Tuesday, November 23rd 2010
Zambezi AM3+ Core Logic Slated for Q2-2011
AMD's upcoming "Bulldozer" architecture based processors that use a new socket type, the AM3+, are slated for Q2, 2011. To complement its launch, AMD will be launching the 9-series chipset series, consisting of four kinds of desktop chipset. The lineup starts with the AMD 990FX, the high-end 4-way CrossFireX-ready chipset, geared for high-end motherboards. Next up, is the 990X. This discrete graphics chipset is also ready for CrossFireX, but has just 16 PCI-Express 2.0 lanes to spare for graphics, platforms based on this will feature two PCI-Express x16 slots which reconfigure to electrical x8 slots when both are populated.
The third is an entry-level discrete graphics chipset that doesn't support CrossFire, but can spare one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot for discrete graphics, it's the AMD 970. Lastly, there's the 980G integrated graphics chipset, which features a DirectX 10.1 compliant IGP, which supports UVD 2.0 video acceleration. For some reason, this chipset doesn't support older AM3 processors, but only AM3+. The other chipsets in the series however, do support existing socket AM3 Athlon II and Phenom II series processors. All four northbridge chipsets support HyperTransport 3.0 processor interconnect, supporting data rates of up to 5.2 GT/s.
To back up these northbridge chipsets, are two new southbridge chips, which are compatible with any of the above northbridge chips over ALink III Express chipset bus (technically PCI-Express 2.0 x4). The SB950 is a high-end southbridge that packs a six port SATA 6 Gb/s AHCI/RAID controller which includes support for RAID 5 mode, and 14 USB 2.0 ports. The SB920 is the value southbridge part which will be paired mostly with 980G and 970. It packs a six port SATA 6 Gb/s AHCI/RAID controller, but without RAID 5 support.
Source:
AMDZone Forums
The third is an entry-level discrete graphics chipset that doesn't support CrossFire, but can spare one PCI-Express 2.0 x16 slot for discrete graphics, it's the AMD 970. Lastly, there's the 980G integrated graphics chipset, which features a DirectX 10.1 compliant IGP, which supports UVD 2.0 video acceleration. For some reason, this chipset doesn't support older AM3 processors, but only AM3+. The other chipsets in the series however, do support existing socket AM3 Athlon II and Phenom II series processors. All four northbridge chipsets support HyperTransport 3.0 processor interconnect, supporting data rates of up to 5.2 GT/s.
36 Comments on Zambezi AM3+ Core Logic Slated for Q2-2011
Currently Intel uses a piss-poor DMI link which is physically PCI-E 1.1 x4 with Intel's own low-overhead data coding scheme. That translates to just 1 GB/s per direction, 2 GB/s total. There's no bandwidth for a SATA 6 Gb/s controller or a couple of USB 3.0 controllers that are embedded in the SB/PCH.
X58 to ICH10R as well as LGA1156 CPU to PCH is DMI.
Chipset bus is the biggest bottleneck in today's systems. AMD was able to alleviate it by doubling the bandwidth, so 8-series chipsets use a PCI-E 2.0 x4, but it could only accommodate a 6-port SATA 6 Gb/s AHCI/RAID controller.
The AM3 socket has 939 pins, which means about 200 fewer pins than the intel. Yes, 1156 supports both, but you have enough pins to support video out and if you don't need it they are empty.