Input/Output I/O Controller, Real-Time Clock

Intel SE400BX Input/Output I/O Controller, Real-Time Clock, Universal Serial Bus USB Support

SE440BX Motherboard Product Guide

Input/Output (I/O) Controller

The I/O controller handles the exchange of information between the processor and external devices like the mouse and keyboard or a printer that are connected to the computer. The controller features the following:

∙Integrated keyboard and mouse controller

∙Industry standard diskette drive controller

∙One multimode bi-directional parallel port

⎯Standard mode: Centronics-compatible operation

⎯High speed mode: support for enhanced capabilities port (ECP) and enhanced parallel port (EPP)

∙Two serial ports

∙Flexible IRQ and DMA mapping for Windows† 95

Real-Time Clock

The motherboard has a time-of-day clock and 100-year calendar that will rollover to 2000 at the turn of the century. A battery on the motherboard keeps the clock current when the computer is turned off.

✏NOTE

The recommended method of accessing the date in systems with Intel motherboards is indirectly from the Real-Time Clock (RTC) via the BIOS. The BIOS on Intel motherboards and baseboards contains a century checking and maintenance feature that checks the least two significant digits of the year stored in the RTC during each BIOS request (INT 1Ah) to read the date and, if less than 80 (i.e., 1980 is the first year supported by the PC), updates the century byte to 20. This feature enables operating systems and applications using the BIOS date/time services to reliably manipulate the year as a four-digit value.

For more information on proper date access in systems with Intel motherboards please see http://support.intel.com/support/year2000/paper.htm

Universal Serial Bus (USB) Support

The motherboard has two USB ports. You can connect two USB peripheral devices directly to the computer without an external hub. To attach more than two devices, connect an external hub to either of the built-in ports. The motherboard supports the standard universal host controller interface (UHCI) and takes advantage of standard software drivers written to be compatible with UHCI. The USB features the following:

∙Support for hot swapping Plug and Play devices

∙Support for self-identifying peripherals

Motherboard, SE400BX specifications

The Intel SE400BX is a high-performance motherboard designed primarily for demanding enterprise applications, delivering reliability and scalability for a wide range of business needs. This board is specifically tailored for use with Intel’s Pentium III and Celeron processors, providing a solid foundation for both server and workstation configurations.

One of its standout features is the support for Intel’s Slot 1 architecture, which allows for easy processor upgrades without the need for complex socket replacement. This flexibility is essential for businesses that require adaptability in their technology to keep pace with evolving workloads.

The SE400BX motherboard is equipped with a versatile Intel 440BX chipset, renowned for its stability and exceptional memory handling capabilities. This chipset supports up to 1GB of SDRAM using the DIMM standard, ensuring that your system has adequate memory bandwidth for multitasking and demanding applications. Additionally, it features dual-channel architecture, enhancing data flow and minimizing bottlenecks, which is critical for high-performance computing tasks.

Storage connectivity is another strong suit of the Intel SE400BX. The motherboard includes an ATA-66 interface, supporting both hard drives and optical devices. With up to four IDE connectors available, it allows for ample storage configuration options, enabling users to set up various RAID configurations for redundancy and increased data access speeds.

In terms of connectivity, the SE400BX offers integrated networking capabilities, including a built-in Ethernet controller, which simplifies installation and eliminates the need for a separate network card for basic networking tasks. This feature makes the motherboard an appealing choice for businesses looking to reduce components while maintaining solid networking performance.

On the expansion front, the motherboard provides three PCI slots, offering ample room for additional cards such as graphics cards, sound cards, or specialized expansion cards for specific business needs. This expandability ensures that businesses can tailor their systems to their own unique requirements without being constrained by the motherboard’s capabilities.

Overall, the Intel SE400BX combines powerful performance, reliability, and essential features that meet the demands of enterprise environments. Its strategic design and advanced technology make it a valuable addition to any business looking to build a robust computing infrastructure.