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
If there's no native USB3 support, what is the incentive for consumers to buy boards using this chipset, as oppsed to the 8xx series (unless of course you want Zambezi support)?
Will any of these 9-series chipsets support Hybrid CrossFireX?
I think either Complement or Compliment will work unless they are using it as a reference to complement something, like a bottle of wine with a meal ;)
Too bad this is'nt backwards compatible to enjoy the latest chipset features on a older generation of processors, but makes moving on into new CPU's alot easyer.
This is a new chipset that supports up coming cpu's good to see something on the drawing board and in the works so to speak, Just gotta wait and see what happens.
I agree, the USB 3.0 should definitely be integrated.:shadedshu
And why have DX11, when the additional features compared to DX 10 all require so much power that an IGP will not be able to pull the load anyway?
SB does.
As far as i can see i se 990FX who easy'ly can get a sb 9xx for usb 3.
if its 890/790FX with a die shrink i wudnt say no tnx, 790/890FX is already pretty solid! maybe new pci-e rev support, anyways with a die shrink these chipsets would require almost no cooling at all!
SSSE3 - in tools
SSE4.1 - in tools
SSE4.2 - in tools
AES acceleration - in tools
PCLMULQDQ - in tools
AVX - will be in tools by launch
The only 2 remaining instructions are XOP and FMA4. I don't have status on them because I can't comment on tool vendors' products.
So there won't be "bulldozer applications", pretty much everything will be a bulldozer application.It's Llano, not Liano. It uses a different socket because you have to route the video out of the package.