Stuart:
If one is now buying Intel's latest RDRAM solution, the 820E chipset, not for better performance but as Intel's puts it:
"1) enables a more efficient layout for innovation platform designs such as flex ATX, and 2) allows greater memory granularity for better cost/performance".
If I start to buy a computer for these reasons, please put a gun to my head and shoot me.
john
developer.intel.com;
The Intel© Platform Advantage
The Internet and advanced applications are creating opportunities to think in new ways. Intel has risen to the challenge by designing a platform that meets today's business needs while still designed for compatibility with emerging technologies. Intel's new platform architecture delivers the superior performance and high scalability required for today's exciting e-Business and e-Home applications and scalability for the future. Intel's comprehensive efforts to enable the industry ensure fast deployment of next-generation platforms, maximizing your competitive advantage. Our world-class platform validation creates a robust foundation for emerging applications, while minimizing deployment risks.
Product Overview
Intel has developed the next generation Hub Architecture platform with innovative I/O enhancement for added performance on and off the Internet. Optimizing performance of the Intel© Pentium© III processor, the Intel© 820E chipset builds on the superior buffering and deeper pipeline developed for the Intel© 820 chipset.
Performance and Headroom
Intel Hub Architecture delivers twice the I/O bandwidth as previous generation northbridge/southbridge technology. With dedicated data paths to fully optimize the additional bandwidth, the Intel 820E chipset offers significant gains in today's performance PC market, with the headroom to grow in the future.
The 82820E Memory Controller Hub (MCH) offers maximum flexibility, supporting single or dual processors with performance RDRAM* memory, and AGP4X graphics for highest performance graphics fast writes.
The Enhanced 82801BA I/O Controller Hub (ICH2) utilizes the latest I/O integration technology to provide cost savings and flexibility in system design and upgradeability.
Two USB controllers double the bandwidth to 24Mbps across four ports, representing a significant increase over integrated 1-4 port hubs at 12Mbps.
AC97 audio supports full surround sound with up to 6 channels for enhanced audio, utilizing the same modem implementations as ICH.
The Integrated LAN Capability can be enabled for three distinct networking environments (1Mbps home PNA, 10/100Mbps LAN and managed 10/100Mbps LAN). All three solutions utilize Intel© SingleDriver? Technology, a common set of drivers which simplifies network complexity and increases the ease of deployment.
ATA100 Hard Disk Drive support stands ready for the latest storage technology while remaining compatible with today's most cost-effective and popular HDD solutions. The Intel© Ultra ATA Storage Driver provides exceptional performance over standard ATA drivers.
RDRAM* provides the memory bandwidth necessary to obtain optimal performance from the Intel© Pentium© III processor, as well as a high-performance AGP graphics controller. The RDRAM supports PC600, PC700, and PC800, delivering 1.6 GB/s of memory bandwidth in the PC800 - twice the peak memory bandwidth of 100MHz SDRAM systems. The 16-bit RDRAM interface, unlike the 64-bit interface of other memory technologies, offers two key advantages: 1) enables a more efficient layout for innovation platform designs such as flex ATX, and 2) allows greater memory granularity for better cost/performance
The AGP4X Interface allows graphics controllers to access main memory at over 1 GB/s - twice that of previous AGP platforms. With RDRAM and Pentium III processors, AGP4X delivers the next level of 3D graphics performance.
The Intel 820E chipset offers flexible design, memory options and configuration possibilities that not only optimize performance, but that provide opportunities for easy upgrades and headroom for the future |
