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Chipset

 
Sci-Tech Dictionary: chipset
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(′chip′set)

(computer science) A number of integrated circuits, packaged as one unit, which perform one or more related functions.

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Computer Desktop Encyclopedia: chipset
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A group of chips designed to work as a unit to perform a function. For example, a modem chipset contains all the primary circuits for transmitting and receiving. A PC chipset provides the electronic interfaces between all subsystems (see PC chipset for illustration).

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Wikipedia: Chipset
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A chipset or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.

Computers

Diagram of a motherboard chipset

In computing, the term chipset is commonly used to refer to a set of specialized chips on a computer's motherboard or an expansion card. In personal computers the first chipset for the IBM PC AT was the NEAT chipset by Chips and Technologies for the Intel 80286 CPU.

Based on Intel Pentium-class microprocessors, the term chipset often refers to a specific pair of chips on the motherboard: the northbridge and the southbridge. The northbridge links the CPU to very high-speed devices, especially main memory and graphics controllers, and the southbridge connects to lower-speed peripheral buses (such as PCI or ISA). In many modern chipsets, the southbridge actually contains some on-chip integrated peripherals, such as Ethernet, USB, and audio devices.

A chipset is usually designed to work with a specific family of microprocessors. Because it controls communications between the processor and external devices, the chipset plays a crucial role in determining system performance.

The manufacturer of a chipset often is independent from the manufacturer of the motherboard. Current manufacturers of chipsets for PC-compatible motherboards include NVIDIA, AMD, VIA Technologies, SiS, Intel and Broadcom. Apple computers and Unix workstations from Sun, NeXT, SGI, and others have traditionally used custom-designed chipsets; now that Sun and Apple both have x86 processors in at least some of their lines of products, they have begun to use standard PC chipsets in some of their computers. Some server manufacturers also develop custom chipsets for their products.

In the 1980s, Chips and Technologies, founded by Gordon Campbell, pioneered the manufacturing of chipsets for PC-compatible computers. Computer systems produced since then often share commonly used chipsets, even across widely disparate computing specialties. For example, the NCR 53C9x, a low-cost chipset implementing a SCSI interface to storage devices, could be found in Unix machines such as the MIPS Magnum, embedded devices, and personal computers.

In home computers, game consoles and arcade game hardware of the 1980s and 1990s, the term chipset was used for the custom audio and graphics chips. Examples include the Commodore Amiga's Original Chip Set or SEGA's System 16 chipset.

