82543GC Gigabit Ethernet Controller Specification Update
SPECIFICATION CLARIFICATIONS
1. 0-70C Ambient Temperature Range
Problem: The data sheet contains conflicting information on the controller’s rated temperature range. The recommended temperature range is given as
Intel validated the 82543GC Gigabit Ethernet Controller for the full commercial ambient temperature range of 0- 70C. The overriding specification is the 100C maximum junction temperature. Multiplying the typical 1.5W power by the 17C/W thermal coefficient, then adding the product to 70, yields approximately 96C, which falls under the 100C limit.
Affected Specs: Recommended Operating Conditions and the Thermal Specifications section of
2. Receiver Enabling and Disabling
Problem: The 82543GC controller does not support “throttled” reception by repeatedly disabling/enabling the receiver by programming the Enable (EN) Bit in the Receive Control Register (RCTL). The reason is that the disabling/enabling operation does not
A note will be added to the RCTL register description reminding users to reset at least the receiver before reenabling it.
Affected Specs: RCTL register description in
DOCUMENTATION CHANGES
1. TX/RX Descriptor Register Addresses
Problem: The 82543GC Gigabit Ethernet Controller cannot use address offsets assigned for the previous generation 82542 Gigabit Ethernet Controller. Affected registers include the transmit descriptor registers (incorrect offset range 0x420 – 0x440), receive descriptor registers, diagnostic packet buffer head/tail registers (incorrect offset range 0x8000 – 0x8018) and the flow control threshold registers (incorrect offset range 0x160 – 0x168).
Offsets for these registers will change in documentation to reflect the correct 82543GC device values. Refer to the following table for specific changes.
Register Name | Incorrect Offsets | Corrected Offsets |
| (Based on 82542 | (Based on 82543GC |
| Controller) | Controller) |
RX_DELAY_TIMER | 00108 | 02820 |
RX_DESC_BASE_ADDR | 00110 | 02800 |
RX_RING_LENGTH | 00118 | 02808 |
RX_DESC_HEAD | 00120 | 02810 |
RX_DESC_TAIL | 00128 | 02818 |
TX_DESC_BASE_ADDR | 00420 | 03800 |
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