Introduction

1.3Intel® Pentium® II Processor / Intel® 440GX AGPset Overview

The following is a list of features that a Intel® Pentium® II processor / Intel® 440GX System will provide:

•Full Support for up to two Intel® Pentium® II processors, with system bus frequencies of 100 MHz

•Intel® 440GX AGPset

—82443GX Host Bridge Controller (GX)

—82371EB PCI ISA IDE Accelerator (PIIX4E)

•100 MHz Memory Interface: A wide range of DRAM support including

—64-bit memory data interface plus 8 ECC bits and hardware scrubbing

—SDRAM (Synchronous) DRAM Support

—16Mbit, 64Mbit, 128Mbit, and 256Mbit DRAM Technologies

•4 PCI Add-in Slots

—PCI Specification Rev 2.1 Compliant

•1 AGP Slot:

—AGP Interface Specification Rev 1.0 Compliant

—AGP 66/133 MHz, 3.3V device support

•Integrated IDE Controller with Ultra DMA/33 support

—PIO Mode 4 transfers

—PCI IDE Bus Master support

•Integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) Controller with 2 USB ports

•Integrated System Power Management Support

•On-board Floppy, Serial, Parallel Ports, ISA Add-in slots

•I/O APIC device support for MP interrupt support

1.3.1Intel® Pentium® II Processor

The Intel® Pentium® II processor is a follow-on to the Intel® Pentium® Pro processor. This high performance Intel Architecture processor offers features that can be designed into products for the following market segments:

Desktop Home Market Segment

Desktop Corporate Market Segment

Workstation Market Segment

Server Market Segment

New applications and hardware add-ins from third party vendors are being developed that take advantage of the MMX™ technology incorporated into the Intel ® Pentium® processor. Please contact your local Intel field sales representative for information on IHVs and ISVs utilizing Intel’s MMX™ technology.

Intel®440GX AGPset Design Guide

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Intel manual Intel Pentium II Processor / Intel 440GX AGPset Overview
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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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