This is interesting, a low-end consumer chipset with a 128-bit SDRAM memory interface:
ali.com.tw
New Chip Set Provides 2-3X Performance Improvement for K6 and Other Socket 7 CPUs
Exceptional Graphics In Aladdin 7 Breathes New Life into Socket 7 Platforms
SAN JOSE, CA, USA - NOVEMBER 8, 1999 - Acer Laboratories Inc., (ALi) and ArtX Inc. (ArtX) today announced the new Aladdin 7 core logic chipset for the emerging PC market segment of “Performance Consumer PCs.” The Aladdin 7 Northbridge and Southbridge chipset integrates ArtX's advanced 3D geometry and graphics accelerator into a full-featured NB/SB chipset, delivering benchmarked performance 2 to 3 times greater than other Socket 7-based systems when running popular 3D game titles. The Aladdin 7 128-bit architecture delivers extraordinary 3D game playing, enhanced CPU performance, and a rich Internet experience to consumers at an unprecedented price point. The product, a joint effort between ALi and ArtX, will be sold by ALi along with ALi's portfolio of core logic and peripheral ICs.
The problem with the low-cost consumer PC and the “Free PC” today, is that end users must sacrifice graphics performance to get the low system price,” commented ALi President Dr. Chin Wu. “Since most of these PCs are going into homes, where PC-oriented entertainment is prevalent, this low performance is disappointing to users. With the new capabilities delivered by our Aladdin 7, consumers can have game-enthusiast performance at consumer-oriented price points.”
Typically, game-oriented performance PC systems sell for several hundred dollars more than low-end consumer PCs due to the extra cost of adding high-performance 3D graphics accelerators and memory, higher performance core logic, cache, and higher-end CPUs. By providing a high-performance 3D geometry graphics engine in the chipset, ALi and ArtX set a new standard of performance in the value market segment.
Highly Integrated Chip Set Delivers 2-3 Times Better Performance in 3D
ALi's highly integrated Aladdin 7 chip set includes the M1561 Northbridge with 2D/3D graphics accelerator and the M1535D Southbridge with integrated Super I/O, audio and soft modem. The M1561 supports the AMD K6-II and K6-III microprocessors as well as all other socket 7 CPUs. 100MHz FSB is supported, with configurations from 8MB to 1GB of main memory.
One key to a total low-cost system solution is memory cost, and the Aladdin 7 graphics accelerator requires no external frame buffer memory. The unique 128-bit memory pipeline scheme in the M1561 Northbridge allows the 3D accelerator to share system memory with graphics and the CPU, yet deliver 2 to 3 times the performance of comparable chip sets in 3D game benchmarks. This 128-bit Shared Memory Architecture also improves CPU performance for computation-intensive tasks by delivering high bandwidth (1.6GB/second) and low latency on data accesses. For example, the Aladdin 7 with a 400MHz K6-III CPU runs the Viper Racing? game benchmark at 46.4fps compared with VIA's MVP 4 at 16.1fps.
“The 3D technology we have designed delivers measurable performance advantages resulting in unparalleled game-playing capability. We have far exceeded today's consumer PC 3D performance expectations, allowing the consumer to buy a PC with exceptional performance that will remain competitive for several years after the purchase,” explained David Orton, President of ArtX, Inc. “This solution saves the consumer money years after purchase since there is no need to upgrade the 3D subsystem. By comparison, today's low-cost consumer PC alternatives demand an add-in upgrade if users want to play the latest and hottest games.”
Availability:
The chipset is sampling today. Production is scheduled for Q1 2000. |
