Sticking with Chipsets

As mentioned on the previous page, AMD is sticking with a north and southbridge chipset design for the AM3+ platform and this makes sense in our opinion, particularly for such a high-stop platform. By including separate chips to handle PCI Express lanes and connectivity, AMD has not only been able to simplify the processor design, assuasive it to focus on operation, but it also grants the visitor a groovy bargain of flexibility.

The AM3+ platform is supported by the 9-series chipsets, which currently include the 990FX, 990X and 970 northbridge with the SB950 southbridge. This chipset series features the same 65nm silicon used by AMD's previous-generation eight-series chipsets.

In fact, the SB950 and SB850 are the aforementioned bit and therefore offer the exact same features. The reason for the name change is just to assistance the user identify that one is designed for the AM3+ platform while the other supports AM3 processors.

The SB950 southbridge supports six SATA 6Gb/due south ports with AHCI 1.2 likewise as RAID 0, 1, v and 10. Additionally there is back up for 14 USB 2.0 ports along with two USB one.1 ports and gigabit Ethernet. When compared to the Intel Z68 PCH (Platform Controller Hub), at that place is nothing missing from the SB950 southbridge.

Meanwhile, the 990FX (codenamed RD990) is essentially the same chip as the 890FX, though at that place is one minor change. The 990FX has been updated with HyperTransport iii.i to back up upward to 51.2GB/s bandwidth between it and the CPU. The 890FX is equipped with HT iii.0 which features a bandwidth of 41.6GB/s.

The 990X is a cut downwardly version of the 990FX, as information technology reduces Crossfire support from dual x16 or quad x8 lanes to a pair of x8 lanes with no quad-fire support. Standing with the theme, AMD's 970 chipset is basically a rebadged 870 with HT 3.1 support added. Information technology lacks Crossfire support equally it only includes a single PCIe ii.0 x16 lane.