Jozef, re: Timna,
Timna integrates a Coppermine core (including some amount of L2 cache), the 810/815 graphics controller (with some enhancements, I think), and an RDRAM memory controller. There is no external FSB, so I don't see how the CPU is going to be "crippled" by a slow FSB if there isn't any.
The RDRAM interface makes a lot of sense because of the low pin count and high bandwidth. Unfortunately, prices of RDRAM are rather high right now, so Intel will have to go with an external MRH-S (RDRAM-to-SDRAM translator) in the meantime.
HubLink is a private point-to-point connection between the north and south bridges of Intel's 800-series chipsets. Timna-based PCs will reuse the south bridge of Intel's chipsets, a.k.a. ICH or ICH2. ICH2 implements PCI, UltraATA-100, USB 2.0, AMR, serial, parallel, etc. Yes, HubLink runs at 266 MHz across an 8-bit channel. This is better than 66 MHz across a 32-bit channel (for example) because of the lower pin count.
By the way, I don't know where the RAMDAC goes on a Timna-based PC. I don't even know where the RAMDAC is located on an 810 chipset. Oh well.
Hope that answers all your questions.
Tenchusatsu |
