Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
4.24
shows the specific ICH chips that are used with 3x and 4x series chipsets.
Table 4.24. Intel 3x/4x/5x Chipset I/O Controller Hub (ICH) Specifications (aka South Bridge)
Intel 5x Series Chipsets
The Intel 5x series of chipsets is designed to support the original Core i Series processors. These
processors and chipsets have a distinctly different design from previous Intel chipsets and represent a
new level of system integration. In fact, the 5x series actually has two completely different subseries,
with the first two examples being the X58 IOH (I/O Hub) introduced in November 2008, and the P55
PCH (Platform Controller Hub) introduced in September 2009. Perhaps the biggest difference
between the 5x series chipsets and its predecessors is that the memory controller is no longer part of
the chipset, having been moved directly into the Core i Series processors instead. Placing the memory
controller in the processor means that the memory modules are directly connected to the processor
instead of the North Bridge chipset component, allowing for a dedicated connection between the
processor and memory. Although this sounds like (and is) a good idea, it's not a new one. This is
something that AMD introduced in the Athlon 64 as far back as 2003.
With the memory controller integrated into the processor, the only function left for the North Bridge is
to act as an interface to the PCIe video card slots. Because the North Bridge no longer controls
memory, Intel changed the name from MCH to IOH in the 5x series chipsets that support socket
LGA1366 processors.
Figure 4.23
shows the block diagram of a system with a socket LGA1366 Core
i Series processor on a motherboard with an X58 Express chipset. In the diagram, you can also see
the use of the traditional ICH (I/O Controller Hub), which supports interfacing to SATA, USB, and
other components in the system.
