Intel S5000XAL manual Intel 5000P and 5000X Memory Controller Hubs MCH, System Bus Interface

Intel® Server Board S5000PAL / S5000XAL TPS Functional Architecture

3.1Intel® 5000P and 5000X Memory Controller Hubs (MCH)

This section will describe the general functionality of the memory controller hub as it is implemented on this server board. Depending on the version of the server board in use, it may support either the Intel® 5000P MCH or the Intel® 5000X MCH. Features that are unique to a particular MCH will be so referenced.

The Memory Controller Hub (MCH) is a single 1432 pin FCBGA package which includes the following core platform functions:

•System Bus Interface for the processor sub-system

•Memory Controller

•PCI Express* Ports including the Enterprise South Bridge Interface (ESI)

•FBD Thermal Management

•SMBUS Interface

Additional information about MCH functionality can be obtained from the Intel® S5000 Series Chipsets Server Board Family Datasheet, the Intel® 5000P Memory Controller Hub External Design Specification (Yellow Cover), or the Intel® 5000X Memory Controller Hub External Design Specification (Yellow Cover).

Note: Yellow Cover documents can only be obtained under NDA with Intel and ordered through an Intel representative.

3.1.1System Bus Interface

The MCH is configured for symmetric multi-processing across two independent front side bus interfaces that connect to the Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processors 5000 sequence. Each front side bus on the MCH uses a 64-bit wide 1066 or 1333 MHz data bus. The 1333 MHz data bus is capable of transferring data at up to 10.66 GB/s. The MCH supports a 36-bit wide address bus, capable of addressing up to 64 GB of memory. The MCH is the priority agent for both front side bus interfaces, and is optimized for one processor on each bus.

3.1.2Processor Support

The server board supports one or two Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processors 5000 sequence, with system bus speeds of 667 MHz, 1066 MHz, and1333 MHz, and core frequencies starting at 2.67 GHz. Previous generations of the Intel® Xeon® processor are not supported on this server board.

Note: Only Dual-Core Intel® Xeon® processors 5000 sequence, that support system bus speeds of 667 MHz, 1066 MHz, and1333 MHz are supported on this server board. See the following table for a list of supported processors.

Revision 1.4	25
	Intel order number: D31979-007