Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Intel 3x and 4x Series Chipsets
Introduced in June 2007, the 3x series chipset family (code-named Bearlake) was designed to support
the Core 2 processors in both dual- and quad-core versions. The 4x series followed in March 2008
and basically added DDR3 memory support, plus faster PCIe 2.x slots and improved integrated
graphics.
Some of the 3x and 4x series chipsets also included integrated GMA (Graphics Memory Accelerator)
graphics, and some of those include Clear Video Technology, which can enhance video playback and
support High Definition Media Interface (HDMI).
The 3x and 4x series are available in a number of versions, including some with integrated video,
support for faster CPU and memory speeds, as well as more memory and slots.
Tables 4.22
and
4.23
show the different 3x and 4x series chipsets.
Table 4.22. Intel 3x Chipset Specifications
Table 4.23. Intel 4x Chipset Specifications
The 3x and 4x series chipsets are designed as a two-chip set solution and must be combined with a
corresponding ICH chip. The ICH contains interfaces for the SATA ports (some with RAID
