Thread: Chipsets for AMD processors

In early August 2005, the inevitable happened - one of the most successful and long-lived of all modern computer history computing platforms - AMD Socket 462 (Socket A) officially "thing of the fly. It is a pity, of course, but being inexorably - now increasingly important given the new technologies, the most significant of which, as a defining image of a modern computer, and his immediate future - tyre PCI Express system. From their predecessors, it is high capacity and excellent opportunities scalability.

In each channel for PCI-E data are transmitted simultaneously in both directions on the two pairs of wires (or the tracks on the printed circuit motherboard) for a two-way pattern. Currently, the theoretical capacity of one simplex channel of 2.5 Gbit / s in one direction or 5 Gbit / s in both. This speed is more than enough for use as the internal system bus.

And even if today, despite more than a year-by-year history of its development, the share of PCI Express-chipsets are still small, however, their future - it is already the second semester of 2006 is expected excess of the total number of motherboards for the AMD Athlon 64 processors with support PCI Express Boards of maintaining the traditional graphical interface AGP8X.

NVIDIA
NVIDIA nForce4 chipset not only became the first really appeared on the market chipset for AMD K8 platform with support for PCI Express but also the most functional among all known competitors. Namely functionality and determined "person" for AMD64 chipsets because of the fact that their memory controller integrated into the CPU, the performance of almost all modern chipsets same. It is an excellent "functional" nForce4 chipset was the reason that they are now the basis for the "masthead" motherboards for the Athlon 64 processors in the performance of Socket 939.

NForce4 chipset is designed not to "scratch", but rather based on the successfull nForce3 250Gb. Also, like its predecessor, it consists of a single chip MCP containing everything peripherals and communication controllers. It seems that for the AMD64 platform chipset such scheme is the best, because there is no memory controller. On the other hand, the relatively large size resulting chip (10.5 x 8.1 mm) leads to a smaller exit able crystals than the traditional separation provides a solution to the southern and northern bridge. NVIDIA nForce4 chipset line represented by three products. The basic version is called "simple" nForce4, with the expanded functionality version - nForce4 Ultra, and finally, intuitive improvement distinguishes "masthead" version - nForce4 SLI.

All major tyre nForce4 divided, which guarantees a comfortable "disperse" processor (bus HyperTransport), without affecting the rest of tyre: PCI Express, SATA or PCI. In addition, the chipset supports 10 ports USB2.0 (while all other manufacturers limited to eight ports) and built-Gigabit Ethernet Controller.

Version nForce4 Ultra differs from the base faster 1000 - Gatifloxacin HyperTransport bus, as well as Gigabit network controller, containing a hardware accelerator processing network packets Active Armor (software and hardware firewall). Integrated block filtering TCP / UDP packets at the hardware level relieve the central processor of much of the work on network traffic filtering, and easy to use even for beginners software firewall protects the system from viruses or attacks from the Internet.

In addition, the bandwidth controllers SerialATA increased to 300 Mbytes / sec. In support chipsets introduced hard drives with technology NCQ (Native Command Queuing - optimized query execution), as well as feature "Hot Swap" ( "hot" disc replacement SATA). In fact, became the first nForce4 Ultra chipset, which implemented full-fledged support for the specification SerialATA II. However, it is doubtful that such a high speed SATA II will be able to be in demand in the foreseeable future, but with the new standard hub ports can be used to connect to a single port on two drive.

The most powerful (and, of course, the most expensive) changed - nForce4 SLI system provides simultaneous use of two PCI Express graphics cards NVIDIA SLI mode. The possibility of the emergence of "two graphical interfaces" in the case of PCI Express is quite simple: the usual channel PCI-E x16 physically "split" into two slots (or size PCI-E x8). In other words, unlike the "basic" and Ultra versions, chipsets nForce4 SLI configuration can change channels for PCI Express.

In fact, all the rulers nForce4 chipsets have only one more or less pronounced weakness - integrated 8 - Channel sound controller corresponds already an outdated standard AC'97 (High Definition Audio support is absent).

