New Chipset: Intel X58 Express

Since Core i7 processors use absolutely new interface to connect to the North Bridge, they require a completely new chipset, to begin with. Today there is only one single chipset for the new generation processors – the new Intel X58 Express. This chipset belongs to high-performance solutions targeted for computer enthusiasts, which is actually quite logical, because Core i7 processors are also from the upper price segment.

However, despite that, Intel X58 Express is a much simpler chipset than its X-series predecessors X38 and X48. Since the memory controller has been moved to the CPU in the new platforms, the X58 North Bridge should only provide support for the PCI Express 2.0 graphics bus. The chipset retained the traditional dual-chip structure. That is why the chipset North Bridge features a QPI interface controller which connects it to the processor and supports DMI bus which is traditionally used in Intel’s core logic sets to connect two bridges.

I have to point out that Intel worked real hard on the implementation of the PCI Express 2.0 bus in the chipset North Bridge to ensure that graphics subsystems using more than one accelerator will get the best of it. Overall, chipset North Bridge has 36 PCI Express lanes that may be distributed between four graphics card slots. As a result, PCI Express x16 slots on X58 based mainboards can work in 1x16, 2x16 or even 4x8 configurations. Moreover, Core i7 mainboards may support not only ATI Crossfire technology, but also Nvidia SLI. Although SLI technology will only be supported in several X58 based solutions that have successfully passed Nvidia certification. These mainboards will cost more because of the corresponding payoffs to Nvidia for SLI certification.

South Bridge of the X58 Express chipset is the ICH10 that we already know from the Intel P45 core logic. This chip supports 12 USB 2.0 ports, 6 SATA ports with RAID, built-in Gigabit network MAC and High Definition Audio interface. ICH10 also supports 6 additional PCI Express lanes and regular PCI bus.

Overall, Intel X58 Express has no revolutionary technologies and simply supports the new LGA1366 Core i7 processors. However, despite the fact that the chipset North Bridge has become much “lighter” due to removed memory controller, its heat dissipation didn’t get and lower than that of the LGA775 chipsets. And even though Intel top it with a passive aluminum heatsink on their own mainboard for Core i7 processors, it may get dangerously hot during intensive work. That is why the manufacturers of mainboards for computer enthusiasts will definitely use the opportunity to equip their solutions with sophisticated and impressively looking cooling systems with heatpipes and fans that may come in very handy during QPI overclocking and when multiple graphics card configurations are employed.