Introduction

Introduction

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This document provides design guidelines for developing Intel® Pentium® II processor / Intel® 440GX AGPset based systems. Motherboard and memory subsystem design guidelines are covered. Special design recommendations and concerns are presented. Likely design issues have been identified and included here in a checklist format to alleviate problems during the debug phase. One reference board design is presented:

•Dual Processor (DP), 4 DIMM design

These designs use the Intel® Pentium® II processor and Intel® 440GX AGPset consisting of the 82443GX Host Bridge and the 82371EB PIIX4E.

Note: The Intel® Pentium® II processor may be installed in a Slot 1 connector. The Intel® Pentium® II processor will also be offered as an Intel boxed processor, intended for system integrators who build systems from motherboards and other components. Some hints for early debug problems are also included.

1.1About This Design Guide

This document is intended for hardware design engineers who are experienced in the design of PC motherboards or memory subsystem. This document is organized as follows:

Chapter 1, Introduction. This chapter provides an overview of the features on reference design. Chapter 1 also provides a general component overview of the Intel® Pentium® II processor and Intel 440GX AGPset. The Wired for Management Initiative is also discussed which is an Intel® initiative to improve the manageability of desktop, mobile, and server systems. This chapter also provides design recommendations which Intel feels will provide flexibility to cover a broader range of products within a market segment.

Chapter 2, Motherboard Layout and Routing Guidelines. This Chapter provides detailed layout, routing, and placement guidelines for the motherboard and memory subsystem. Design guidelines for each bus (Host GTL+, PCI, DRAM, and AGP) are covered. This chapter provides details on design methodology, Timing analysis, simulation, and design validation.

Chapter 3, Design Checklist. This chapter provides a design checklist that is intended to be used when reviewing your Intel® 440GX AGPset design. The checklist is based on the Intel® 440GX AGPset reference design provided in this Design Guide. Items which have been found to be incorrect on previous designs are provided as a tool to allow the quick debug of Intel® Pentium® II processor based systems.

Chapter 4, Debug Recommendations. This chapter presents debug recommendations that may assist in the development of the Intel® Pentium® II processor, Intel® 440GX AGPset, and products utilizing them. This chapter also provides tool information, logic suggestions, technical support options, and a summary of the problems which have been found to be associated with system debug.

Chapter 5, Third Party Vendor Information. This chapter includes information regarding various third-party vendors who provide products to support the Intel® 440GX AGPset.

Appendix A, Intel® 440GX AGPset Reference Design Schematics. This appendix provides the schematics used in the single processor and dual processor reference designs.

Intel®440GX AGPset Design Guide

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Intel 440GX manual Introduction, About This Design Guide
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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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