The Future is Now: Mainboard Makers Get Ready for Intel’s 45nm Chips, 3-Series Chipsets

It has become a good tradition for Advanced Micro Devices and Intel Corp. to alter infrastructures for high-end and performance-mainstream generation chips every twelve to eighteen months. The shifts of the infrastructures are logical, as the leading makers of central processing units (CPUs) speed up processor system bus (PSB) clock-speeds, improve memory controllers or add new capabilities that require new core-logic sets.

This year Intel plans to unveil new processors made using 45nm process technology as well as new CPUs with 1333MHz PSB with appropriate chipsets, whereas AMD plans to introduce high-speed Hyper-Transport 3.0 bus along with processors in AM2+ form-factor. Since the latter will fit into already existing AM2 mainboards, there was no real need for mainboard makers to demonstrate next-gen motherboards that do not generally differ from the already available ones. Intel, in contrast, plans to unveil a new series of core-logic sets that will support a range of new features, including the following:

• 1333MHz processor system bus;
• Dual-channel PC2-6400 (800MHz), PC3-8500 (1066MHz), PC3-10600 (1333MHz);
• Integrated graphics core with hardware support for DirectX 10 and HD video (H.264 and VC-1) playback acceleration and HDMI support;
• PCI Express 2.0 x16 with multi-GPU support (two physical x16 lanes within a memory controller hub);
• Intel performance auto-tuning technology;
• Intel turbo memory technology (Robson);
• Intel trusted execution technology (TXT);
• Intel vPro technology enhancements;
• eSATA.

The 3-series chipset family will consist of seven members – X38, P35, Q35, Q33, G35, G33 and G31 – and will be the broadest lineup of Intel’s core-logic sets for desktop processors ever announced.

The premium chipset, the X38, will be available only in Q3 and will support both 1333MHz PSB and PC3-10600 memory in addition to a variety of multi-GPU configurations along with performance auto-tuning. Core-logic sets for performance-mainstream and mainstream markets – P35, G35, G33, Q35 and Q33 – will be available in Q2 and mainboard makers are ready to show actual products on their base even now.

Abit


Abit IP35 Pro. Click to enlarge

Asustek Computer


Asus P35 WS. Click to enlarge

Biostar

Biostar TP35D3-A7 Deluxe. Click to enlarge	Biostar TP35D2-A7. Click to enlarge
Biostar G33-D2 775. Click to enlarge

Foxconn

Foxconn Intel G33 + ICH9R. Click to enlarge	Foxconn Intel Q35 + ICH9DO. Click to enlarge

Gigabyte Technology

Microstar Internatonal

MSI P35 Platinum. Click to enlarge	MSI P35 Platinum D3. Click to enlarge
MSI G33 Platinum. Click to enlarge