Major x86 chipsets and their manufacturers

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See also: Comparison of AMD chipsets
  • ATI (acquired by AMD in 2006) developed chipsets for Intel[1] and AMD processors, as well as graphics processors:[2]
    • Chipsets for AMD processors:
    • Chipsets for Intel processors:
      • ATI CrossFire Xpress 3200 (for Intel Core 2 Duo)
      • ATI Radeon Xpress 1250 (with integrated graphics for Notebooks)
      • ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 (with integrated graphics for Notebooks)
      • ATI Radeon Xpress 200, 200M (integrated graphics for Notebooks)
      • ATI SB600 Series (southbridge)
    • Graphics processors:
      • ATI Radeon HD 5870,HD 4xxx Series, HD 3800, HD 3600, HD 3400, HD 2900, HD 2700, HD 2600 XT, HD 2600, HD 2400, HD 2300
      • ATI Radeon X2300, X1950, X1900, X1800, X1650, X1600, X1550, X1300, X1050
      • ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3600, HD 3400, HD 2700, HD 2600 XT, HD 2600, HD 2400 XT
      • ATI Mobility Radeon X2500, X1900, X1800, X1700, X1600, X1450, X1400, X1350, X1300
      • ATI Mobility Radeon 9800, 9700, 9600, 9550, 9200, 9000, 7500
      • ATI Mobility Radeon
      • ATI Mobility FireGL V7800, V5200, V5000, V3100
      • ATI Mobility FireGL T2
      • ATI Mobility FireGL 9000
See also: Comparison of ATI chipsets
  • Intel produces chipsets for its own line of processors:[3]
    • i845E/GV: Bus 533 MHz, AGP4x, 2GB DDR PC2700 max
    • i850e, i855G (855GME for the Pentium M)
    • i865G/P: (4 GiB dual-channel DDR, 533 MHz FSB, AGP8x, serial ATA)
    • i875p = optimized i865
    • E7205 (for Pentium 4 servers), E7500/E7501/E7505 (for Xeon servers)), E7520/E7525/E7530 (for dual Xeon servers)
    • 910GML/GMZ, 915GM/PM, 945PM/GM
    • 910GL, 915P/PL/G/GL/GV, 925X/XE, 945P/PL/G/GZ, 955X (for Pentium D/XE)
    • 945GC, 963Q, 965P/G/Q, 975X (for Intel Core 2 Duo)
    • P35 Express (for Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad/Extreme)
    • Intel G31 Express (supports DDR2, officially supports up to 1066 MHz System Bus)
    • Intel G33 Express (supports DDR2 and DDR3)
    • Intel G35 Express (supports only DDR2)[4]
    • Intel X38
    • Intel X48
    • Intel P43
    • Intel G43
    • Intel Q43
    • Intel B43
    • Intel P45
    • Intel G45
    • Intel Q45
    • Intel P55
    • Intel Q55
    • Intel X58
See also: List of Intel chipsets
See also: Intel Xeon chipsets
  • NVIDIA produces chipsets for AMD and Intel processors, as well as graphics processors:[5][6]
    • Chipsets:
      • nForce 1
      • nForce2: Ultra 400Gb, Ultra 400R, Ultra 400.
      • nForce3: Go, Professional.
      • nForce4: SLI Intel, Series AMD, SLI/XE Ultra Intel, Intel x16.
      • nForce 500: 520, SLI/570/550 AMD, 590SLI AMD, 570 SLI Intel , 590 SLI Intel.
      • nForce 600: 650i, SLI/650i Ultra, 680a SLI, 680 SLI/680i LT SLI.
      • nForce 700: 780i SLI, 790i SLI
    • Graphics cards:
      • TNT: TNT2 Pro, TNT2 Ultra, TNT2 Model 64 (M64), TNT Model 64 (M64) Pro
      • Vanta, Vanta LT
      • GeForce 256
      • GeForce 2: GTS, Pro, TI, Ultra, MX, MX100, MX200, MX400, MX Integrated graphics
      • GeForce 3: TI200, TI500
      • GeForce 4: MX 420, MX440, MX440-SE, MX460, MX Integrated graphics, MX 4000, TI 4200, TI4400, TI4600, TI4800, TI4800SE
      • GeForce 5: FX5100, FX5200, FX 5200LE, FX 5200 Ultra, FX5500, FX5600, FX5600 Ultra, FX5600 SE, FX5600 XT, FX5700, FX5700 VE, FX5700 Ultra, FX5700 LE, FX5800, FX5800 Ultra, FX5900, FX5900 Ultra, FX5900 XT, FX5900 ZT, FX5950 Ultra, PCX 5300, PCX 5750, PCX 5900
      • GeForce 6: 6100, 6150 LE, 6150, 6200, 6200 LE, 6200 TC, 6200 SE TC, 6500, 6600, 6600 LE, 6600 VE, 6600 GT, 6610 XL, 6700 XL, 6800, 6800 LE, 6800 XE, 6800 XT, 6800 GS, 6800 GT, 6800 Ultra
      • GeForce 7: 7100 GS, 7200 GS, 7300 LE, 7300 SE, 7300 GS, 7300 GT, 7500 LE, 7600 GS, 7600 GT, 7800 GS, 7800 GT, 7800GTX, 7900 GS, 7900 GTO, 7900 GT, 7900 GTX, 7950 GX2
      • GeForce 8: 8300 GS, 8400 GS, 8500 GT, 8600 GT, 8600 GTS, 8800 GT, 8800 GTS, 8800 GTX, 8800 Ultra
      • GeForce 9: 9800GX2
      • GeForce 200: GTX 280, GTX 260, GTX 295
      • Quadro 2: MXR, DCC, PRO, EX
      • Quadro 4: 200, 400 NVS, 380, 500, 550, 580, 700, 750, 780, 900, 980 XGL
      • Quadro FX: 330, 350, 500, 540, 550, 560, 600, 700, 1000, 1100, 1300, 1400, 1500, 2000, 3000, 3000G, 3400, 3450, 3500, 4000 SDI, 4400, 4400G, 4500, 4500SDI, 4500X2, 5500, 5500SDI
      • Quadro NVS: 200, 210s, 280, 280SD, 400, 440, 280PCI, 285
See also: Comparison of Nvidia chipsets
  • Silicon Integrated Systems produces chipsets for Intel and AMD processors (and formerly for Cyrix processors):[7]
    • SiS 645, 648
    • SiS 650, 651, 655, M672
    • SiS 735, 740, 760
  • VIA Technologies produces chipsets for Intel and AMD processors:[8]
    • VIA KT133, KT133A
    • VIA KT266A: FSB 200/266 MHz, AGP4x
    • VIA KT333
    • VIA Apollo KT400A
    • VIA P4X400
    • VIA K8T400M
See also: VIA chipsets

Notes

  1. ^ As a result of ATI's merger with AMD, Intel refused to renew ATI's license to develop chipsets for Intel processors in 2007 (Article from Bit-tech)
  2. ^ ATI chipset product list
  3. ^ Intel chipset product list.
  4. ^ Intel G35 Express Chipset Overview
  5. ^ NVIDIA chipset product list.
  6. ^ ULi chipset product list (ULI was purchased by NVIDIA).
  7. ^ SiS chipset product list.
  8. ^ VIA chipset product list.

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