Silicon Integrated Systems this week unveiled its new core-logic set supporting a list of modern technologies, but targeted at value market segment and use in inexpensive personal computers.

“The SiS649 is SiS’ latest chipset designed for the latest DDR and DDR2 memory standards and PCI Express x16, making it an ideal choice for vendors who need a high performance next-generation platform that also offers compelling value,” the company said in its statement.

SiS649 North Bridge intended for Intel Pentium 4 or Celeron microprocessors with up to 800MHz processor system bus supports single-channel DDR or DDR2 memory at speeds of up to 400MHz and 533MHz respectively in addition to PCI Express x16 port for graphics cards. SiS’ 649 chip may be paired with the company’s 965 or 965L I/O controllers via SiS’ MuTIOL 1G bus.

SiS965L features 2 PCI-Express x1 ports, 6 PCI ports, 8 USB 2.0 ports, 8-channel sound, 10/100Mb/s Ethernet, 2 Serial ATA-150 ports with hot plug functionality and RAID, 2-channel Parallel ATA-33/66/100/133. More advanced version of the chip – SiS965 – sports 2 PCI-Express x1 ports, 6 PCI ports, 4 Serial ATA-150 ports with hot plug functionality and RAID, 2-channel Parallel ATA-33/66/100/133, 10/100/1000Mb/s Ethernet, 8 USB 2.0 ports, 8-channel sound, etc.

“A single channel DDR and DDR2 solution gives vendors a much needed mainstream option,” said Daniel Chen, President and CEO of SiS.

Since DDR2 SDRAM is now priced at much higher points compared to DDR, system integrators are likely to use DDR instead of DDR2 initially. But towards the early 2005 DDR2 and DDR pricing gap may shrink and DDR2 may become a more optimal choice in terms of price/performance ratio.

Silicon Integrated Systems has been historically known for its cost-effective chipset and graphics offerings. Entry-level core-logic products from SiS are used by a wide range of PC companies around the world. With the introduction of SiS649 – the world’s first single-channel DDR2 chipset – the company has placed a bid on value market once again.

Vendor samples of SiS649 are available now, with mainboards based on the SiS649 due to hit the market at September 2004, the company indicated.