Explaining chipsets

Although processor speed is the most common reference point used to compare the various personal computers in the market, equally important is the logic chipset the processor plugs into on its motherboard. The chipset not only affects a computer's price, but also its performance and eventual upgradability. About three-quarters of the systems in today's market use one or another in Intel's chipsets. The differences between them are listed below:

INTEL CHIPSETS

First we will look at Intel's chipsets developed for the Pentium and Pentium MMX class of processor.

The 430FX PCIset is the oldest of the variations and was temporarily known as Trident FX or Triton II. It was also the last chipset to carry the Triton brand name, which Intel discontinued in mid-1996. It supports EDO (Extended Data Out) memory and pipeline burst SRAM (static RAM cache memory), but doesn't support newer innovations such as SDRAM (synchronous DRAM) or Universal Serial Bus (USB) architecture.

The 430VX PCIset was recently the most likely to show up on systems designed for the home market. It supported EDO RAM, pipeline burst SRAM, SDRAM and USB as well as "concurrent PCI" (which allows simultaneous activity in CPU, ISA expansion bus and PCI local bus). The 430VX also allowed for implementation of shared memory buffer architecture (also known as unified memory architecture) which permitted some system manufacturers to use the system's base memory to augment the video controller in place of more expensive video memory. This was a low end solution that causes the system to run more slowly. Presently, the board is considered obsolete and is discontinued.

The 430TX PCIset was introduced earlier this year. It was designed as the new target for everyone buying a new Pentium MMX-based system. Like the 430VX the 430TX chipset supports EDO RAM, SDRAM and USB and concurrent PCI. It adds support for the Wired for Management Initiative --the ability to place sensors on a motherboard that would allow corporations to engage in remote diagnostics and for Ultra DMA -- a scheme developed in conjunction with hard drive manufacturers to boost the throughput of enhanced IDE drives to 33 MB/s. The 430 TX is designed for use in both laptop and desktop systems.

The 440LX AGP chipset was released in late August. The first chipset designed primarily for the Pentium II (i.e., the Pentium Pro and with MMX technology), the 440LX has several advanced features including support for SDRAM, DIB, Ultra DMA, AGP, ACPI and Quad Port Acceleration.

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