AMD reveals next-generation desktop chipset details
AMD's latest roadmap details much of its next-generation chipset architecture, codenamed RD890 and RD880. The pinnacle feature of this new architecture is the inclusion of an input/output memory management unit, or IOMMU.
An IOMMU is a device that supports mapping memory addresses. Since an IOMMU holds many benefits in server applications, it can sometimes be found in high end server hardware, but at the moment no desktop chipsets support IOMMU.
The IOMMU connects a DMA-capable I/O bus to the primary storage memory of a PC. The memory management unit maps virtual addresses to physical addresses, similar to what a CPU memory management performs. Although presently there are few desktop applications that can benefit from IOMMU setups, the technology can greatly benefit virtualization applications.
A complete description of AMD's IOMMU is available on AMD's website.
AMD RD890 will offer few other features over the existing AMD 790 chipset, with the exception of a new of a cryptic "DirectX 10 accelerator."
To keep up with the new NVIDIA chipsets, AMD will launch an intermediate step between RX880 and the existing RX780 (AMD 770) chipset, dubbed RX780H. This new chipset is pin-compatible with AMD 770 and AMD 790X motherboards, and is actually the first to feature the DirectX 10 accelerator.
AMD declined to let DailyTech know if this means integration of a low-end GPU for "Hybrid" Crossfire, or something totally different. RX780H is scheduled for a Fall 2008 launch.
The company is expected to launch its AMD 790G chipset later this spring, which incorporates the elements of the AMD 790 chipset with a low-end DirectX 10 integrated graphics core.
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