Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) Version 17.x & 18.x

Shonk wrote: if i had a z370 i would be pissed
we really should kick up a stink
as they are cutting support only because they can
there is no reason for removal of other older 300 series and ofc 200 series / 100 series

The main interest of the chipset manufacturers is not the support of old chipsets. They want to create new features for the latest or the upcoming chipsets and to develop/optimize drivers, which do 100% support these new features.
What lets you think, that the latest Intel RST drivers are and will be the best for your specific system?
All new drivers have been optimized specificly for the newest chipsets and not for older ones.
Why do you want to install a brandnew driver, which is not optimized for your system and contains features, which are not even supported by it?

 You keep making this argument but it just doesnt hold water
not really sure why you defend them on this matter
if you think for a second there is anything more than minimal differences in z390 and z490
you are misguided

Z490 is just Z390 with CNVIO2 and USB 3.1 rebranded to 3.2 there is zero difference in the sata side of things
 

I know Fernando from an another relevant page. I would not tell, that he is like "You keep making this argument but it just doesnt hold water."
I dont know, why he still stresses himself with things like that. And the chipset there is old. OLD. How much a new mobo costs. I am glad, that i switched to AMD. Edit that does not mean, that the Intel guys have to change now to an AMD platform. I only wrote those things out of my experience.

Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST) Version 17.9.1.1009 (17.9.1.1009.4) WHQL (Update)
 
www.station-drivers.com/index.php?option...2&func=select&id=605

What is the lastest RST version for Intel Z490 ? Please.

Latest RST 
Version 18.3.0.1048
Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST-VMD) Version 18.30.3.1148 WHQL (station-drivers.com)