Core 2 Chipsets
by Abinyah Walker
The best way to gauge a processors overall performance is to take a look at more
than just the engine. You have to also look at the tires, exhaust and overall handling characteristics. That is what a chipset does for the processor, it is what bridges the engine to the rest of the car.
What intel has slated for the second half of 2006 will be based on the 975X, 955X for high-end processors and the 945 and 915 for low end computers. Still Intel is still hooked on their present line of Core Duo processors as the new best thing in the Intel Processor Lineup. The VIIV is dubbed as the new future in entrainment, but is just re-invention of Centrino with a focus on multi-media capabilities.
975X & 955 | Extreme and Express Editions Chipsets
64-bit computing
Dual core processor supporting Hyper-Threading Technology
Enhanced memory capabilities Intel Memory Pipeline Technology (MPT) up to 8GB of ECC main memory.
||| Product Brief |||
Chipset Diagram |||
Overall system interconnect enhancements include:
Supports Intel® Viiv™ Technology
800 MHz or 1066 MHz FSB
Supports dual-core processors with Hyper-Threading Technology
Support for LGA775 processor package
x16 PCI Express Interface
PCI Express* x1 Interface
Intel® Matrix Storage Technology - RAID 1, 5, 1+0
Intel® High Definition (HD) Audio
Intel® Memory Pipeline Technology
Dual-channel DDR2 Memory Support
Intel® Flex Memory Technology
Intel® Active Management Technology
Serial ATA (SATA) 3 Gb/s
945G/P/PL & 915G/GV/GL/PL/P Express Editions Chipsets
Combines the Express chipset with Hyper-Threading Technology
Supports DDR2 1066/800MHz system bus
PCI Express x16 and PCI Express x1 I/O ports
Serial ATA 3.0 Gbps
Integrated GMA 950G graphics card
||| Product Brief |||
Chipset Diagram |||
Overall system interconnect enhancements include:
Supports Intel® Viiv™ Technology
800 MHz or 1066 MHz FSB
Supports dual-core processors with Hyper-Threading Technology
Support for LGA775 processor package
x16 PCI Express Interface
PCI Express* x1 Interface
Intel® Matrix Storage Technology - RAID 1, 5, 1+0
Intel® High Definition (HD) Audio
Intel® Memory Pipeline Technology
Dual-channel DDR2 Memory Support
Intel® Flex Memory Technology
Intel® Active Management Technology
Serial ATA (SATA) 3 Gb/s
Dual-channel DDR2 Memory Support
Intel Serial Digital Video Output (SDVO)
ADD2 ports
Glossary of Terms
PCI Express
PCI Express is a 3rd generation I/O architecture where ISA and PCI were respectively the 1st and 2nd generations. A high-speed, general-purpose serial I/O interconnect, PCI Express will initially offers speeds of 2.5 Gigabits per second, support multiple widths ("lanes" of data that range from 1 to 32), and scale to the limits of copper. PCI Express will unify I/O architecture for desktop, mobile, server, communications platforms, workstations and embedded devices while also coexisting with PCI and USB connection types.
Serial ATA
The parallel ATA specification has defined the standard storage interface for PCs since the protocol was introduced in the 1980s. Parallel ATA led for three main reasons, low cost, broad operating system support, and steady evolution. Parallel ATA evolved to support higher speed and performance while maintaining backward compatibility with older ATA devices. However, for a variety of reasons, including performance headroom, cabling issues, and voltage tolerance requirements, a new storage interface is required. Therefore, the Serial ATA Working Group was formed.