Very soon expected emergence of a new version of "masthead" chipset NVIDIA - nForce 4 SLI 16x. The main feature will be support for the operation of two graphics cards in SLI mode, both they will be able to work full-fledged mode PCI-E x16, not a "truncated" PCI-E x8, as is the case for the "classic" SLI nForce 4.



This was made possible following the return to the classical chipset dvuhmostovoy scheme consisting of two northern bridges: good friend to us MSR (not functionally different from the nForce4 Ultra), and his bonus "truncated" version of SPP, having only one channel PCI Express x16 and two - PCI Express x1. Our considerable dignity new chipset is the possibility of a more flexible differentiation nForce 4 different options for different market segments. Building on this trend, the company NVIDIA closer to the end of September, is preparing to release another version, and integrated chipset nForce 4, known under the code until C51. As a graphical kernel planned to use one of the options GeForce 6200 TurboCache.

VIA
In previous years leading position in the market chipsets for AMD processors held company VIA. Even now, when her position seriously shaken under the pressure of NVIDIA, VIA market share is still quite high. At the end of last year, announced the VIA K8T890 - its first chipset with PCI Express interface for the Athlon 64. However, at that time announcement was "paper-based", ie serial production of a new set of system logic is not started immediately. Moreover, the delay lasted several months, and massive supply of motherboards based on the K8T890 began only this summer.

Thus, the chipset features as a whole could be described fairly sophisticated, if not obsolete VT8237R southern bridge, which is now completed with K8T890, not allowing him to compete on an equal footing with the nForce 4. Thus, Serial ATA controller, a built-in VIA VT8237R, supports only two SATA/150 ports against four SATA/300 from nForce4 Ultra / SLI. A similar comparison can be made with regard to network controllers and chipsets. NVIDIA nForce4 has Gigabit Ethernet Controller hardware means ActiveArmor firewall, same chipset from VIA supplied with only primitive 10/100 Mbps network controller. Such a comparison is not in favor of VIA K8T890 could be held even in the support USB 2.0 ports. U chipset from VIA them only eight, while NVIDIA nForce4 has ten ports. As for the sound built, it is VIA K8T890, with the support of vosmikanalnogo AC97 sound nForce4 does not concede. A long-promised VT8251 not only not been submitted so far, but is still not known when he will appear.

However, despite the relatively modest features VIA K8T890, chipsets that can be demanded in the market. The fact is that this set of logic manufacturer sold cheaper than selling its NVIDIA nForce4 respectively motherboards based on the product from VIA and markedly cheaper facing its main competitor. An important advantage K8T890 with is the fact that he was well suited for efficient DFI, because of the ability to provide independent HyperTransport PCI taktovanie tyres and PCI Express. Thus, the dispersal of Athlon 64 for cards built on the VIA K8T890, can be done without much difficulty.

A short time later, closer to the autumn of this year, 890 - I should epic series chipsets another representative - VIA K8T890 Pro, which will be implemented technology DualGFX Express, which provides simultaneous work of two graphics cards (similar to the infamous technology NVIDIA SLI). The essence DualGFX Express is the ability to configure the 20 lanes PCI Express present in the bridge north, so as to obtain a full port PCI Express x16 and one PCI Express x4, which in its electrical parameters will be compatible with the PCI-E graphics cards.

A good complement to a discrete set of chips VIA K8T890/K8T890 Pro will be integrated version of his - VIA K8M890 with built videoyadrom DeltaChrome IGP, providing full support for DirectX 9.Towards the end of 2005 is expected to another novelty from VIA -K8T900 chipset, which will be finally been realized long ago promised full-fledged support for SLI-formula "PCI-E x8 + PCI-E x8". Officially, such construction should be referred DualGFX Express Pro. VIA K8T900 companion should be a bonus pripozdnivshiysya VT8251 south bridge, which will support SerialATA/300, NCQ, RAID level 5, additional PCI Express ports for peripherals and built-8 - the sound channel HDA class. By the way, we can already say for sure what will not be in the VT8251: VIA company believes that the integration of the MAC Gigabit network controller chipset economically and functionally indefensible, as a full-fledged (MAC + PHY), an external chip will cost less and work (on PCI bus-E x1) will be no less integrated.