Motherboard Layout and Routing Guidelines

Table 2-5. System Timing Requirements for Validating Setup/Hold Windows

Driver

Receiver

 

 

 

 

Equation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pentium®II

AGPset

Tmeasured

Thold

+ Tskew,CLK

+ Tskew,PCB + Tclk ,max

 

processor

 

 

 

Tmeasured

Tcycle

Tsu

Tskew,CLK Tskew,PCB Tjit

Tadj

+ Tclk,min

AGPset

Pentium®II

Tmeasured

Thold + Tskew,CLK

+ Tskew,PCB Tclk ,min

 

processor

 

 

 

Tmeasured

Tcycle

Tsu

Tskew,CLK Tskew,PCB Tjit

Tadj

Tclk ,max

Pentium®II

Pentium®II

Tmeasured

Thold + Tskew,CLK

+ Tskew,PCB

 

 

processor

processor

 

 

 

 

Tmeasured

Tcycle

Tsu

Tskew,CLK Tskew,PCB Tjit

Tadj

 

2.6.2Signal Quality Measurement

Signal integrity is specified at the processor core, which is not accessible. Intel has found that there can be substantial miscorrelation between ringback at the edge finger versus the core. The miscorrelation creates instances where a signal fails to satisfy ringback requirements at the edge finger, but passes the ringback specification at the core. For this reason, signal integrity is specified at the core. Ringback guidelines are supplied at the edge finger, as shown in Table 2-6. Any measurement at the edge finger that violates the guidelines should be simulated to verify that it meets the specification at the core.

Table 2-6. Ringback Guidelines at the Intel® Pentium® II Processor Edge Fingers

Edge

Guideline @ Processor Edge

Spec @ Processor Core

Finger

 

 

 

 

 

Rising

1.29V

1.12V1

Falling

0.71V

0.88V

 

 

 

NOTE:

1.Ringback specifications follow the methodology described in Intel®Pentium® II Processor at 233 MHz, 266 MHz, 300 MHz and 333 MHz Datasheet.

2-16

Intel®440GX AGPset Design Guide

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Intel 440GX manual Signal Quality Measurement, Edge Guideline @ Processor Edge Spec @ Processor Core

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.