Third-Party Vendor Information

5.2Intel® 440GX AGPset

5.2.1Clock Drivers

Intel has supplied specifications to clock driver vendors, including the following. The specifications define requirements for Intel® Pentium® II processor-based systems with Intel® 440GX AGPset. Intel tests some clock devices to verify the ability of the industry to meet the Intel specification; there is no formal component qualification.

Table 5-6. Clock Driver Vendors

Supplier,

Contact

Phone

Intel CNDA

 

 

 

 

 

Capella Microsystems

Brian Kuo

408-260-3400

 

 

 

Cypress

John Wunner

206-821-9202 x325

 

 

 

ICS

Raju Shah

408-925-9493

 

 

 

IC Works

Sales

408-922-0202

 

 

 

Integrated Device Technology

Val Liva

408-654-6479

 

 

 

IMI

Elie Ayache

408-263-6300, x235

 

 

 

Motorola

Carlos Obregon

602-732-3248

 

 

 

Texas Instruments

Murali Kadiyata

972-480-4834

 

 

 

5.2.2Power Management Components

The following vendors are developing hardware monitors (LM79,75) and thermal sensors (MAXIM1617) for the Intel® 440GX AGPset reference designs with a Intel® Pentium® II processor. The thermal sensors will be used to monitor processor and board temperature. In addition, the hardware monitor will be used to monitor voltage regulation and fan RPM.

Table 5-7. Power Management Component Vendors

Supplier,

Contact

Phone

Intel CNDA

 

 

 

 

 

National Semiconductor

Jorge E. Moguel

503-968-1285

 

 

 

MAXIM

Bruce Moore

408-737-7600

 

 

 

5.2.3FET Switches(4 DIMM/FET Design)

Intel is recommending that OEMs contact the particular vendor for pricing and availability of sample and production units.

Table 5-8. FET Switch Vendors

Supplier,

Contact

Phone

Intel CNDA

 

 

 

 

 

Pericom

Kay Annamalai

408-435-0800, x279

 

 

 

IDT

Stan Hronik

408-492-8408

 

 

 

Fairchild Semiconductor

Myron Miske

207-775-8722

 

 

 

Intel®440GX AGPset Design Guide

5-3

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Intel manual Intel 440GX AGPset, Clock Drivers, Power Management Components, FET Switches4 DIMM/FET Design
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440GX specifications

The Intel 440GX chipset was launched in 1997 as part of Intel's series of chipsets known as the 440 family, and it served as a critical component for various Pentium II and Pentium III-based motherboard architectures. Specifically designed for the second generation of Intel’s processors, the 440GX delivered enhanced performance and supported a range of important technologies that defined PC architectures of its time.

One of the main features of the Intel 440GX was its support for a 100 MHz front-side bus (FSB), which significantly improved data transfer rates between the CPU and the memory subsystem. This advancement allowed the 440GX to accommodate both the original Pentium II processors as well as the later Pentium III chips, providing compatibility and flexibility for system builders and consumers alike.

The 440GX chipset included an integrated AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) controller, which supported AGP 2x speeds. This enabled high-performance graphics cards to be utilized effectively, delivering many enhanced graphics capabilities for gaming and multimedia applications. The AGP interface was crucial at the time as it offered a dedicated pathway for graphics data, increasing bandwidth compared to traditional PCI slots.

In terms of memory support, the 440GX could address up to 512 MB of SDRAM, allowing systems built with this chipset to run comfortably with sufficient memory for the era’s demanding applications. The memory controller was capable of supporting both single and double-sided DIMMs, which provided versatility in memory configuration for system builders.

Another notable feature of the Intel 440GX was its support for multi-processor configurations through its Dual Processors support feature. This allowed enterprise and workstation computers to leverage the performance advantages of multiple CPUs, making the chipset suitable for business and professional environments where multitasking and high-performance computing were essential.

On the connectivity front, the chipset supported up to six PCI slots, enhancing peripheral device integration and expansion capabilities. It also included integrated IDE controllers, facilitating connections for hard drives and CD-ROM devices.

Overall, the Intel 440GX chipset represented a balanced combination of performance, flexibility, and technology advancements for its time. Its introduction helped establish a foundation for subsequent advancements in PC technology and set the stage for more powerful computing systems in the years to come.
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