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Hardware Intel Prepares New Value Chipsets
Anh Tuan Huynh (Blog) - June 19, 2007 3:04 PM
Print E-mail del.icio.us 7 comment(s) - last by 265586888.. on Jun 22 at 4:15 AM
Intel G31 and P31 Express to replace 946GZ, 946PL and 046G Express

Intel plans to release two value-level chipsets next quarter – the G31 and P31 Express. The new G31 and P31 Express chipsets replace the current 946GZ, 946PL and 945G Express offerings. The G31 and P31 Express slot below the G33 Express, but are not Bearlake derivatives. The Intel G31 and P31 Express chipsets are actually 945-generation derivatives with added support for Yorkfield and Wolfdale processors.

Features of the G31 and P31 Express chipsets remain similar to the 945GZ, 945PL and 945G Express chipsets. The G31 and P31 Express support Intel processors with a 1066 MHz front-side bus. Official support for 1333 MHz front-side bus processors will not arrive until Q1’2008, after Intel completes validation. The new value chipsets support DDR2-800 memory.

Additionally, Intel pairs the G31 and P31 Express chipsets with the ICH7, ICH7R and ICH7DH south bridges.

Differentiating the G31 and P31 Express chipsets is the integrated graphics core found on the G31 Express. Intel equips the G31 Express with a Graphics Media Accelerator 3100, or GMA 3100, graphics core. The GMA 3100 graphics core is essentially the previous GMA 950 rehashed and improved with a new name. The GMA 3100 graphics core lacks hardware T&L and Intel Clear Video Technology. Pixel and vertex shader functions are purely software-based on the GMA 3100.

Expect Intel to unveil the G31 and P31 Express chipsets next quarter.

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ICH7
By hellokeith on 6/19/2007 5:50:20 PM , Rating: 1
I'm surprised they are still using ICH7 and its derivatives, even in budget boards. Could this be due to clearing out of older chipset inventory?




RE: ICH7
By smilingcrow on 6/19/2007 7:12:01 PM , Rating: 2
"I'm surprised they are still using ICH7 and its derivatives, even in budget boards. Could this be due to clearing out of older chipset inventory?"

It could be down to manufacturing availability. They have to juggle capacity with various process nodes and they may simply have an excess capacity at say 90nm for a while, so will use this chipset. It must be a quite a balancing act when you are upgrading plants so frequently to get the mix right. I’ve wondered before whether certain products live beyond their natural life cycle due to capacity issues. Even Intel have production issues at times and are forced to use 3rd party chipsets, so this theory isn’t completely unfounded.


RE: ICH7
By IntelUser2000 on 6/22/2007 1:37:35 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
They have to juggle capacity with various process nodes and they may simply have an excess capacity at say 90nm for a while, so will use this chipset.


It may not be as MCH/ICH has different process tech. The latest P35 chipset and ICH9 uses 90nm and 130nm respectively.


RE: ICH7
By mathew7 on 6/20/2007 3:37:46 AM , Rating: 2
I'm not sure, but if ICH7 was for 945 and ICH8 for 965, then it's a design issue. It would cost them too much to redesign the interface of the 945 to use 965's ICH(8). At least this is what I think, but I may be wrong.


So
By Sungpooz on 6/19/2007 4:23:09 PM , Rating: 2
Now they're attacking the lower-budget consumers to purchase from intel instead of AMD?...




RE: So
By icemansims on 6/19/2007 5:10:38 PM , Rating: 3
Why not? It make sound business sense. go after the market that you're weak in when you hold all the cards in the ones you're strong in.


By 265586888 on 6/22/2007 4:15:34 AM , Rating: 1
An Intel " 046G Express" chipset...

Nice.




"If you look at the last five years, if you look at what major innovations have occurred in computing technology, every single one of them came from AMD. Not a single innovation came from Intel." -- AMD CEO Hector Ruiz in 2007











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