That architecture let ATI debut its CrossFire Xpress 3200 northbridge, otherwise known at RD580, with Socket 939 Athlon 64, and now reuse it unchanged for Socket AM2 processors. And since that RD580 northbridge contains a link to supporting southbridges that's basically PCI Express, hanging a number of I/O processors off of RD580 is easy, no matter what socket, CPU or memory is chosen. All that has led ATI to create the 'Sturgeon' reference board for Socket AM2..



Link: Hexus