-X CPUs, but limit upgradeability of course.

I asked if that mean we could expect to see more price-conscious X299 boards designed to cater for the Kaby Lake-X gang which eschew the expense of using quad-channel memory and operate with dual-channel memory support alone?

“Yes," said [Intel's Frank] Soqui,"because those manufacturers know their customers better than we do. That lets the motherboard manufacturers differentiate.”

It will be interesting to see whether any manufacturers actually take the plunge creating cut-down X299 boards down the line. While it might remove the price premium over the Z270 boards, it also limits the upgrading potential. But it would just need one to take the risk and for it to be a success to make the X299 the only Intel platform gamers need consider.