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NVIDIA May Launch Chipset for Intel Pentium 4 in Q1, Q2 2005 – Rumours.

Category: Chipsets

by Anton Shilov

[ 12/07/2004 | 06:43 PM ]

NVIDIA Corp., who recently inked cross-licensing agreement with Intel Corp., may unveil its first commercial chipset designed for Intel Pentium 4 processors as early as in late-Q1 or beginning-Q2, according to rumours coming from Taiwan.

Crush 19 to Bring SLI Enhancements to Intel Platforms

The Crush 19 chipset from NVIDIA is currently expected to support various Intel processors, including the most powerful and innovative in LGA775 form-factor with 1066MHz processor system bus as well as EM64T, XD and EIST technologies. Currently unofficial sources state that the only memory configuration to be supported will be dual-channel DDR2 SDRAM at 533MHz or 667MHz, but no dual-channel DDR memory. NVIDIA is also expected to incorporate special enhancements for Multi-GPU SLI configurations, which will allow installing two PCI Express x16 graphics slots and cards.

Given that due to external memory controller on Intel-based platforms, NVIDIA is expected to bring dual-chip core-logic for mainboards intended for Intel chips. The MCP04 I/O controller that is proclaimed to be paired with Crush 19 MCH is projected to inherit many features from the nForce4 core-logic, NVIDIA RAID, NVIDIA ActiveArmor firewall, NVIDIA Gigabit Ethernet, Serial ATA-300 and other important technologies, like USB 2.0, FireWire, 8-channel AC’97 audio and so on.

Currently it is unclear, how many versions of the Crush 19 chipset NVIDIA may offer. The Santa Clara, California-based NVIDIA usually preps numerous flavours of its chipsets seeking to target various markets with various demands for functionality and pricing.

NVIDIA Rumoured to Make C19 at IBM

NVIDIA has already delivered samples of the C19 to its mainboard customers, and volume shipments will begin at the end of the first quarter, or early in the second quarter of 2005, according to DigiTimes web-site.

Surprisingly, it is also reported that the next-generation nForce chipset for Intel Pentium 4 processors would be made at IBM. Previously the company outsourced production of its chipsets only to its foundry partner TSMC.

While an NVIDIA official declined to comment on the functionality and other peculiarities of the upcoming product for Intel processors, he confirmed that the announcement is targeted for Q1 2005.

VIA Technologies, SiS Corp. Set to Fight

The agreement with Intel Corp. can not only give a boost to NVIDIA’s revenues, but also put some pressure on sales of other chipset designers, primarily VIA Technologies, Silicon Integrated Systems, who have been concentrating on desktop chipsets, and partly ATI Technologies, who so far has been focusing on mobile core-logic products. Intel’s high-end chipset business may also face attack from NVIDIA.

According to reports, both VIA and SiS have been developing higher-end chipsets for Intel Pentium 4 processors, including those able to offer two PCI Express slots for SLI Multi-GPU technology. Neither SiS, nor VIA have so far officially supported SLI technology.